After the shot, the gun trembled in Alessia’s hand, her knuckles white as she struggled against the storm in her chest.
The sharp crack of the gunshot echoed into the night, but she hadn’t aimed at Luca—she had fired into the empty air.
Smoke curled upward like the ghost of her rage, her fear, her heartbreak.
Luca didn’t even flinch.
His dark eyes, steady as iron, bored into hers.
"Shoot me," he had said, voice low and steady, daring her. "If you don’t love me, Alessia... if you think that cursed magpie is more important than me, then pull the trigger."
Her hands quivered. Her heart screamed that she loved him, yet her mind was shackled by betrayal, by doubt, by pain. Tears streamed down her cheeks like rivers unleashed. With a broken sob, Alessia dropped the gun. It clattered against the stone, the metallic sound slicing through the silence of the courtyard.
Her knees nearly gave out beneath her.
Luca went close to her and picked up the gun and put it inside his pocket.. He grabbed her waist, once again and kissed her passionately, their lips were too hungry for each other’s lips.
"The bed room had been too cold, very cold since you left Alessia. Please come back home ".
"I didn’t leave luca, you sent me packing... "Alessia fired at him.
"I won’t take this as a proper apology, he had to apologize to me in the presence of everyone that was around the day he also humiliated me" Alessia thought within herself.
"Are you coming back home soon "luca ask and his question jerked her from her thought.
But pride forced her to turn and run away, pulling from his grip.
Her hair flew behind her, her tears blinding her vision as she tore into the night, away from Luca’s burning gaze, away from the ache that threatened to consume her whole.
She stumbled into Daisy in her room when she got in, breathless, her face streaked with salt and sorrow.
Daisy, startled sigh, and quickly sat up.
"Alessia?" Her best friend rushed to her side, pulling her down to sit on the bed. "My God, you look like you have seen a ghost. What happened?"
Alessia pressed her trembling hands to her face. "I... he told me to shoot him. He gave me the gun, Daisy.
Who is that and why did he ask you to do that? Daisy asked surprisingly.
"... oh, Daisy, he is Luca... And he did that because he kill it, he killed my bird while I was having a good time with it, That bird was my pet." Alessia said
Daisy bit her lip, then reached for her phone. "Alessia.... You had an encounter with Luca today? Are you really serious right mow by telling me you pulled the trigger at him?, okay noe listen to this before you drown in guilt." She tapped the screen, and Romeo’s voice crackled through the speaker:
"Seraphina sent the magpie. It was no ordinary bird—it was her pawn to get a box from mrs bianchi which was a reward for a deal she signed. She’s still coming after the Moranos."
The recording ended, and silence filled the room.
Alessia froze, her eyes wide with disbelief.
Her lips parted as the truth sank in like icy water. "Seraphina... used my favorite animal? She played me? She blinded me?"
Her voice broke, and Daisy wrapped an arm around her. "Yes. They’re dangerous, Alessia. They’ll use anything.... Anyone too, to wound you, even the creatures you love. That bird wasn’t innocent, it was her weapon."
Alessia shivered. "I feel like a fool. I fell for it. And Luca... he may knew and perhaps That’s why he shot it."
Then luca word of "I never take the wrong blood either by mistake or not... Kept ringing in her head "....
Daisy’s gaze softened. "Where’s the bird now, I ask again Alessia?"
Alessia’s breath hitched. "Gone. Luca shot it and gave me the gun. He wanted me to take revenge on him... and I couldn’t."
"Are you sure you didn’t shot Luca ? I know how much you loved thaf bird " Daisy asked carefully.
Alessia shook her head. "I fired into the air."
Relief washed over Daisy’s features as she exhaled slowly. "Thank God. That was terrifying, Alessia. You need to calm down about Luca. He isn’t your enemy."
But Alessia’s heart was torn. How could she believe that when every shadow seemed to whisper betrayal?
The next day, the world felt even crueller. Alone in Daisy’s room, Alessia opened her phone and, against her better judgment, joined a live stream. The headline blazed across the screen:
Luca Morano’s Wedding with Mafia Princess Hikky Lopez.
Her chest caved in as the image sharpened. Luca stood at the altar beside Hikky, surrounded by gilded flowers and ceremonial shadows.
His jaw was locked, unreadable, his suit crisp, his shoulders broad as ever. And Hikky was smiling sweetly, draped in ivory silk, she looked like the perfect bride.
Tears streamed down Alessia’s cheeks.
Each drop was heavier than the last, pulling her deeper into despair.
She shut the live immediately it ended, unable to bear the sight, her body shaking with silent sobs.
But on the other side of the screen, something happened she hadn’t seen. Luca lifted his hand and subtly signaled to the cameraman to cut the feed. He leaned toward Hikky, his voice low enough only for those closest to hear:
"Let’s hope Alessia comes any moment."
Daisy, who had watched alongside her, noticed something Alessia hadn’t. "Wait," she whispered, touching Alessia’s arm. "Look closely at the stream before it ended. Did you see? The place wasn’t even full. Barely any guests. And... the priest never pronounced them husband and wife."
Alessia blinked through her tears. "What?"
Daisy nodded firmly. "It’s not what you think. Luca is planning something. He always does differently."
But Alessia couldn’t respond. She sat frozen, her eyes wide and glassy, her soul caught between hope and despair. Even when her mother arrived later, carrying a tray of her favorite food, she refused to eat.
She refused to speak. She only sat there, a statue carved of sorrow.
Far away in Virenkai, a different battle was unfolding.
Jackson clutched his mother’s hand as they hovered beside Donato’s still form.
The surgery had been grueling, but the doctors had managed the impossible. Now all that remained was to wait for Donato to wake up after the surgery been carried out successfully.
"Please, wake up," Jackson whispered, his small voice raw with prayer.
The room was hushed, sterile, filled only with the steady beep of machines. Then, suddenly...
Both Jackson and his mother gasped, their eyes snapping toward the bed.
Donato’s lashes fluttered, his chest rising with shallow breaths. His lips parted, and for a brief, heart-stopping second, his eyes opened.
"he’s awake," jackson mother breathed, and smiles spreading across her cheeks.
He gave a faint groan, then drifted back into unconsciousness.
"We have hope," she whispered fiercely, clutching Jackson. "My son, you’re truly a little hero. You never left his side. I’m sure this young man would be proud of you, when he eventually wake up. "
Jackson smiled weakly, the weight of their ordeal etched in his young face.
The next morning in morano estate, the sun rose pale and reluctant, as though it knew darkness lingered in the hearts of men.
Luca woke in his apartment, shirtless, the sheets tangled around him from a restless night.
He rubbed his temple, mind heavy with thoughts of Alessia, of Seraphina, of the endless war between love and duty, and his brother Donato whom he can’t see despite in terrible condition.
Movement outside caught his attention and erupting his thoughts...
From the window above, he spotted Daisy and Mrs. Bianchi walking toward his gate.
"Open the gate immediately,, don’t keep them waiting for a second" Luca ordered his guard, his voice echoing from above.
He snatched up his shirt, pulling it over his sculpted frame as he hurried downstairs.
Fredo’s words echoed in his head: "This will work. The idea will bring her back".
And here is her best friend and her mother walking inside his gate?
But where is Alessia?
Luca smiled faintly, though his chest ached.
My sweet, stubborn, sexy little girl... are you hiding from me even now?...
When Daisy and Mrs. Bianchi entered, he rushed to meet them.
Mrs. Bianchi’s face was pale, her body trembling despite her effort to stand tall. Daisy gripped her arm, steadying her.
"Come inside," Luca urged. "Please, sit. What’s wrong?"
But Mrs. Bianchi shook her head, her lips quivering. She tried to speak, but the words tangled in her throat.
And then like a dam breaking, she burst into tears.
Daisy held her, murmuring softly, but her own eyes glistened.
Luca’s stomach tightened. A cold dread crawled through his veins.
"What is it?" His voice was sharp, demanding, desperate.
Mrs. Bianchi lifted her tear-streaked face to him, her voice shattering like glass.
"Alessia... was kidnapped last night.