The tension in the car was suffocating as Alessandro navigated the winding drive to the LaGuardia estate. The house loomed ahead, a fortress of power and legacy, its tall gates and manicured gardens glowing eerily under the soft light of strategically placed floodlights. Despite its grandeur, it felt more like a prison to Chiara tonight.
Alessandro parked the car and got out without hesitation, his movements sharp and deliberate. Chiara, on the other hand, lingered, her hand trembling slightly as she reached for the door handle. Before she could open it, Alessandro was there, pulling it open with quiet authority.
"Let's go," he said firmly, his tone leaving no room for argument.
She nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. Her heels clicked against the cobblestones as she followed him toward the house. The imposing double doors loomed larger with each step, casting a shadow that seemed to stretch over her.
The doors swung open before they even reached the steps, a servant bowing slightly as he ushered them in. Alessandro's hand rested lightly on Chiara's lower back, steadying her as they entered. She tried to ignore the warmth of his touch, focusing instead on the sound of voices coming from the drawing room.
As they stepped inside, the atmosphere shifted.
"Chiara!" her mother, Elena, exclaimed, rushing toward her with tears brimming in her eyes. She enveloped her daughter in a tight embrace, her hands fluttering over Chiara's face and arms as if to reassure herself that she was unharmed. "I was so worried," Elena whispered, her voice breaking. "Thank God you're safe."
Sofia followed closely behind, her normally composed demeanor shattered by worry. "What were you thinking, Chiara?" she said, pulling her sister into a fierce hug. "You scared us all to death."
Chiara let herself sink into their warmth for a moment, closing her eyes against the torrent of emotions threatening to overwhelm her. "I'm okay," she murmured, though her voice wavered. "I'm fine."
The moment of solace was short-lived. The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the hall, followed by a voice sharp enough to slice through steel.
"Chiara!" Paolo LaGuardia's voice thundered as he entered the room, his sharp features etched with fury and concern. His piercing gaze zeroed in on her, and the air seemed to crackle with tension. "What the hell were you thinking, leaving this house without protection?"
Chiara bristled at his tone, instinctively stepping back. "I—"
"Don't you dare start with excuses!" Paolo roared, his fists clenched at his sides. "You endangered yourself, and for what? To play the hero? Do you have any idea what could have happened tonight?"
"I know exactly what could have happened," Chiara snapped, her voice trembling with anger and fear. "It did happen! I was ambushed. I was shot at. And yet I'm still standing, Papa. I'm not some fragile porcelain doll you can lock away!"
Paolo's face darkened, his hand slamming against the ornate wood paneling of the doorway. The sound reverberated through the room like a gunshot. Before he could unleash another tirade, Viktor Romanov's calm, commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Paolo," Viktor said, stepping forward with an air of icy authority. His towering frame and cold, calculating gaze demanded attention. "This is not the time to berate your daughter. She's alive—for now. But we need to focus on why she was targeted in the first place."
Paolo's jaw tightened, but he relented, his fiery gaze shifting to Alessandro. "What happened?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Alessandro stepped forward, his expression grim. "It was an ambush," he said. "A group of armed men stormed the restaurant. This wasn't random—it was deliberate."
Viktor's eyes narrowed, his features hardening as he processed Alessandro's words. "They're not after Stefano anymore," he said, his voice as cold as the Russian winters. "This is about power. Whoever orchestrated this attack wants to destabilize your family, Paolo. They see Chiara as the easiest target now that Stefano is incapacitated. It's a calculated move."
Paolo's face twisted with anger, his hands clenching into fists. "They think I'll fold under pressure. They think I'll let them walk in and take what's mine."
"It's more than that," Viktor continued. "They want control. They're using fear and chaos to chip away at your strength. If you don't act decisively, they'll use this as an opportunity to dismantle everything you've built."
A heavy silence fell over the room, the weight of Viktor's words settling over them like a suffocating fog. Chiara's stomach churned as she listened, the enormity of the situation pressing down on her chest.
Paolo ran a hand through his silver-streaked hair, exhaling sharply. When he turned back to Alessandro, his eyes burned with resolve. "You've always been loyal," Paolo said. "You've handled every situation I've thrown at you without hesitation. Tonight, you proved that again."
Alessandro met Paolo's gaze, his expression steady. "I'll do whatever is necessary to protect this family."
Paolo's gaze shifted to Chiara, then back to Alessandro. "Then I need you to do more than protect her. I need you to marry her."
The room fell into stunned silence. Chiara's heart stopped, her breath caught in her throat. "Papa, you can't be serious!" she said, her voice rising in disbelief.
"I've never been more serious," Paolo said, his tone unyielding. "The attacks won't stop until this family is seen as untouchable again. A marriage between you and Alessandro will send a message—Chiara is under the protection of a man they fear. They won't dare touch her or us."
Chiara's cheeks flushed with a mix of anger and disbelief. "I'm not a pawn in your political game!" she shouted.
"This isn't just about you!" Paolo snapped back, his voice booming. "This is about the survival of this family, this empire. If you have a better solution, I'm listening. Until then, you'll do what's necessary."
Alessandro's voice broke the tension, calm yet resolute. "With all due respect, sir, this isn't a decision to be made lightly."
"I know that," Paolo said, his tone softening slightly. "But I trust you more than anyone else, Alessi. You've proven yourself time and again. Chiara needs protection, and this family needs stability."
Chiara's heart pounded as she turned to Alessandro, searching his face for any sign of hesitation. But his dark eyes were unreadable as he looked back at her, then turned to Paolo.
"I'll do whatever needs to be done. It's my duty to protect this family," Alessandro said finally, his voice steady.
Chiara felt the ground shift beneath her. "And what about what I want?" she asked, her voice cracking with emotion.
Alessandro's gaze softened slightly, but his tone remained firm. "This isn't about what we want, Chiara. This is about survival."
The words hit her like a blow. No matter how much she fought, she was being pulled into a world she thought she could escape. And now, there was no turning back.