At the Romano Villa...
The evening air was heavy with the scent of jasmine as Lia walked out to where Alessio waited by the car. His black SUV gleamed under the soft glow of the villa's courtyard lights, its presence as solid and commanding as the man himself.
"You ready?" Alessio asked, his tone steady but laced with concern.
"As ready as I'll ever be," Lia replied, gripping the folder tightly.
Her eldest brother studied her for a moment, his dark eyes unreadable. Finally, he gave a single nod, opening the passenger door for her. "Let's go."
The drive to Milan was quiet, save for the occasional hum of the engine and the soft music playing in the background. Lia stared out the window, watching the city lights grow brighter as they neared their destination. Her heart pounded in her chest, each beat a reminder of the confrontation waiting for her.
"Are you sure about this?" Alessio asked, breaking the silence.
"I don't have a choice," Lia said, her voice firm despite the nerves twisting in her stomach. "I need to hear him out. And I need him to hear me."
Alessio's grip on the steering wheel tightened, but he said nothing more.
When they reached the Moretti Enterprises building, Alessio pulled up to the private entrance. He turned to her, his expression serious. "I'll wait here. Call me if you need anything."
Lia hesitated, then nodded. "Thank you, Alessio."
As she stepped out of the car, the cool night air hit her, sending a shiver down her spine. She squared her shoulders, clutching the folder as though it were a shield, and walked toward the glass doors.
At the Conti Estate...
Dante stood in the center of the room, his presence dominating the space. Leonardo's smug facade had cracked, replaced by a wary tension that didn't go unnoticed. Vittoria, on the other hand, maintained her composure, her painted red lips curving into a sly smile as she moved to pour herself a glass of wine.
"To what do we owe the pleasure, Dante?" she asked, her tone saccharine.
Dante's eyes flicked to her briefly before settling back on Leonardo. "I think you already know."
Leonardo leaned back in his chair, feigning nonchalance. "You should be careful with your accusations, cugino. People might think you're paranoid."
Dante smirked, though there was no warmth in it. "Paranoia isn't necessary when the evidence speaks for itself."
He reached into his jacket and pulled out a small USB drive, holding it up for them to see. "This contains every bank transfer, every email, every shred of proof tying you to your little schemes. Care to explain yourself?"
Leonardo's face darkened, though he quickly masked it with a laugh. "You've always been dramatic, Dante. But even you can't prove something that isn't true."
"Try me," Dante said, his voice cold. He stepped closer, his gaze like a blade cutting through the room. "You thought you could steal from me, frame Lia, and walk away unscathed? You've underestimated me, Leonardo."
Vittoria stepped forward, her wine glass in hand. "Dante, darling," she purred, "surely there's no need for threats. We're family, after all."
Dante's eyes snapped to her, his voice like ice. "You stopped being family the moment you chose to side with him."
Vittoria's smile faltered, but she quickly recovered, her eyes narrowing. "And what are you going to do? Ruin us? Drag the Moretti name through the mud in the process?"
Dante's jaw tightened. He knew she was trying to provoke him, but it wouldn't work. "The Moretti name will survive. You, on the other hand, won't."
The tension in the room reached a boiling point as Leonardo rose from his chair, his fists clenched. "You think you can just walk in here and threaten me?"
"I don't need to threaten you," Dante said calmly. "Your downfall is already in motion. The only question is how long it takes for you to realize it."
Leonardo's face flushed with anger, but before he could respond, Dante's phone buzzed in his pocket. He ignored it, keeping his focus on the two people who had betrayed him.
At Moretti Enterprises...
Lia stepped into the lobby, her heels clicking softly against the polished marble floor. The air was cool and crisp, the faint scent of leather and citrus lingering in the space.
The receptionist looked up, her eyes widening slightly in recognition. "Ms. Romano," she said politely. "Mr. Moretti is currently in a meeting, but I can let him know you're here."
Lia hesitated. She hadn't expected Dante to be unavailable, though a part of her was relieved to have a moment to collect herself.
"That's fine," she said, offering a small smile. "I'll wait."
The receptionist nodded and gestured to the seating area. Lia sank into one of the plush chairs, the folder resting on her lap. She glanced around the room, memories of her time in this building flooding back. She had spent countless hours here, working alongside Dante, dreaming of the future they would build together.
But those dreams had turned to ash.
Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her phone vibrating in her bag. She pulled it out, her brows furrowing when she saw Marco's name on the screen.
"Hello?" she answered.
"Lia," Marco's voice came through, laced with urgency. "I just got a tip from one of my contacts. Leonardo's at the Conti estate right now, meeting with Vittoria."
Lia's heart skipped a beat. "And Dante?"
"No word on him," Marco said. "But if Leonardo and Vittoria are plotting, you need to be careful. They won't go down without a fight."
Lia swallowed hard, her grip tightening on the phone. "I'll be careful. Thanks for letting me know."
As she hung up, her resolve solidified. Tonight wasn't just about confronting Dante—it was about taking back control of her life.
To Be Continued...