That person...I know those eyes. The person from the restaurant is a woman.My breath hitches as her piercing blue eyes lock onto mine, a gaze that seems to set my skin on fire. Heat coils low in my stomach, a reaction I can't quite place- whether it's the mystery of who she is or the way her eyes linger on me, dragging over my body with deliberate slowness. The word Bella hangs in the air like a seductive whisper, wrapping around me like a spell.This time, her voice carries a rich, unmistakable Italian lilt, dripping with a sultry confidence that erupts a hidden pleasure throughout my body. She stops just a few feet away, close enough for me to feel the pull of her presence.With effortless grace, she pulls the blunt from her lips, exhaling smoke that curls like a lover's caress before flicking it toward me. A wicked grin plays on her sharp, utterly divine features, leaving me breathless and perhaps...wanting.Caught off guard, I shoot to my feet abruptly. "Who are you?" I shout, my voice louder than I intended. The guards by the door immediately turn, ready to spring into action, as if I've pulled a gun. But with one raised hand, she stops them.What a blatant display of power... Show off."Don't be disrespectful to what's mine," she murmurs, her voice calm but laced with a dangerous edge. Her hands fall to her sides, the movement deliberate, almost calculated.My eyes widen, disbelief replacing the heat that had simmered under my skin moments ago. The audacity of this woman's boldness is as confusing as it is infuriating. I straighten, shaking off the lingering pull of her presence."I'm not yours," I say firmly, my tone cutting through the tension like a blade. But even as the words leave my mouth, I can't help but feel a flicker of confusion at her bold claim, her cryptic words, and the magnetic pull that still tethers me to her, no matter how much I resist.With a sigh, she strides over to me, confident as ever, and reaches mere inches from my face. She bends slightly to meet my height, her eyes locking onto mine. "May I?" she suggests, gesturing to the chair behind me. I'm too caught up in her gaze to even register it until she pulls it from behind me and sits down in it."What?" I mumble, disoriented."Well, Mia Bella Moglie," she purrs, her voice rich with a sultry Italian accent that rolls off her tongue like warm honey. Her hands rest gracefully on the arms of her chair as she leans forward, her movements unhurried and tantalizing. With her chin delicately propped on her palm, her sharp, captivating eyes fix on mine, leaving no room to escape their intensity."Shall we begin?" she continues, her words curling with a soft, melodic cadence. "With the little story of how your caro padre sold you... for a handful of money and a taste of power?" Her lips curve into a sly grin, each syllable steeped in dangerous allure.My heart drops.For a second, it feels like my heart stops. The world around me goes stagnant."Wh-What do you mean by sold me?" I stammer, my voice trembling.My gaze darts from her calm yet unnervingly intense demeanor to my father, lying motionless in his comatose state. Desperation claws at my chest as I search his lifeless face for answers he can't give."Ten years ago, the moment your mother disappeared off the face of the earth..." She pauses, lifting her hand. A guard breaks from the formation and hands her a paper. She reads it aloud."I, Joseph Romero, hereby transfer the legal guardianship and custodial rights of my daughter, Onelia Romero, to the Valentine family as collateral for my outstanding debt. Should I fail to fulfill my financial obligations within a ten-year period, the Valentine family will retain full authority over her, with the exception of actions involving death or torture. In the event of such violations, the associated penalties shall fall solely upon me."I listen silently, each word feeling like a betrayal from my father. After everything I did for him, trusted him in all aspects of my and his life, this is the result, my freedom sold, my right to live as I please, given away. But then something clicks. I'm an adult. That means my rights belong solely to me, not the Valentine family, not my father, but me."I-" I start to speak, but my sentence is cut short."Seems like I forgot somethin' here, Bella," she chimes in, leaning back lazily as she flips the page. "After reaching the age of eighteen, Onelia Romero shall have the right to formally renounce her obligations to the Valentine family, making it her decision."A weight is at once lifted and I speak up. "I don't want to sign off my rights.""Listen, mia bella." She interjects, tone firm. " However, should she choose not to do so, the consequence will be the forfeiture of her father's life."My father's life.My eyes snap in his direction searching for something.Either he plans to die when the time comes, clearing the debt, or he's simply letting my rights be sold away either way both aren't good outcomes. Using the teachings of my mother, I close my eyes and take a deep breath, forcing my emotions to quiet so my mind can think rationally."Who exactly are you?" I ask, opening my eyes to meet her stare.She doesn't hesitate. "Gio Valentine, next in line to the Valentine dynasty." Her tone is cool and confident. "My lady," she adds with a slight bow of her head, though her piercing gaze never wavers from mine. It's impossible to tell if she's judging my reaction or simply intrigued-her hardened expression remains unreadable, a mask that offers no clues yet commands all of my attention."I am.""Mia Bella moglie," (My beautiful wife) she finishes, but I cut her off before she can say more."I am Onelia Grey Romero, and I am not your wife, nor do I belong to you," I say firmly, and I catch the brief flicker of surprise in her eyes. For just a moment, I see something shift. Was it disappointment? Regret? I can't tell."Well, I guess you made your choice." She exhales as she stands, pulling a pistol from the back of her belt and pointing it at my father in one swift motion."No!" I cry out, grabbing her wrist to stop her, my desperation clawing at my chest. "Just give me time."She glances sideways at me, studying me in silence. I can't tell what she's thinking, but then my heart slows as she drops her arm and faces me, stepping closer. Her heated breath is like fire against my skin as she leans in, whispering in my ear."I've waited ten years, I can wait a few days, Bella." She pulls back, looking down at my hands. I recognize what she's looking at."Sorry," I say abruptly, pulling away. "And thank you," I force myself to add.With a flick of her hair, she turns toward the door but pauses just before leaving. "No problem, Bella, but until then, you'll have a bodyguard with you. Can't let you run away on me." She smirks playfully as a boy steps out from the formation. "Meet Law Graves, your bodyguard. He doesn't bite." With that, she's gone, leaving me alone with the bodyguard in tow.