Meanwhile, in Naples, it was another typical day at the Moretti mansion. Though not as imposing as the Cortelli estate, the Moretti home still screamed wealth and power, a reminder of the influence they held in Naples. Guards patrolled the grounds, luxurious cars lined the driveway, and the mansion itself-surrounded by manicured gardens-stood proud against the urban backdrop. It was beautiful, refined, and polished, much like the family that lived within its walls.
Inside, in one of the mansion's many rooms, the air was light and sweet, scented faintly with vanilla. The space was cozy, almost a world of its own, with posters of Taylor Swift lining the walls and cute, glowing lights strung across the ceiling. A collection of soft plushies was scattered across the bed, adding a playful charm to the room.
At the desk sat Elena Moretti, her long brown wavy hair falling loosely around her shoulders, as she focused on the last lines of her school assignment. The soft scratching of her pencil filled the room, the only sound breaking the quiet. Her lips curled into a gentle smile, the kind of innocent happiness that came from a simple, peaceful moment.
She was almost done, the thought of playing with her siblings fueling her as she rushed to finish. Elena was always like this-cheerful, playful, and full of light, never letting the weight of her family's name burden her. Despite the world she had been born into, a world of power and dark dealings, Elena was untouched by it, protected by her father, Giovanni Moretti. Her only concern was her schoolwork, her family, and the childhood she still held onto tightly.
In the back of her mind, she wondered what her younger brother Enzo was up to, imagining how fun it would be to play together in the garden after her work was done. Her world, for now, was small and safe, her smile bright as she thought of the simple joys awaiting her once she put down her pencil.
Little did she know, her life was on the edge of a storm that would soon change everything."Finally!" Elena exclaimed, dropping her pencil with a satisfied smile as she shut her book. Her assignment was complete.
Just then, the door to her room burst open, and her twin brothers, Enzo and Julian, both 14 years old, rushed in with their usual excitement. "Ele, are you done with your assignment?" they asked in unison, their faces lit up with anticipation.
Elena grinned at them, her brown eyes sparkling. "Yes! And now, let's go to the garden and have some fun!"
Without hesitation, the trio darted towards the door, eager to enjoy the warm day outside. They ran through the halls, but suddenly, Elena skidded to a halt, causing her brothers to crash into each other with a thud.
"What's wrong?" they asked, voices still in sync, looking up at her with curious eyes.
Elena's eyes widened as she realized. "We forgot Mia! She'll be so mad if we don't bring her with us!" she said, laughing at the thought of their mischievous five-year-old sister, who was always ready for an adventure and hated being left out.
"Mia's already waiting for us in the garden with Uncle Jerry," Enzo reassured, nodding as Julian added, "She's been talking about it all morning!"
With a quick laugh, Elena nodded, and the three of them dashed outside, their footsteps echoing through the marble-floored halls as they ran towards the garden. The bright afternoon sun greeted them as they burst into the garden, where the familiar figure of Uncle Jerry stood watch.
Jerry, a man in his forties, was a loyal and long-serving protector of the Moretti family. His sharp eyes followed the children, though his weathered face softened into a fond smile as he watched them race across the grass. Having served the Moretti's for decades, just like his father before him, Jerry was skilled in combat, especially with knives-his preferred weapon. But his true passion lay in keeping the Moretti children safe. Nothing mattered more to him.
He chuckled as Mia, the apple of the family's eye, squealed in delight when she saw her siblings. The little girl, her curly hair bouncing with each step, raced towards them with outstretched arms. "You're here!" she cried, her voice filled with joy.
Elena swept her little sister up into a playful spin before setting her down. "Of course, we are! We can't start the fun without you!"
As the four siblings began their games, running and laughing under the watchful eyes of Uncle Jerry, the garden filled with the sounds of their carefree childhood. For now, they were just kids, playing without a care in the world-unaware of the weight of their family's legacy that loomed just beyond the gates.
But Jerry knew. His eyes scanned the perimeter, his hand brushing the hilt of the knife at his belt, always ready. The world was dangerous for the Moretti's, especially for the children. And while they played, Jerry made sure that no one would ever harm them-not while he was there.
For now, though, he let them enjoy their innocent world, even as shadows began to gather on the house...
_______________________________________
The four siblings were laughing and playing in the garden, their voices echoing through the peaceful afternoon. Jerry, the family's loyal bodyguard, stood nearby, his watchful eyes following their every move. Suddenly, their mother, Clara Moretti, called from the doorway. Her long, straight hair, the same soft strands she had passed down to her daughter Elena, swayed as she stepped outside.
"Come inside, all of you!" Clara's voice was warm but firm.
The children groaned in unison, their fun interrupted. Elena glanced at her younger brother Enzo, rolling her eyes playfully as the others whined in protest.
"We were just getting started!" Sofia chimed in.
Clara's sharp glare silenced them all. "You have 20 minutes to clean up," she said, her tone leaving no room for negotiation. "Your father is coming home from Sicily, and I want everyone ready before dinner." With that, she turned and walked back inside, her presence commanding obedience without another word.
The siblings exchanged glances, knowing there was no arguing with their mother when it came to their father's return. Begrudgingly, they began to make their way inside, the thrill of their game fading as the weight of their father's impending arrival settled over them.
Giovanni Moretti finally arrived home, greeted by the warm embrace of his beautiful wife and the eager smiles of his children. The family gathered around the dining table soon after, the room filled with laughter and light-hearted conversations. Giovanni, however, couldn't help but glance occasionally at his eldest daughter, Elena. She sat across from him, her smile radiant as she laughed along with Clara at her brothers' jokes, completely unaware of the storm looming ahead.
Once dinner was over, the family dispersed for the night. Enzo and Julian headed to their shared room, already bickering over who would brush their teeth first. Mia, sleepy-eyed, was gently carried to her room by the nanny. Elena, still smiling from the evening, retreated to her room as well, blissfully unaware of what was about to unfold in her life.
Later, when Clara entered their bedroom, she found Giovanni sitting in deep thought, his expression troubled. She had sensed something was wrong the moment he had arrived home. After all, Giovanni was the love of her life-she knew him better than anyone.
"Honey, what's wrong?" she asked softly, sitting beside him and gently caressing his shoulder.
Giovanni took a deep breath, his eyes meeting hers. He reached for her hands, intertwining their fingers, as though drawing strength from her touch. "You know that I love you and our children, right?" he asked quietly.
Clara frowned, concern etching her features. "Of course I know that. What's really the matter?"
Giovanni hesitated, then nodded. "You're aware of the trouble we're in. We're on the brink of bankruptcy, and any mafia group could attack us to take control of Naples."
Clara's grip on his hand tightened, her heart racing. She nodded again, fear beginning to stir within her. "Yes, I know. But you'll figure something out... right?"
"I went to see Vittorio Cortelli," Giovanni confessed, his voice heavy with the weight of his words.
Clara's eyes widened in shock. "The Cortelli family? Vittorio doesn't help anyone, Giovanni. No one does in this world."
"I know," he said, nodding solemnly. "But he offered us a deal. He'll give us 10% shares in his hotel business, along with protection so no one can take Naples from us."
Clara's heart sank. "What does he want in return?" she whispered, already dreading the answer.
Giovanni hesitated, his gaze darkening. "Half of Naples under his control," he said softly.
"And...?" Clara's voice trembled. "And what, Giovanni? You're scaring me."
Giovanni swallowed hard. "Vittorio has three children. His eldest son, Damien Cortelli, is the future heir to the empire."
Clara nodded slowly. "Yes... the one always in the news for his business dealings. He's a very private man, but I've seen a few pictures of him online."
Giovanni nodded grimly. "He's 24 years old. And Vittorio... wants our Elena to marry him."
Clara's breath caught in her throat. "Elena?" she whispered in disbelief, her heart pounding. Tears welled in her eyes as she realized the price they would have to pay.
"But Giovanni, Elena is just 15!" Clara exclaimed, her voice trembling with disbelief. "How can we marry her off now? You know she hates everything about the mafia. And... and you promised," her voice cracked, "you promised that she would marry the man of her choice, even if he's just an ordinary person. We've always said her happiness matters more than anything."
Giovanni's heart ached at the sight of his wife's distress. He closed his eyes briefly, the weight of the situation pressing down on him. "I know, Clara," he murmured. "But the situation is leaving me no choice. We're running out of time, and I can't protect us on my own."
Clara shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "But... Ele... she's so young, Giovanni."
"I'm not asking her to marry now," Giovanni said, his voice softening. "I've already told Vittorio that Elena won't marry Damien until she turns 18. They're coming in 10 days to see everything here, to discuss the matter properly with our family."
Clara's lips trembled. "What are they expecting?"
Giovanni took a deep breath, knowing this would be the hardest part. "Elena and Damien will get engaged during their visit."
Clara gasped, her hand flying to her mouth as the full impact of his words hit her. "Engaged? Giovanni... how will we tell her? She'll never agree to this."
"I know," Giovanni said quietly, his voice heavy with regret. "But this is the only way to save us. We'll have to make her understand."
The next morning, the family gathered for breakfast, the warmth of the summer sun spilling through the windows. With only 20 days left of their summer vacation, the children were still carefree, laughing and chatting as they ate. Giovanni, however, exchanged a meaningful glance with Clara, silently urging her to address what they had discussed the night before.
Clearing her throat, Clara gently rose from her seat, drawing everyone's attention. "Elena, dear, after breakfast, could you come to my room for a moment?"
Elena nodded, her brows furrowing slightly. Her parents seemed unusually serious, and a quiet sense of unease settled over her.
Later, after finishing her meal, Elena knocked softly on her parents' door. "Come in," her father called.
She stepped inside, her heart beating a little faster. "Mom, Dad... is everything okay?" she asked, worry creeping into her voice.
"Yes, everything is fine," her father assured her, though his eyes betrayed the weight of what was to come. "But first, sit down."
Elena sat on the sofa, glancing between her parents, the tension in the room thick. Clara took a deep breath before speaking.
"Dear, you know about the trouble your father is facing, right?" Clara began softly.
Elena nodded, her gaze shifting to her father. "But... Dad, you're going to fix everything, right?" she asked, her voice filled with hope.
Giovanni's heart sank. "I've tried, sweetheart. I've done everything I can." He hesitated, then glanced at Clara before continuing. "Do you know the Cortelli family from Sicily?" Clara asked gently.
"Yes, I've heard of them," Elena replied, her stomach tightening.
"They're willing to help us," Clara said, her voice faltering slightly. "But... they want something in return. They want you as their daughter-in-law."
Elena's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding in her chest. "W-What?" she stammered, her voice barely a whisper. "With whom?"
"Damien Cortelli," Giovanni said quietly. "The future heir of the Cortelli family."
Tears welled in Elena's eyes as the reality of the situation hit her. "Is there no other way?" she asked, her voice trembling as she looked at her father, pleading for another solution.
Giovanni shook his head, his own heart breaking. "No, dear. Please... please try to understand. You have some time to think about it."
"How much time?" Elena asked, her voice barely audible.
"They'll be here in nine days," Clara said softly. "You'll be engaged to Damien Cortelli then."
Elena stood up, her world spinning, and nodded numbly. Without another word, she left the room, retreating to the only place that felt safe-her own.
------------------TO BE CONTINUE-------------