Rosselia's screams slowly faded into broken whimpers.
The room reeked of fear as Regina stood frozen.
Her hand still covering her mouth... her eyes wide, locked on the horrifying sight before her.
"Everyone out." Antonio ordered..
His voice was calm.
The guards moved immediately, dragging Rosselia away as her weak cries echoed down the hall.
Camelio followed...then the door shut.
Just the two of them remained.
Regina swallowed hard. Her feet moved on instinct.
Away.
"I should..."
"Stay."
One word.
It stopped her completely.
Slowly...Antonio turned to face her, then he began to walk toward her.
Regina's breath hitched as he closed the distance between them.
His eyes scanned her face carefully.. Reading her. Breaking her down.
"Does it scare you?"
Her lips parted slightly.
But she forced herself to steady.
"No."
A lie.
A very poor one.
Antonio's lips curved into a faint smirk as he leaned in slightly.
Close enough for her to feel it.
"Good."
"Because fear keeps people alive in my world."
Her throat tightened.
And just then, her body swayed.
Weak and unstable.
The aftermath of the allergy finally catching up.
Before she could fall, Antonio's hand shot out..gripping her waist firm...unyielding.
He pulled her toward him.
Not gently nor affectionately.
Possessively.
Regina stiffened in his hold.
Her hands instinctively pressed against his chest.
Their eyes met.
And for a split second, Antonio's grip tightened just slightly.
A thought crossed his mind.
Sharp and unwanted...He didn't like it.
Didn't like the memory.
Her...
In another man's arms.
He let go abruptly, stepping back like nothing happened.
"Go to your room."
His voice was back to normal.
Regina didn't argue, she couldn't.
She turned and left quickly.
Almost like she was escaping.
Antonio watched her go silently..
After a moment of silence, he walked to his room. Straight to his desk.
The monitors flickered softly.
Multiple camera feeds, but his eyes went to one.
Regina's room.
He paused, then leaned forward.
Curiosity.
Or something darker.
He replayed the footage.
The moment Damian entered.
He watched closely...
Damian stepping closer...touching her...wiping her tears.
Antonio's jaw tightened.
Then, the hug.
Regina in his arms...clinging.
Intimate.
Antonio's hand clenched into a fist.
His expression darkened.
"They take me as a joke... don't they?"
He scoffed quietly.
The screen went black as he turned it off.
Right then, his phone rang.
He glanced at the screen.
Giovanni Ricci.
He answered.
Later...
He stood before Damian, calm as ever.
"There's something you need to handle."
Damian nodded immediately.
"I'm ready, boss."
Antonio studied him for a second.
Then gave the details.
A risky errand.
Dangerous and unforgiving.
A test.
Damian didn't hesitate.
"I'll take care of it."
Antonio's lips twitched slightly.
"Make sure you do."
Night fell and the mansion was quiet.
Until...
The gates opened. Damian staggered in, injured.
Blood staining his shirt.
His steps uneven.
Michael was the first to reach him.
"Hey...easy!"
He grabbed him quickly, supporting his weight.
"What the hell happened to you?"
Damian exhaled sharply.
"I'm fine..."
"You don't look fine."
Michael dragged him to a seat and grabbed the first aid kit.
In that moment, Regina stepped out of her room...for air.
Her heart dropped at the sight in the living room.
Everything else stopped mattering.
"Damian!"
She rushed toward him immediately.
No hesitation, fear nor caution.
Just him.
"What happened..." her voice broke as she reached him.
Her hands hovered over him, afraid to touch, afraid to hurt him more.
Michael paused.
Watching.
He was confused.
Something wasn't adding up.
Footsteps were heard..slow, measured ones. And Antonio stepped into the scene with Camelio by his side.
There they were.
His 'fiancée'.
Holding his messenger.
Like nothing else existed.
His expression didn't change much.
Only his eyes were dangerously cold.
Regina felt it as she looked up and saw him.
Her breath caught.
Reality crashed back hard.
Immediately, she pulled away.
Then...dropped to her knees.
Right there.
She couldn't pretend anymore.
Her knees hit the ground hard. The cold floor didn't matter.
Nothing mattered.
Antonio had seen.
He knew.
"There's no point hiding anymore..." her thoughts screamed.
"Please..." her voice broke as she looked up at him, tears already spilling.
"Please don't hurt him..."
Antonio watched her silently..calmly.
And for a brief moment...there it was.
Raw satisfaction.
His fiancée...on her knees.
Begging.
He shifted his gaze to Damian.
"You survived the feat."
"I'm surprised."
Damian bowed his head slightly.
Regina's head snapped up as her brows furrowed.
Then it clicked.
Her breath hitched.
"You... did that on purpose?"
She rose to her feet slowly, rage bubbling through her veins.
"You sent him there to get him killed?!"
Antonio didn't even blink.
"He survived it."
A slight tilt of his head.
"He has potential."
A pause...then..
"Unfortunately."
Her fists clenched as her entire body trembled.
"You-"
Her voice cracked, tears burning hotter now.
Camelio shifted beside Antonio, already alert.
Ready...In case she made a move.
Antonio's gaze returned to her, cold and sharp.
"You deceived me."
Silence fell.
"You lied to me."
Regina's chest rose and fell rapidly.
"I hate liars."
His tone dropped to a deadly one.
"I told you before... you don't lie to me and walk away."
She opened her mouth, but nothing came out.
Fear, anger, regret... All choking her at once.
Then, Camelio cocked his gun, pointing it directly at Damian.
Regina gasped and dropped to her knees again.
"Please! Please-don't kill him!" she cried, her palms pressed together desperately.
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
Antonio tilted his head slightly, amused.
"What do you think you're doing?"
"Begging me... your fiancé... not to kill someone I dislike?"
His voice sharpened on the word 'Fiancé'.
"He's just my messenger."
"I don't like him."
Regina's lips trembled.
Then she broke...
"He's my boyfriend."
"He's been my boyfriend before I ever came here... before I got involved with you."
Her voice shook, but she didn't stop.
"You asked me to be your pretend fiancée, and I agreed."
"It's my fault... I should've told you."
She swallowed hard.
"But he's done nothing wrong... please... spare him."
Antonio stared at her, unmoved.
"What makes you think I'll listen to you?"
Her voice came out smaller now.
"...Because I'm your fiancée."
Silence fell, then...
"Temporarily," Antonio corrected coldly.
"I'll dispose of you too when I'm done."
Her head lowered. Defeated.
"Then punish me instead..." she whispered.
"Let him go."
"I'll do anything you ask."
Antonio's brow arched slightly.
"Anything... you say?"
"...Anything." She breathed out.
Damian's head snapped toward her.
"No."
He stood up despite his injuries.
His voice firm.
"Regina is my girlfriend. She's done nothing wrong."
He faced Antonio fully now.
"You forcing her into this... this 'fiancée' nonsense is wrong."
"I don't know who you think you are...but you're not the boss of us."
Regina's eyes widened.
"Damian-"
"I'm taking her back to America."
Antonio chuckled.
A Low, mocking sound.
"So the chicken finally talks back."
Camelio's grip tightened on his weapon as he glared back at Damian.
"I don't care what you say," Damian continued.
"We're leaving. Right now."
"Regina owes you nothing."
"You're just a heartless kidnapper taking advantage of her."
Michael stood frozen, still trying to process everything.
Antonio simply sat down, crossed his legs and smiled.
"Very well."
The words were too easy and smooth.
"Let's go, babe." Damian reached for Regina...trying to pull her up.
She turned and looked back at Antonio.
That calmness...
It scared her more than anything.
"Damian... no... wait-"
"Get up. We're leaving."
"We can't!" she whispered urgently.
"He'll kill us-"
"I'll drag you out myself if I have to."
Before she could resist, he lifted her.
But-
THUD.
Camelio struck him hard.
Damian collapsed instantly, making Regina scream.
"No! No-!"
She rushed toward him but was held back.
Camelio grabbed Damian and slammed the butt of his gun against his head.
He went still.
Unconscious.
"Damian!!"
Her voice shattered.
She covered her mouth, sobbing uncontrollably.
Antonio sighed like the entire scene bored him.
"Take her back to her room."
He waved a hand dismissively.
Michael hesitated, then obeyed.
Regina struggled as she was dragged away.
Her tear-filled eyes burned with something new.
Hatred.
"You'll pay for this, De Luca!"
Her voice echoed.
Raw and broken.
"I promise you!"
Antonio didn't respond nor look at her.
"Take him to the medical room," he added calmly.
Camelio dragged Damian's unconscious body away.
*
Regina sat at the edge of the bed, her shoulders trembling slightly as she tried to steady her breathing.
The room felt suffocating.
The baby cried in her arms...loud, restless... innocent.
And it only made everything worse.
Her head throbbed, her chest ached, her heart...?
Completely shattered.
What have I done...?
Her thoughts spiraled violently.
Damian.
She put him in danger.
Everything was collapsing at once.
"I can't do this..." she whispered under her breath, her fingers tightening around the child.
"I haven't even submitted my proposal...I only came here for work and then, this happened..."
A soft creak and the door opened.
No knock.
Of course.
She didn't even need to look up to know who it was.
Her jaw tightened but she still looked.
Antonio.
Standing there like he owned not just the mansion...
...but the air she breathed.
Her expression hardened instantly and she looked away.
"I see this is the welcome my woman gives me now," he said calmly, stepping inside.
Her lips parted in disbelief.
"Your woman?" she scoffed quietly. "You don't even respect boundaries."
He shut the door behind him.
"I don't need to."
"I own this place."
Her grip on the baby tightened.
"I have nothing to say to you, De Luca. Please leave my room."
He didn't move nor react, instead, his gaze lingered on her... slow... deliberate.
"One reason you're still breathing," he said quietly, "is the way my family's name sounds when you say it."
She frowned.
"What?"
"There's something about it..." he continued, stepping closer. "The way it rolls off your tongue."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"It does something to me."
Regina blinked then scoffed.
"You're insane."
He ignored that.
His attention shifted to the baby...
Still crying loudly..
Persistent.
Annoying.
His expression dimmed slightly.
"Aren't you going to do something about that?" he said, almost irritated. "Her crying is beginning to irritate me."
Regina froze, then slowly turned to him.
Her eyes burned.
She immediately pulled the baby closer to her chest.
Protective. Instinctive.
"You're not going to hurt her too, are you?"
For a brief second, something flickered in his eyes.
But it disappeared just as quickly.
"What do you take me for?"
A monster.
The word echoed loudly in her head but she said nothing.
She dared not.
Instead, she just stared....Guarded and careful.
He stepped closer again.
"I didn't come here for this," he said.
"Then why are you here?" she snapped.
"Mia madre is visiting tomorrow."
That caught her off guard.
"...What?"
He slipped his hands into his pockets.
"She wants to meet my fiancée."
Regina blinked slowly.
"...And somehow, that's my problem?"
"You are the reason she's coming." He said.
Her brows furrowed.
"How does that even make sense?"
"She wants to see the woman I've chosen."
Chosen.
That word sat wrong.
"Mia madre is coming to see my Fiancée and I want you to be at your best when she's here, if Mia madre is happy, I am happy. But if she's not...I get angry..."
She let out a dry laugh.
"Let me get this straight... I'm supposed to play your fake fiancée and now I'm also responsible for impressing your mother?"
"Yes."
She scoffed harder.
"I'll play my part. That's it. I'm not responsible for her happiness."
His jaw ticked.
A very subtle reaction...but dangerous.
"I'll let that slide," he said quietly.
"Because of the child."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Next time... choose your words carefully."
The air shifted.
He reached forward and touched the baby.
Regina turned away instantly, shielding her.
Her eyes screamed it loud enough..
Get your filthy hand off!
He noticed.
But what surprised both of them was that the baby stopped crying immediately.
Silence.
Tiny hands reaching...toward him.
Antonio stilled, backing away.
Regina blinked.
"...Oh, now you stop crying?" she muttered. "Really?"
She looked at the baby in disbelief.
"Interesting," she added sarcastically. "You cry in my arms, but the moment he touches you, you calm down?"
She narrowed her eyes at the child.
"You should be scared of him, you know."
Antonio exhaled softly.
"Don't try to teach the child to hate me."
Then, as if remembering something, his tone shifted completely.
"You know..." he said slowly.
"I realized something yesterday."
Regina's body stiffened as her heart skipped.
"I might not have done an actual background check on you before..that's why you thought you could play games with me."
Her throat went dry.
"But I corrected that mistake, yesterday."
His eyes dropped to the baby.
Then back to her.
"Whose child is that... cara mia?"
Her world stopped.
Her lips parted.
No words came out.
"You've been lying to me," he continued calmly.
"From the very beginning."
Each word landed like a blade.
"You really think I'm a fool?"
"I-I didn't-"
"You've been a bad girl."
Her breath hitched.
"...How should I punish you?".
Her chest rose and fell rapidly. Fear woven in her eyes.
"I didn't mean to-"
"Too bad." He murmured and suddenly, his hand shot out.
He gripped her neck, firm, cold.
She gasped as her body froze instantly.
His face was inches from hers.
Eyes locked.
Dark and dangerous.
"Hai degli occhi bellissimi..."
(You have beautiful eyes...)
His voice dropped.
His thumb brushed the tears from her cheek, gently..contradicting everything else.
"I wouldn't want to ruin them."
Slowly, he loosened his grip but didn't step away.
"Will you lie to me again?"
She shook her head immediately.
"Say it properly."
Her lips trembled.
"I won't lie to you again."
His eyes hardened.
"To who?"
"...You."
"Then say it."
She swallowed hard..
"I won't lie to you again... Antonio."
Silence fell as a smirk grew at the corner of his lips...
"There it is again." He said.
Her heart pounded.
"Even my name sounds sinful coming from you."
He straightened, finally stepping back.
"That's a good girl."
The words felt like chains.
He walked toward the door and stopped.
"Be ready tomorrow."
A glance over his shoulder.
"Cara mia."
He left...then, the door clicked shut.
A crushing silence took over as Regina collapsed slightly..
A breath she didn't realize she was holding escaped her.
"I thought I was going to die..."
Her hand went to her neck.
She was still trembling.
The baby stared at her quietly.
Almost... sympathetically.