~ Chapter 2 ~

Leo sat in his study, the dim glow of the table lamp casting long shadows on the dark mahogany desk.

The whiskey in his glass remained untouched, the amber liquid swirling gently as he turned the events of the night over in his mind.

Seraphina.

Her name lingered in his thoughts like a haunting melody.

She didn't belong in his world, a realm drenched in blood and betrayal.

And yet, her innocence had managed to pierce the armor he had spent years perfecting.

He clenched his jaw, annoyed at himself for letting her affect him.

He was Leonardo Romano—il diavolo. His focus was his empire, his survival, and the ruthless domination of anyone who dared stand in his way.

A girl like her?

She was a distraction, a weakness he couldn't afford.

Still, he couldn't forget her.

The way her eyes had glimmered with curiosity, untainted by fear or judgment.

The way her smile had been so sincere, so unlike the forced, calculated expressions he was used to.

He leaned back in his chair, staring at the cityscape through the large window.

Rome was a glittering sea of lights, but its beauty was deceptive.

Beneath the surface lurked danger, a reality Seraphina clearly had no understanding of.

His phone buzzed, snapping him out of his thoughts.

He picked it up, his cold demeanor returning instantly.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice sharp.

"Sir," came the voice of Matteo, his most trusted lieutenant. "We have a situation. There was an attempt on one of our warehouses tonight."

Leo's grip on the phone tightened. "Who?"

"The Rossetti family. They're trying to push into our territory."

Leo's lips curved into a grim smile. "Fools."

"Your orders?" Matteo asked.

"Send a message," Leo said, his voice laced with lethal intent. "Make it clear that their actions have consequences."

"Yes, sir."

Leo ended the call, his mind already calculating his next move.

The Rossettis were nothing more than a nuisance, but nuisances had a way of becoming threats if left unchecked.

He couldn't afford to show weakness—not now, not ever.

Yet even as he plotted his retaliation, the memory of Seraphina lingered at the edges of his thoughts.

~~~

Meanwhile, in Seoul

Seraphina sat by the large window of her room, her knees tucked under her chin as she gazed at the moonlit sky.

The sprawling Eogeum estate was silent, its grandeur feeling more like a gilded cage than a home.

She couldn't stop thinking about the man she had met earlier. Leonardo.

There was something about him—something dark and enigmatic.

He had been cold, almost frightening, but she had seen something else in his eyes.

A flicker of something hidden, something he didn't want the world to see.

She sighed, taking a small bite of the cookie she had smuggled back with her.

It wasn't often she got to sneak out, and she had been so careful not to get caught.

Her father would be furious if he found out.

He had always been overly protective, keeping her away from the world and its dangers.

But Seraphina didn't see the world as dangerous.

She saw it as beautiful, full of mysteries waiting to be discovered.

She traced her finger along the cold glass, her thoughts drifting back to Leonardo.

Why had he seemed so… guarded?

And why did she feel like she had glimpsed a part of him no one else had?

A soft knock at her door pulled her from her reverie.

"Come in," she said softly.

Her maid, Hana, entered, her expression anxious. "Miss Seraphina, your father wishes to see you in the morning. He seemed… displeased."

Seraphina's heart sank.

Had he found out about her little adventure?

"Thank you, Hana," she said, offering a small smile.

Hana hesitated. "Miss, please be careful. You know how your father is."

"I will," Seraphina promised.

As Hana left, Seraphina's resolve hardened.

She wasn't sure what it was about Leonardo, but she couldn't shake the feeling that their paths were destined to cross again.

And when they did, she wanted to understand him—to uncover the secrets that lay behind his stormy eyes.

~~~

Back in Rome...

Leo stepped into the underground chamber of his estate, a vast, cold space where his most trusted men awaited him.

The walls were lined with weapons, and the air was thick with tension.

"Matteo," he said, his voice echoing.

"Yes, sir," Matteo responded, stepping forward.

"Prepare the team. We're moving against the Rossettis tonight. I want them to understand the cost of their insolence."

"Yes, sir."

As Matteo began issuing orders, Leo's thoughts flickered once more to Seraphina.

He didn't know why she had unsettled him so deeply, but one thing was certain: she was a complication he didn't need.

And yet, in the darkest corners of his mind, he couldn't help but wonder if she was a complication he couldn't avoid.