The crowd swelled, drawn by Roslyn's frantic screams. Someone hastily dialed the police, and soon the sound of sirens echoed.
Leonardo struggled to calm Roslyn, gently coaxing her into the car.
"Please, Mia Bella, calm down; you're safe now," he soothed.
Roslyn's panic intensified.
"Let me go! Help! Someone help me!" she shrieked.
Desperate to pacify her, Leonardo produced a small, shimmering star-shaped pendant.
"Look, Mia Bella, I have your star," he said.
Roslyn's gaze faltered, her screams subsiding.
For an instant, her expression softened.
But before Leonardo could capitalize on this calm, two police officers strode toward the scene.
"Cosa è successo qui?" (What happened here?) one officer asked.
"Quest'uomo sta rapendo questa donna!" (This man is kidnapping this woman!) someone shouted.
Leonardo stepped forward.
"Mi scusi, agente; c'è stato un malinteso" (Excuse me, officer; there's been a misunderstanding), he explained.