CHAPTER ONE

{Friday, 14th February, 2025}

It was a fairly fine evening, a calm melody from the eight-man band orchestra filled the air. People dressed in fancy dinner gowns and suits. Some gossiping and giggling while others made important business connections. Some stuffing their faces with food, while others resigned to a simple glass of whatever wine suited their taste. Some praying the party lasted longer while others couldn't wait to get back to the comfort of their own homes. Some showcasing they were lovebirds while others jealously wished they were in their shoes.

Amidst all this diverse people gathered in one place was Luna Defalco. Dressed in a long black body-fitting gown and red stiletto heels, her gaze moved over everyone who had come to attend her birthday party that evening and her anger grew the longer she stared.

He wasn't there. The party commenced over an hour ago and still, he was nowhere to be found.

Watching everyone laughing and enjoying themselves, watching those who were lovebirds act so clingy towards each other, all these things only fueled her anger because he wasn't there.

Was he planning to miss her birthday party? She wondered. He wouldn't dare, she tried to assure herself with those words. Yes, he had called her earlier in the day and wished her a happy birthday, still, he had no right to miss her party!

A person doesn't turn twenty-five twice! This was the only time she'd ever get to celebrate her twenty-fifth birthday and he would dare not attend?!

Trying her best not to begin nervously biting her nails in front of her guests, Luna, clenched her hands together instead.

From the corner of her eyes, she could see a man approaching her. Everyone knew she only danced with her father and the man she's been waiting for at these kinds of parties, but she already had her dance with her father, and since that particular man was not there, every Tom, Dick, and Julio have been approaching her to have one dance.

At this point, she was like a steaming kettle about to explode.

"Signorina Defalco, if you would do me the honor of—" The man's words caught in his throat as her dark violet eyes glared at him. He gulped and stepped back as she arose from her fancy gothic-themed throne. The lid on her rage had finally been blown away.

With no further glance at the man whose words had disappeared, Luna moved her feet and walked out on all the many guests.

"He's not here yet!" She fumed, heels furiously stomping the ground like she meant to leave a hole in every spot she stepped.

"Just calm down a bit, I'm sure he's on his way." says, Maria, her long-time nanny while briskly walking behind her trying to keep up with her strides. Maria knew that her mistress could easily turn her own birthday party into a bloodbath in a matter of minutes.

"Where's Papa?" Luna asks, trying to listen to Maria and calm herself as much as she can.

"In his study with a guest. I think they're discussing something important." Maria replied while tenderly wiping the sweat off Luna's neck with a handkerchief.

"Important, my foot. What's more important than his daughter?" she says and instantly began matching to her father's study. "Stupid dress!" She hissed because the dress hindered her movement.

*BAM*BAM*BAM*

She pounded on the door to her father's study like she was willing to break it down and then pushed the door open wide without receiving a response.

"What's the need of knocking when you won't wait for a response before barging in?" At the sound of that familiar voice that grows deeper every new year, a sweet shiver ran through her spine and caused her entire demeanor to switch from an angry witch to a teenage girl staring at her crush.

"When will you change, Piccola?" The frown on her face vanished and was replaced by a blush as he turned his head towards her. Strands of his slightly long black hair fell over silver-blue eyes that gazed at her with a smile he always put in place for her.

Yes, that was him. The man she'd been waiting for. The man she'd been in love with for as long as she could remember.

It was Zeno Silvestri… He came.