☆Chapter 20: A Quieter Mansion and Lorenzo’s Growing Agitation☆

The De Luca Mansion… Quiet?

The once lively and chaotic De Luca mansion…

Was now eerily quiet.

No more pranks.

No more sudden glittery explosions from Matteo's room.

No more giggles echoing through the halls.

The staff felt it.

The guards felt it.

Even Nonno felt it.

But most importantly…

Lorenzo felt it.

☆☆☆

Seraphina was completely immersed in school life.

New environment.

New challenges.

New people.

She was thriving.

Every day, she returned home exhausted, her energy drained from keeping up her facade as a normal kid.

Lorenzo, however…

Was not thriving.

☆☆☆

Lorenzo's worries never stop...

"She's been… quiet lately."

Lorenzo's cold gaze was fixed on the reports Matteo was handing him.

"That's called being busy with school, Boss."

Matteo smirked.

"Shouldn't that make you happy?"

Lorenzo ignored the remark.

"Anything suspicious?"

"No threats. No strange movements." Matteo paused.

"Though… she's been spending a lot of time with that Romano kid."

Lorenzo's eyes darkened.

"Lucian."

"Yup."

"How close?"

Matteo grinned.

"Let's just say… he's her shadow."

☆☆☆

Lorenzo's overprotective instincts kick in.

Lorenzo leaned back, his jaw tightening.

"I don't like it."

"Of course, you don't." Matteo chuckled.

"She's growing up, Boss. Making friends."

"She doesn't need friends."

"Try telling her that."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"I will."

☆☆☆

Despite his hectic schedule, Lorenzo made it a point to fetch Seraphina from school.

Every. Single. Day.

Matteo teased him relentlessly.

"Boss, you're the head of a mafia empire. Not an overprotective soccer mom."

Lorenzo ignored him.

"I trust no one."

But deep down…

It wasn't just about trust.

It was about control.

☆☆☆

One afternoon, Lorenzo arrived earlier than usual.

As expected…

Seraphina was chatting with Lucian near the school gates.

"Sera!" Lucian beamed.

"Wanna come over to my house sometime?"

"Maybe!" Seraphina grinned.

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

Sera?

"Sir… she's fine—" Matteo's words died as Lorenzo stepped forward.

☆☆☆

"Lucian."

Lorenzo's voice was cold and commanding.

The boy froze.

Slowly, Lucian turned.

And there stood Lorenzo De Luca.

Six-foot-two.

Dressed in a tailored black suit.

Eyes as cold as death.

Lucian's face went pale.

"S-Sir…"

"You've been spending a lot of time with my daughter."

Lorenzo stared him down.

"Do you like her?"

Lucian gulped.

"Y-Yes, sir."

"Good."

Silence.

"But if anything happens to her…" Lorenzo's voice dropped lower.

"Even by accident…"

Lucian's knees buckled.

"I'll know."

☆☆☆

"Sir."

Seraphina's voice cut through the tension.

"What are you doing?"

"Having a conversation." Lorenzo didn't look away from Lucian.

"You're scaring him."

"Good."

"Sir."

Lorenzo finally turned to her.

"Go wait in the car."

"But—"

"Now."

Seraphina huffed but complied.

☆☆☆

"Sir…" Lucian spoke softly.

Lorenzo looked down.

"I'll protect her."

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"What?"

"I-I'll protect Sera." Lucian stood straighter, despite his trembling knees.

"Even if I'm scared… I won't let anything happen to her."

Silence.

Lorenzo studied him.

The kid's terrified… but still standing his ground?

"We'll see."

Lorenzo wasn't convinced.

☆☆☆

On the way home…

Lorenzo's mind was elsewhere.

Sera.

That kid called her Sera.

"Sir?"

Seraphina's voice snapped him back.

"What?"

"Why are you glaring?"

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"I don't like that kid."

"Lucian? Why?"

"He calls you Sera."

Seraphina blinked.

"And?"

"I'm your father. I'm still 'sir.'"

Mateo, who was sitting in the front seat, was doing his best to hold in his laughter.

He failed.

"HA!"

"Mateo."

"Sorry, Boss."

"You're not sorry."

"No, I'm not."

"Sir…"

Seraphina's eyes twinkled with mischief.

"Maybe if you were nicer, I'd call you something else."

Lorenzo's brow lifted.

"Like?"

Seraphina grinned.

"Papa?"

Silence.

Mateo choked.

Lorenzo's expression didn't change.

But his ears turned red.

"No."

"Why not?"

"Sir is fine."

☆☆☆

"Boss…" Mateo's grin was devilish.

"Imagine… Papa Lorenzo."

Lorenzo shot him a deadly glare.

"Shut up."

"I think it suits you."

"Mateo."

"Papa Lorenzo… protector of the De Luca heir."

"Get out."

"We're in the car."

Lorenzo's jaw clenched.

"I swear…"

☆☆☆

Seraphina leaned back, hiding her smile.

"Papa Lorenzo, huh?"

She'd save that one for later.

For now…

Her first friend.

Her freedom at school.

And the chaos she loved.

Everything was falling into place.