☆Chapter 42: The Mysterious Change in Seraphina☆

A Different Aura

"Something's wrong."

Lorenzo's brows furrowed as he leaned back in his leather chair, his piercing gaze never leaving Seraphina, who sat by the garden, twirling a strand of her hair with a dreamy smile.

"Wrong?" Matteo snorted, his eyes also locked on Seraphina. "She looks… happy. Isn't that a good thing?"

"Happy is one thing." Lorenzo's jaw clenched. "But she's too happy. It's unsettling."

Matteo crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing.

"She's glowing, Boss. That's not normal?"

"Exactly." Lorenzo's frown deepened.

☆☆☆

Seraphina had been acting… different.

She was giggling to herself, smiling for no reason, and—most alarmingly—she hadn't pranked Matteo or Lucian in days.

"This isn't normal." Lucian finally spoke up, his voice filled with concern.

"She hasn't tried to sneak out."

"She hasn't blackmailed me either." Matteo blinked, genuinely confused.

Lorenzo's eyes darkened, his grip on his pen tightening.

"She's in love."

The room fell silent.

Matteo's eyes widened.

Lucian's heart stopped.

"What?" Lucian's voice cracked, his face turning pale.

"She's in love," Lorenzo repeated, his tone cold and dangerous. "And I need to know who's foolish enough to think they can touch my daughter."

☆☆☆

"No way…" Lucian murmured under his breath, his heart pounding in his ears.

Why did it hurt?

Why did the thought of Seraphina being in love feel like a knife twisting in his chest?

"She's just my friend… right?" He tried to reason with himself.

But then he remembered.

They weren't kids anymore.

Seraphina was 18 now—graceful, beautiful, and… untouchable.

And he…

"No." Lucian shook his head, forcing the thought away.

"She's my friend."

But was that really all?

☆☆☆

Lorenzo wasn't taking any chances.

"Matteo, tail her."

"Already on it, Boss." Matteo grinned, his eyes gleaming with excitement. "I'll have a full report by tonight."

"Lucian, double her security."

Lucian nodded, his jaw tight.

"If anyone so much as breathes near her, I'll know."

"Good."

☆☆☆

By dinnertime, the tension was unbearable.

Lorenzo couldn't focus on his paperwork.

Matteo kept pacing around the mansion.

Lucian barely touched his food, lost in thought.

And Seraphina?

She was glowing.

"So, Sera…" Lorenzo finally spoke, his tone overly casual. "Anything… new lately?"

"Hmm?" Seraphina blinked, her innocent eyes wide. "Nope. Same old. Why?"

Lorenzo's eyes narrowed.

"You sure?"

"Positive, Papa."

Liar.

Matteo glanced at Lucian, who was practically holding his breath.

"You're spending a lot of time in the garden," Matteo prodded. "Someone there catch your eye?"

Seraphina's cheeks turned pink.

Lorenzo's hand twitched.

Matteo was ready to draw his gun.

"Maybe…" Seraphina murmured, her eyes twinkling with mischief.

Lorenzo's blood pressure skyrocketed.

"Who is it?" Lorenzo demanded, his tone low and dangerous.

"Tell us." Lucian's voice was strained, his jaw clenched.

"Well…" Seraphina bit her lip, looking away.

This was it.

The moment of truth.

"He's… tall."

Lorenzo's knuckles turned white.

"Handsome."

Matteo was ready to storm the garden.

"Strong."

Lucian's heart shattered.

"And… fluffy."

"Wait, what?" Matteo froze.

"Fluffy?" Lorenzo blinked.

"What kind of description is that? Is that a new fetish?" Lucian narrowed his eyes.

Seraphina's grin was pure mischief.

"Nonno bought me a dog."

☆☆☆

Silence.

Lorenzo blinked.

Matteo's jaw dropped.

Lucian just… stared.

"A… dog?" Lorenzo's voice was eerily calm.

"Yup!" Seraphina beamed, her eyes sparkling. "A majestic Alaskan Malamute. His name's Apollo."

"A… dog." Matteo repeated, clearly trying to process.

"You've been lovesick… over a dog?" Lucian's eyes twitched.

Seraphina nodded enthusiastically.

"He's so cute! And fluffy! And he listens to me!"

Lorenzo slumped back in his chair, rubbing his temples.

"I canceled three meetings for this."

Matteo sat down, looking utterly defeated.

"I had men tailing her for the whole day, and spend 3 hours for the report."

Lucian felt like a weight had been lifted… only to be replaced by another.

"A dog…" he murmured, almost in disbelief.

"But…" Lorenzo's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"Why didn't you just tell us?"

"Because…" Seraphina grinned mischievously.

"It was fun watching you all panic."

"You're evil, Sera." Matteo groaned, shaking his head.

"A true De Luca." Lorenzo smirked despite himself.

"Papa taught me well." Seraphina winked.

Lucian could only sigh, his heart still pounding, but now for a completely different reason.

"You're going to give us all heart attacks someday."

"Maybe." Seraphina shrugged, her grin never fading.

☆☆☆

The next morning, Apollo trotted into the dining room, his thick fur gleaming and his tongue lolling out in a happy pant.

Lorenzo glanced at the dog, his eyes narrowing.

"At least he's better than some useless suitor."

Apollo barked once, as if in agreement.

"He stays."

Seraphina cheered, hugging the massive dog.

And just like that…

The De Luca family had a new member.

And for once, Lorenzo wasn't completely furious about it.