CHAPTER 106: THE STRANGER’S KISS

The music was soft, low, almost sinful in the way it swayed through the air wrapping around Alessia like invisible silk.

She hadn’t meant to dance, God knew she hadn’t even wanted to.

But pain had a way of making people reckless, and tonight, pain had found her too easily.

Her heart was a battlefield, her mind screaming Luca’s name, yet her body moved with the stranger like it had forgotten loyalty.

His cologne was unfamiliar, his hands firm but not intrusive, his voice low as he whispered, "You deserve to feel alive again."

Something inside her cracked.

For a fleeting second, Alessia allowed herself to forget—forget the tears, the silence, the distance that had slowly built between her and Luca. Her world had become noise and emptiness, and here was a stranger reminding her of what it felt like to feel.

Then reality struck like lightning.

A jolt of guilt shot through her chest. She froze mid-step, her eyes widening as if waking from a daze. What was she doing? Dancing with another man while she’s married and also pregnant with Luca’s child.

Her breath hitched. "No... no, I can’t," she murmured, stepping back.

The man’s brows furrowed slightly, confusion flickering in his dark eyes. But Alessia already shook her head, her heart pounding against her ribs. "I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be doing this in the first place. I don’t even know you, I’m married remember."

The music played on, but her body felt cold. Her soul screamed Luca’s name again.

She pulled her hand away and turned, walking swiftly toward the table where Fredo sat watching her like a hawk. His face was tense, his posture straight, hand close to the inside of his jacket where his weapon rested.

"I need to go home," Alessia whispered, her voice trembling. "Now."

Fredo didn’t question it. "Yes, ma’am."

As they began to walk toward the exit, Alessia tried to steady her breath.

She could still feel the phantom warmth of the stranger’s touch on her skin. Why did he feel so familiar? That scent. That quiet authority that pull.

Before she could finish the thought....

A strong arm wrapped around her waist from behind.

Alessia gasped, her body jolting backward into a wall of warmth and power. The stranger spun her gently, one hand gripping her waist as the other tilted her chin up and before she could resist, his lips claimed hers.

It wasn’t a kiss of lust. It was deep, commanding... possessive.

Her mind went blank. Fredo’s chair screeched behind her as he stood.

"Boss, step back, " Fredo barked, pulling out his gun in a flash.

Chaos exploded.

Several men moved instantly, their weapons drawn, Glasses shattered. The hum of the crowd turned into panicked murmurs as the bodyguards surrounded them.

Alessia shoved the stranger away, her eyes wide and furious. "Who do you think you are?.. " she yelled, wiping her lips, trembling between rage and shock.

The stranger stood still, his face partially hidden under the shadows of the chandelier, his shoulders straight, his stance screaming of dominance.

"Seize him," Alessia commanded, her voice sharp and cold to mask her inner storm.

The guards hesitated... then something shifted. One by one, they began to lower their heads.

Fredo frowned. "What the hell are you all doing? I said seize him."

But no one moved. Instead, they bowed.

Alessia blinked, confusion rippling through her chest. "What’s going on? Why are they.... "

Then she heard it.

That voice.

Smooth, Deep, and Familiar.

"Because they know their master when they see him."

The air around her froze. Her heartbeat faltered.

Slowly, Alessia turned, the lights flickering across the room as her eyes lifted to the face she thought she’d never see here not like this, not tonight.

Luca.

Her husband, Her torment, Her love.

He stood before her in the full authority of his power, his black suit molded to his frame like sin itself, his eyes burning with something between fury and hunger.

The smirk on his lips was dark and unyielding.

"You dance beautifully, cara mia," he said, his voice low and magnetic. "Even when it’s not supposed to be with me."

Her breath caught. "Luca..."

He took a slow step closer. "Do you know how long I’ve been watching you, Alessia? Waiting to see how far your grief would take you? Wondering if my wife would still know the difference between revenge... and betrayal?"

Her throat tightened. "You followed me?"

"I tested you." he said.

The words sliced through her like a knife.

"I wanted to see if your heart still belonged to me, and to taste your loyalty.," Luca continued, his gaze unwavering. "And you almost failed, amore mio. Almost."

Tears threatened her eyes. "You had no right.... "

"I have every right," he growled softly, his hand gripping her chin, forcing her to meet his eyes. "You’re mine, Alessia. My wife, My sin and My redemption. And I don’t share what’s mine."

Her lips quivered, half in anger, half in ache. "You hurt me first, Luca. You broke me ."

"And yet," he murmured, brushing his thumb across her trembling lips, "you still tremble for me."

Her heart raced, her body betraying her fury with its desire.

She hated that he was right. The electricity between them was too real, too raw.

"Let me go," she whispered.

He leaned closer, their breaths tangling. "You can’t run from what you are, Alessia. You’re the chaos in my peace and the peace in my chaos. And until death takes us.... "

"Enough" she snapped, pushing him back. "You don’t get to decide for me anymore!"

For the first time, Luca’s composure cracked. He studied her face, her trembling lip, her tearful eyes and his voice softened. "Then decide now. Tell me to leave, and I will."

There was Silence.

Alessia’s lips parted, but the words refused to come.

Because even after everything, her heart still beat for him.

She turned away, whispering, "I can’t forgive you yet."

Luca’s jaw tightened, but there was something like pain flickering behind his control. "Then I’ll earn it," he said finally. "Even if it takes my last breath."

And as quickly as he appeared, Luca walked away leaving a trail of stunned silence behind him.

Alessia stood frozen, her body still trembling, her soul burning with confusion, longing, and disbelief.

********

Meanwhile, miles away...

Daisy’s apartment smelled of vanilla candles and distrust.

She stood by the window, her arms folded, her heart racing as Romeo placed a bouquet of white lilies on her coffee table.

"I told you to stop coming here," she said, her tone sharp but her eyes soft with conflict. "Romeo, you can’t keep stalking me. You betrayed me once, and since then, I can’t even look at you without remembering it."

Romeo sighed, his dark eyes filled with regret. "Daisy, I’m not here to hurt you."

"Then leave." she said with anger in her tone.

He stepped closer, his voice lowering. "Someone tried to harm you the previous night."

Her brows furrowed. "What?"

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a burnt piece of paper with half a name visible. "A man you once trusted is behind it. But I stopped him before he reached you."

"Who was that?" she asked him.

Instead of answering, Romeo cupped her cheek. "You don’t need to know tonight. Just trust me this once again."

Before Daisy could pull away, his lips brushed hers softly, hesitantly.

For a second, she didn’t move. Her body melted into his warmth, her heart racing with confusion and a forbidden flicker of hope.

Then.....

The door swung open with a loud crash.

Daisy froze, clinging to Romeo instinctively.

The sound of boots echoed through the room.

Romeo’s arms wrapped around her protectively, shielding her with his body. "Don’t move," he whispered, tightening his hold.

The air grew thick with tension.

**********

Back at the ballroom...

Alessia was still standing where Luca had left her, the echo of his words haunting her. Fredo approached quietly.

"Madam, should I follow him?" he asked.

She shook her head slowly. "No. Let him go. Maybe... maybe that’s what both of us need tonight."

But deep inside, she knew that nothing about Luca was ever simple. He never appeared without reason. And he never left without leaving a storm behind.

As she walked toward the exit, something in her heart told her, this night wasn’t over.

******

Far across the world...

Under the fading light of dusk, Donato and Princess Elowen trudged through the muddy banks of River Sile.

The sky glowed amber, and the dying sun reflected off the calm surface of the water.

"We’re close," Donato said, his voice hoarse from exhaustion.

Elowen, her hair damp and golden under the sun’s reflection, stopped suddenly. "Wait."

He turned. "What is it?"

She knelt, brushing away wet leaves near the edge of the river. "Look."

There, half-buried under soil and surrounded by ants, was a worn-out paper—its edges eaten by time.

Donato crouched beside her. "Probably another map fragment."

But Elowen’s expression changed as she lifted it carefully.

The ants crawled away, leaving the paper fragile and torn. She unfolded it slowly.

The ink was faint, smudged by water, yet one word remained clearly written like a whisper across destiny itself.

She gasped.

"Donato..."

He looked over her shoulder.

The name glowed faintly under the setting sun.

The name was boldly written....

"Alessia."