a De Lu

ining room felt like a battlefield. The air was thick wi

ad of the table. His eyes, old but still sha

the first time ever, Aria was seated at the table, next to him. She was practically

cably tailored black dress. My face was a placid m

se, even pieces, feeling Aria's triumpha

ps with a linen napkin. "Katarina," he said, his voic

rigid. He was expecting an a

met my father-in-law's gaze with a polite smile. "It was a complete success, Father.

I confirmed my success, explained my prese

ed nod. "Good. You always b

g. He respected va

ly, "I have another document here

lim, bound report. I handed it to the footm

ared, a flicker of unc

. The title was printed in stark, black letters: *De Lu

rrowing deeper with

time. I discovered several large disbursements to a series of shell corporations and perso

a's face went white. The fork in h

o. "All of these expenditures bypassed the standard approval pro

two targets, a

his?" Alessandro hissed,

ouse," I replied, my tone unassailable. "Ensuring tha

as attacking a breach of business prot

e knew exactly where that money had gone. To her invest

nger on the cover, a slow, rhythmic sound

room held

d eyes on his son

as a minor expense, Father. N

voice was quiet, but it carried the weight of

ing Aria, and he looked at her as if

, I saw a flicker of genuine approval. "You handled this