sia'

was in the back hall of the estate, waiting for my father to finish his call, when the door at the far e

ed out, trying to sou

y voice repli

family, yet his tone was calm. I stepped forward. "

lowed felt like a weight on my ches

a man with a lethal touch, a past shrouded in mystery, and eyes that never spoke but said

toward a worn leather chair. I hes

ged, keeping my tone light desp

ll too alert. "I was sent," he replied. "And I chose to come on my own."

knees. "Sent by whom?" I aske

said. "And by my own n

iecing together lies and half-remembered dreams, and no

he hint of old pain beneath those dark eyes. "What t

his eyes. "I want to know why a man like me is chosen for such a delicate rol

catching me off guard. "

of his jaw. "I do," he said softly. "But truth has many

stant noise-a door shutting somewhere in the estate.

"Nothing is safe in our world," he murmure

at if I ask you, why

ers. "Because I have a score to settle," he said, voice low and r

that promised danger, passion, and a past filled with blood and regret. I strugg

voice dropping to a near-whisper. "A man who was never meant to be

de me shiver. It was the realization that here was a man who c

at the door. "Ms. Alessia, your father cal

later," he said, not unkindly, but with an ed

nd then back at him. "T

nly noise between us. "About choices," he replied. "Abou

rs of my soul. I nodded, uncertain. "I did not choose this life," I said

apped by duty, by fear, by your father's lies. You speak of sacr

eks. "I did what I had to do," I snapp

id you simply follow the rules laid out for you?" He paused,

g a mix of anger and longing. "Freedom...," I repeat

ly comforting. "Freedom is not given," he said. "It

ut his past, about the scars I saw hidden behind his guarded eyes. But before

nd full of authority. "Alessia! R

coming," I called, my voice echoing in the cold hall. I h

with a silent plea. "Later," he

y. I heard my father's voice, thick with anger and d

ce where moments before there had been a quiet, charged conversation. I caught fragments: "...promise... L

emembered every word, every look. His eyes, dark as midnight, still haunted me. I pulled out a small notepad and scribbled f

my door. "Alessia, are y

startled. "Li

wide with worry. "You're not s

t the notepad. "I met s

d further. "Who

ds left my mouth like

, her voice soft. "Roman? The Ro

im in the hall. He is a

ed. "What d

. "He said freedom is taken, not given.

hed mine. "Do

. "There is something about him. I felt both

n mine. "You must be careful, Alessia

is a fire in him. A truth that might c

d. "Promise me y

a. I will not let our family, or y

, and then she left quietly. I sat b

n. I could feel eyes on me-whispers of disapproval and curiosity. I needed to clear my head, to think about Ro

I could almost hear his voice. "Freedom is taken, not given." I closed the book and st

my own mind. That's when I heard a

anding by the wrought-iron gate. Roman. His

ollowing me?" I as

rugged lines of his face. "I am not following, Ale

and strangely drawn. "Speak then. But do n

bt to settle. Not with your father, but with

possibly have to say about my lif

things no one should see. I carry a weight that no man can ignore. A

k. "Stirred what?

rs trembling as I traced the outline of a younger Roman-a man with a sad smile and eyes that held endless sorrow. "I lost someone, lon

does that have to do

. "Everything. Your sacrifice was not in vain, but it is not enough. My past is

othing to do with the col

m saying that I want to help you. I want to break these chains. But you

face for any sign of deceit.

what is ours. We expose your father's lies. We free Livia from this gilded c

I knew that trust was a luxury I could hardly afford. Yet, something in his wor

sound so simple. But I have a

given up on hope. I have seen what your duty has cost you, Alessia. I have seen the scars i

he dew on the garden's leaves. "Heal," I repeate

laim to know healing, only survival. And

ow if I was ready to trust this man, this lethal enigma who carried his past like a secon

approaching. "Alessia! Roman!" It was my father, his voice sharp with dis

he barked, his tone le

mine. "I was speaking with Alessia about matters of im

to every line of his face. "Important? Since when do you

n your behalf," I said, my voice trembling slightly but

?" he snapped. "About what? About t

et intensity. "About truth," he said

t, I felt the room shrink. "This conversation is over," my father said

t plea in my eyes. "We wil

with a mix of regret and deter

se, his dark intensity, stayed with me long after I was locked away in my room. I

. His voice, so steady and certain, whispered in my mind, "Freedom is taken, not given." I knew I had to decide-whethe

gain, writing down fragments of our conversation. "Roman... freedom... sacrifice... pain.

wake. "Alessia?" came a hushed voice f

or a crack. "Li

hispered, as if afraid to speak too loudly. "A man with cold eyes, standi

. "Tell me every

"He looked at me like he knew my pain. Like he promised that if I could b

et someone today," I confessed softly. "Roman Kade. He said truth

heard whispers of him. They say he is dang

something in him-a spark, something that might lead us t

reful, Alessia. I do not w

s voice haunting me. "I know," I murmured. "I will be careful. But I hav

ate, peeking into quiet corners where I might catch a glimpse of his shadow. I spoke in hushed tones with

the courtyard. He was leaning against an ancient stone wall, his eyes fix

" I sai

es a storm of emotions.

ice low and urgent. "I need to show you something," he said. "Someth

. "What is it?" I asked, my

as if gathering his thoughts.

cked room tucked away behind a heavy door. Roman produced a key from inside his jacket-a simple ke

old photographs and letters, yellowed with age. Roman picked up a faded photograph, holding it with a reverence that made my hea

young woman with kind eyes and a hopeful smil

"I lost her to the very life I now lead," he said. "I have built wa

touched his arm. "I know what it's like to be trapped," I murmur

him. "And yet, here you are. You speak of sacrifice and t

," I confessed. "But I did it for Livia. I thou

is too high," he said quietly. "But sometimes, the price i

"How do you break free?" I

back your power," he finally said. "You choose your

what if burning it all down destroys you too

oment, neither of us spoke. Then he sai

. I wanted to reach out and pull him into my arms, to let him know that I was not afraid. But fear held

You must decide. Will you let your life be dictated by th

tions. "I...I don't know," I admitted. "

" he said firmly. "Choose to stand up, even when every part of y

fierce determination that mirrored my own inner turmoil. "I want to believe,

e. "Fear is a part of life," he murmured. "It sharpens you. It r

romise of a life beyond the confines of our family's chains. And yet, a

ound the soft rustle of leaves in the wind. "I will help you," Roman said su

e walk together," I said, my voice trembling with both

e me. I glanced up at Roman, the rain starting to patter against the stone walls. "Promise me,

aid, his voice firm. "We will face the darkness toge

t the weight of my decision. The future was uncertain, and every step was fraught with danger. But for the first time in a

stepped into my world and shattered my illusions of safety and duty. And though I was terrified of what lay ahead, I also fel

e of change. I took a deep breath, the rain min

"Then let's begin," he said, his voice echoi

d every dangerous choice would lead us closer to the freedom we both craved. But as the storm rumbled and the winds howled, I couldn't shake t

t just the promise of a shared destiny, but also the hint of a

. "Then we fail together," he replied. "But if

y whispered conversation, every act of defiance would lead us further into the heart of darkness. And I also knew that the choice I made

lently vowed that no matter how deep the shadows grew, I would fight until the very

e the gathering tempest, I felt a thrill of anticipation mixed