sia'

he dim light flickering on wet pavement. I was barely sixteen. I was scared, hungry, and angr

d low, "you know

. But why me?" I whispe

lear. You give what you must, and I give you freedom

d. "I can't...

was iron. "You must

gain was simple, but the cost was steep-my innocence, my voice, my future. And

said, voice

ears. "I will do it," I said, barely able to meet his ga

_____________

house, a single light bulb dangling from the ceiling. There were others there-men in dark suits, thei

, his voice rough. "This is for your sis

e lump in my throat. "I

sign your end of the bargai

esitated. My hand shook as I reached out, the wei

omeone his

pilled blood on paper. With that stroke, I gave up a piece of mys

said. "You have seal

tter. "What do I get?" I asked

ce echoing in the silence. "But remem

_____________

my hand. My mind raced. I could feel the heavy chains of duty wrap arou

d me. "Why did you do it, Alessia?" she had whispered once

, voice barely a murmu

I could ever regain. The promise had cost me my dreams. I traded my futu

_____________

watching my back, always listening for footsteps in the

g to dry my tears with a borrowed scarf, I heard a s

"You look like you've seen a ghost

. "Just tired, M

g gently on my shoulder. "I know what

ide. "How?" I whisp

he men. I saw your pain. I know

. "I had no choice. My sis

er. "But what about you?

as silent except for the patt

ne day you'll find a way to break thes

_____________

bargain again and again-the cold, hard words, the final stroke of the pen. I could

and opened it to find a shadowy figure. It was Elena, an old

's talk... talk of betrayal. They say the pr

nded. "What

u as a pawn. The bargain was never about freedom. It was a way to

opping the notebook. "No, t

, eyes brimming with tear

ry." And before I could ask more, she vanished into

_____________

I had made. In the days that followed, I began to see signs of deceit everywhere. At

the rustling of leaves, I heard footsteps behind me. I turned to

he said softly. "The promise you

What do you

es on behind closed doors. Your father's deal-it's not about lo

my spine. "But how can I fix

"Maybe it's time to break the barga

h hope and fear. "I'll do anything for

trength within you, Alessia. Even a

_____________

ed that night to find a way to free Livia from the gilded cage my family had built. I would confront my

d to learn the truth. I found her in a sma

d, voice low and urgent. "How d

er of manipulation. He uses promises like chains to bind us. The deal you made-it was a test.

Then I will find a way

lessia. The path you choose may lead you into darkness. But sometime

_____________

rs, trying to piece together the twisted web of my family's legacy. In a dusty attic, I uncovered a journal belonging to

t. "I sacrificed so much," one line read. "For my c

wrap around me. "I will not let your sacrifice b

ould confront the men who held our fates in their hands. I wou

rs who had quietly supported me over the years. In a hidden room benea

e a bargain-a deal sealed in blood. And now, I see that it was a lie. My fat

ning with resolve. "What d

I will confront him about this deal. I wi

tone cautious. "A

hen I'll find another way. I'll

first time in years, I felt a glimmer of hope-a

_____________

rt pounding in my ears. The door creaked as I pushed it open, revealing him seate

teady but filled with suppre

ging at his lips. "Ah, Alessia.

sides. "The deal. The bargain I made. I

ou always were too idealistic. The d

d what about me? What

r sacrifice was necessary. You gave up your dreams so that Liv

f her, not of you. I will not let you

ice a deadly whisper. "If you try to break the deal, Alessia, you will los

cing. "Then I choose to lo

eight of my decision pressed down on me. I could feel the blood pounding i

en. Marco and Luca rushed in, their faces set

icy. "You have no idea

w exactly what I'm dealing with-the chains you've wrappe

aze flickered between us. Finally, he stood, kno

_____________

e. I had spoken my truth, and the road ahead was uncertain and treacherous. I knew m

ispered to myself, "For Livia, for

lt the first stirrings of change-a resolve that, no matter how deep the betrayal, I

ure watching from the darkness. My pulse raced. Was it one of his men, or

lled out, voice ste

hum of the city. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was j

g with every step. I had made a bargain, sealed in blood and

uld clash with the pull of desire. My heart was a battlefield-a mix of love for my siste

s, "I won't let this be the

gerous journey to undo the chains that had bound me for so long. The deal was sealed in blood, but I woul

_____________

ld a secret meaning. I found myself caught between the old world of cruelty and the new ho

he kitchen with Luca, o

k the deal?" he asked, stirring a p

t know. But I have to try. I can't stand by an

e brave, Alessia. But be careful. Your fath

have no choice. I made the promise.

was shattered by a soft knock on my door. I o

"They're moving against us. Your father's

cold. "What

ay there's a hit scheduled. Not on you, but on anyon

own again. "So, it's not just about breakin

ible. "We're in deep, Alessia. And

fight. For Livia, for our free

_____________

ld spend my life trying to break. But with every threat, every whispered secret, and every act of betrayal, I grew stro

rkness. I knew the road ahead would be dangerous, filled with twists and turns I c

y to myself, "I begin

and unspoken threats, I carried with me the memory of that dark night-the night I sealed a deal in blood. It was a

ch step forward was a step toward reclaiming my life-and my sister

led me here. I would not be a victim of fate. I would write my own