Sherina's POV
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"So, how's your first night here, Sherina?" Grandmother' s gentle voice sliced through the quiet hum of breakfast, her eyes twinkling behind her teacup.
"Uhm... It was okay" I replied with a polite smile, though I could feel the corners of my lips twitch with the weight of last night's chaos.
After I ran from that mysterious man last night, I went straight to Delly's room. I fumbled around and searched for my phone with trembling hands.
Even though it was deep into the night on the island.
I needed to hear her voice.
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Flashback!
"Found it!"
I knew I was breaking a promise the moment I unlocked my phone.
Delly had asked for distance—from her family, from the past that clung too tightly.
'Tell them the island has terrible reception, I don't want to hear anything from them, No calls. No messages. Just peace.'
She once told me, her voice laced with pain she never fully explained.
And I had agreed. But now, peace was the last thing I had.
My fingers trembled as I dialed her number, each ring pounding like a guilty heartbeat in my chest.
"Hello...?" Her voice was soft and sleepy, carrying the quiet of the island night.
The words tumbled out of me like a confession I could no longer carry.
"Delly, I'm so sorry! I didn't mean to sleep with your boyfriend!" My voice cracked.
"But I swear—nothing happened between us! He was drunk and I only wanted to help him, but I think... I think he thought I was you. He wouldn't let go even though I tried to resist."
But there was no response from her, only a soft, surprised laugh.
"Wait, Calm down. I don't even have a boyfriend."
My heart stopped.
What...?
I froze. My mind raced back to the man's face, his embrace, the way he whispered "It's you."
The way he held me like he was afraid of losing something he'd been searching for.
"Who was it, Sherina?" Delly's voice brought me back.
I couldn't speak.
But then she spoke again, this time with a thoughtful tone.
"I'm not entirely sure, but it could've been one of my brothers.."
"B...brothers?" I raised a brow.
"No one can enter the villa except my family, and the only ones who ever show up at my mansion unannounced are my brothers—especially my half-brother."
Half-brother...?
"The fact that no maid or butler knew of a visitor in the middle of the night only proves it must have been Leon—my dear, unpredictable half-brother"
I gulped.
Now that I think about it, the man from last night looked almost identical to the one in the portrait—not the boy, but the dark, brooding man. The only difference was that he seemed much younger than the man in the painting.
How did I miss that?
I had spent the night tangled in the arms of a stranger with eyes like storms and a presence that stole the air from my lungs.
End of Flashback
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The smell of toasted bread and fresh eggs floated in the air—comforting, almost enough to make me forget the knots in my stomach.
We were all gathered around the dining table. The clatter of forks, the soft chatter, the occasional laughter—it all felt so normal. Too normal.
Everyone was here.
Everyone... except the man from last night.
Not even a trace of his presence. As if he had never existed.
Was it just a dream?
Please... let it be a dream.
I held my mug tightly, trying to steady myself, caught between truth and denial,
All this time, I thought I knew Delly, And yet... I don't know anything about her.
Not really.
She always kept her past locked tight, tucked away like a diary with no key. I never asked—not because I didn't want to know, but because I respected her need for mystery.
"Oh, Leon! Come join us."
The sound of Grandfather's voice floated through the room, my heart slammed into my chest. I turned slowly, as if bracing for something... and there he was.
Him.
Only—now, in daylight, he was no longer a blur of shadows and tension. No longer a drunken mystery that left me confused.
He looked different now—composed, radiant.
Sinfully perfect.
A chill ran down my spine as my gaze locked onto his. I tried to look away—but failed.
How could anyone look like that and not know exactly what they're doing?
"Have you met Sherina Sze?" Grandmother's voice broke through the air, but I barely registered it.
He walked forward with slow, deliberate steps, each one sending another ripple of panic across my nerves. He sat down across from me, leaned back—and then he looked at me.
Our eyes met.
And that was it.
The blush crawled up my neck like wildfire.
I didn't know if he could see right through me, see the memory of last night painted across my skin—but the slight smirk curling on his lips told me he absolutely could.
"Yeah," he said, voice low and velvet-smooth, "we met last night."
My coffee nearly came back up.
"Oh goodness, What happened last night?" Aunt Donna laughed, sipping her tea like this was all some casual joke.
"È pericoloso guidare nel cuore della notte. Dov'è Minho, poi?" (It's dangerous to drive in the middle of the night. Where's Minho, anyway?) Grandmother scolded gently.
"You're lucky Sherina was there," Liliana chimed in, smiling knowingly.
I froze. I didn't understand what Grandma said, but I understand what Liliana just said.
I risked a glance at Liliana—she winked at me and smirked.
So, she knew?
The betrayal hit me like a slap to the face.
I let out a sigh and took a sip of my tea. I couldn't help glancing back at him—then it hit me.
Leon was... magnetic.
Tall, lean, yet built with a quiet strength. His skin was sun-kissed and healthy, glowing in the soft light of the morning. The black tank top he wore clung to his body like it was tailored to show off his sculpted muscles. His jawline was sharp, commanding. And those eyes—God, those hazel fire, cat-like eyes—pierced through me like they'd seen every secret I was trying to hide.
His thick, dark hair fell over his forehead in lazy waves, effortlessly wild. His presence alone made the air feel heavier.
He was the complete opposite of Delly.
She was softness—light and warmth. Delly glowed like dawn.
But Leon?
He was twilight.
An intense storm waiting to break.
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"Leon, can you take Sherina around? Show her some places?" Grandmother asked.
Ehh???
"Wait, why him?" Landon interrupted.
"Do i have really have to explain myself?" Grandmother smiled at Landon.
I felt the shift in the air immediately. Like a pebble tossed into still water.
"Nonna, Leon ed io abbiamo già degli impegni per domani. Abbiamo una festa a cui partecipare." (Grandma, Leon, and I already have plans for tomorrow. We have a party to attend.) Landon answered
"It's fine. She can come with us," Leon answered quickly. And just like that, it was decided—no hesitation, no resistance. Almost as if he wanted me there.
My pulse fluttered.
"Sherina would probably be bored staying in the house all day," Liliana chimed in, gently patting her baby boy, Don, who looked seconds away from tears.
Landon let out a reluctant sigh and finally turned to me.
"Would that be okay with you?"
All eyes turned to me.
My fingers tightened slightly around my glass of water, but I offered a smile—soft and steady.
"Sure" I said, then looked to Leon and met his gaze.
His face were unreadable. But his eyes lingered a moment too long.
And that, somehow, said more than any words ever could.
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As we finished breakfast, I wandered around the villa. From the majestic balcony garden to the grand library, and finally to the blue ocean behind the estate—everything was perfect, magical, like a hidden castle far from the eyes of the world. Delly had never told me she owned a property this vast. Now, I find myself rethinking all the decisions and words I once said to her.
Even though she's older than me, I was the one who guided her toward living a normal life. I admit, it wasn't always easy or gentle. I was too hard on her at times—like when she did the laundry and mixed the whites with colorful clothes, turning them into a rainbow. Or when she accidentally broke nearly every plate while washing dishes. She once tried cleaning her place with a hose, thinking it would be easier if everything was soaked. She even cooked a fish until it burned, then threw it into a soup.
I giggled at the memory of those days. I can still taste that soup with the charred fish in it. Even with all the ups and downs, we were happy together.
"Sherina!"
I snapped back to reality at the sound of a voice.
When I turned my head, I saw Liliana, dressed formally, a phone pressed to her right ear. She quickly ended the call and walked toward me.
"Are you going to be alright here?" she asked sincerely.
I smiled. "Yes..."
"Sorry, it was really urgent. My husband called about some business matters, and Grandma and Grandpa have a tea party tomorrow with their associates," Liliana explained.
"Don't worry about it. I'll be fine with Leon and Landon tomorrow," I answered.
She chuckled softly as we walked together.
"Liliana..." I said quietly.
"Hmm?" she hummed, glancing at me.
"Who is Leon?"
There was a pause before she smiled and replied.
"He's Delliana's younger brother. I don't remember his exact age, but he's around twenty-six." She counted on her fingers, then looked back at me.
"Do you know?"
"Know what?" I asked with a faint smile.
Liliana's eyes darkened. Her voice lowered, carrying a subtle edge.
"Leon... is a monster." She let the word hang between us, sharp and heavy.
"Five years ago, he bought a company on the brink of collapse. Not only did he save it—he turned it into an empire, crushing anyone who stood in his way. He built his name on other people's ruins, and he did it with terrifying precision."
I swallowed. "That's how famous he is?" I raised a brow, half-joking, half-curious.
She shook her head slowly. "Famous? No. That word doesn't even fit him. He avoids the spotlight, never attends public conferences, and guards his identity as though it were a weapon. Few people truly know who Leon is. I'm telling you this only because Delliana trusts you."
Her tone softened, but it carried a quiet dread. "What terrifies us most is the thought of Leon becoming like his father. He already owns an empire, and now he's dangerously close to taking control of the family's empire. That alone proves he may be far more dangerous than his father ever was. He's a force no one can stop."
She paused and continued
"What I'm trying to say is... Leon is relentless. When he chooses someone, he won't quit until he gets what he wants, he pursues them without mercy until he achieves his goal."
She chuckled. "So, think of that as a little warning—better not get on his bad side."
A man like that... ruthless, brilliant, untouchable.
He must be surrounded by beautiful and powerful women.
The kind of world I never wanted to be part of. I shouldn't have agreed to tomorrow.
I've never wanted trouble. I only wanted peace. And yet here I am, caught in someone else's world.
For the first time since coming back from the island, I felt the urge to return. Back to silence, back to the waves, back to a life that didn't demand answers I wasn't ready to give.
Delly... what have you pulled me into?
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As I said goodbye to Liliana, I stood there watching the car until it vanished beyond the gates. Her words lingered softly in my thoughts:
"Let's have a fun day at the ocean behind the mansion when we get back."
A smile tugged at me, but it quickly faded.
'Do I even have clothes for the party tomorrow? Or for the ocean?'
I let out a quiet sigh and turned back toward the mansion.
'Maybe a hoodie will do... I never really belonged at these kinds of parties anyway.'
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End of POV
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Meanwhile, Sherina remained unaware of the gaze fixed on her.
From the balcony garden, Leon watched as she stepped back inside the mansion.
A man appeared behind him, respectfully lighting the cigarette resting between his lips.
"Call Secretary Mira. Have her rearrange my schedule," Leon ordered calmly. The man bowed, lifted his phone, and obeyed without hesitation.
Silence lingered—broken only by the faint curl of smoke escaping Leon's mouth.
"Delliana... is this your way of tempting me to your side?" he murmured, smoke curling from his lips as his smirk deepened.
"Offering your dearest friend like bait—because you know I wouldn't resist.. Hmph... despicable as ever."
Leon drew in the last drag of his cigarette before crushing it into the ashtray. His eyes glinted.
"You knew exactly where to strike." He leaned back, voice low and deliberate.
"But I warn you. you'll regret this"