Kayla wandered deeper into the mansion, her fingers trailing lightly along the polished wood of a sideboard. Her eyes caught something on the wall—a photograph, framed in dark mahogany. She stepped closer, heart skipping.
It was a group of people, dressed formally. Her eyes widened as she recognized one figure immediately: her mother, seated in the middle, calm and composed, smiling faintly.
Her hand froze mid-air. "No… this can't be…" she whispered.
Enzo appeared behind her, silent as ever. "What happened?" His voice was flat, measured.
Kayla turned quickly, trying to compose herself. "I… I just saw this photograph. Where… what is this? Who is this woman?"
Enzo's eyes flicked to the photograph, expression unreadable. "These people worked here," he said simply. No elaboration, no emotion.
She swallowed hard. "Where… where are they now?" Her voice was quiet, careful, trying not to betray too much curiosity.
"I don't know," he replied, tone cold. His gaze returned to her after a pause, sharp but unreadable. "Why are you asking?"
Kayla's pulse quickened. She needed an excuse, a reason that wouldn't make her look suspicious. Her voice softened, casual but careful. "Oh… just curious about the house. It's so old, I was wondering about the history."
Enzo's expression didn't change. "Mm." He didn't push further. He gave nothing away, his silence heavy, deliberate.
Kayla let her gaze linger on the photograph for a moment longer, her chest tight. Her mother… here, in this mansion, among strangers, connected somehow to Enzo's family and this world she barely understood.
She turned away slowly, forcing herself to appear calm, folding her hands neatly in front of her. She didn't ask more. She didn't press. That would be foolish.
Enzo walked past her silently, eyes forward, the picture and her shock seemingly meaningless to him. She realized again just how distant, unreadable, and controlled he was—and how much she needed to remain quiet, cautious, and careful..
Kayla couldn't shake the photograph from her mind. Her mother, seated among strangers, calm, poised… a part of this house, this world she barely understood. Every detail of the mansion—the antiques, the men, the guns—suddenly felt like pieces of a puzzle she had no idea how to solve.
Her thoughts spun relentlessly. Why was my mother here? Who were these people? What happened to her? Where is she now? Questions that she had kept buried for years now clawed at her relentlessly. She needed answers. Somehow, she would find out.
Enzo remained silent beside her, driving with his usual precision. His eyes never left the road, expression unreadable. Kayla clenched her hands in her lap, forcing herself to appear calm, but inside, every nerve was tense.
The car finally pulled up to the estate where his father resided—a grand house even larger than the mansion they had just explored. Enzo parked and stepped out, motioning for her to follow. She obeyed, quietly, letting him take the lead.
Inside, Enzo's father sat in a large leather chair, an imposing figure whose eyes seemed to weigh every detail. He didn't rise, didn't gesture. His voice, calm and deliberate, filled the room
Enzo," he said, voice calm but commanding, "fulfill my wishes."
Kayla froze. She had a sinking feeling, a flash of understanding that made her stomach twist. She knew exactly what he meant.
Enzo's eyes met his father's briefly. "Yes, Father," he replied, tone respectful, emotionless.
Her heart sank, her lips pressing into a thin line. A son… he wants a son. The thought made her stomach turn. She felt disgusted—not just by the demand, but by the cold way it was expected, by the way her life was now tied to fulfilling it.
She stayed quiet, her hands folded neatly in her lap. She didn't dare speak. Any protest would have been dangerous, foolish. Instead, she let herself simmer in her resentment, forcing her composure to remain intact.
Enzo didn't look at her, didn't acknowledge her reaction. He only nodded once, precise and final. "Yes, Father."
Kayla swallowed hard, forcing her face to remain neutral. Her mind was racing, a swirl of disgust, fear, and helplessness. She couldn't believe how little control she had in this world, how her life—and the prospect of her future—was already being dictated.
They left the room silently. Kayla followed him, quiet, keeping her thoughts hidden, hiding her anger and revulsion behind calm eyes. Every step toward the car reminded her that she was now part of a world she hated, controlled by men who made decisions for her life without asking.
In the car, she stared out the window, her hands clenched lightly in her lap. She didn't speak, didn't question, but internally, her resolve hardened. She would survive this world, she would navigate it carefully… and she would find a way to protect herself from the control, the expectations, and the disgusting demands of men like Enzo's father.
Enzo drove, silent and unyielding, obedient to his father's command, unaware—or perhaps indifferent—to the storm quietly building in Kayla's mind
"The deal," he said, voice flat, controlled, "I want it to happen as soon as possible."
Kayla's stomach tightened. She kept her gaze steady, hands still folded, forcing calm onto her features. Inside, her mind raced, thoughts tangled with fear, disgust, and frustration.
"You must comply," he added, tone sharp, leaving no room for argument. His dark eyes bore into her, cold and unyielding.
She didn't reply. Words would only make her vulnerable. Instead, she nodded lightly, keeping her face neutral, masking the swirl of emotions inside. Obedience was necessary for now. Survival required silence.
Enzo didn't wait for her response. He stepped out of the car, straight and rigid, every movement deliberate. She followed quietly, heels clicking softly on the driveway.
Every step toward the mansion reminded her of the power he wielded, the control he demanded, and the world she had unwillingly entered. The deal, whatever it entailed, was no longer a distant idea—it was imminent. And Enzo's cold insistence left her with a clear, unspoken warning: resistance was not an option.
Kayla's jaw tightened. She would comply… for now. But inside, her mind churned, already plotting how to navigate this world without losing herself completely.