A huge thanks from the bottom of my heart to each one of you, for being with me in this journey.😊😊

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Taking deep breaths, I tried to calm my erratically beating heart. I gave myself a pep talk but it was not helping me at all. With a quick prayer for my well-being, I got off the plane.

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I was being told that one of his men would come to receive me at the airport and he would take me to his mansion. I looked around to find a man in a black suit, holding a placard of my name ‘Miss Rosalia Romano’.

Seeing him, I wanted nothing more than to turn on my heels and run away from him as far as I could. I wanted to wrap myself like a burrito or to dig a hole for myself and hide deep inside. But deep down, I knew that it was useless and he would effortlessly find me. Besides, I could not put the life of my family in danger. So trying to muster up the courage as much as I could, I shakily forced my legs towards him.

When I reached the man, he gave me a questioning glance. Licking my dry lips, I told him my introduction in a small voice. He immediately greeted me back with a neutral expression on his face, “Hello, Miss Romano. Welcome to Italy.”

Before I could reply him, my gaze wandered to the gun tucked in front of his waistband, clearly visible and the words got stuck in my throat. My blood ran cold with my eyes wide as saucers.

Just how much powerful was he, that his men roamed freely with guns on the airport. I guess I had underestimated him a little. Getting no reply from me, the man in suit gestured me to follow him. He took the trolley from me and started wheeling it.

I was too terrified to deny him. I trailed behind him with my heart practically beating so loud, that I could feel it's beat in my ears.

He stopped near a sleek, black car, whose name I didn’t knew. But I could bet that it must be costing a fortune. A driver stood outside the car. He immediately greeted me and opened the backdoor for me. He too had a gun tucked in his waistband. I sat inside quietly, without a word.

After putting my luggage in the trunk, the man sat on the passenger’s seat, while the driver also took his seat and started the car.

I gazed outside the window. The night had already fallen which added to the beauty of the city and it looked so mesmerizing. But, it did nothing to soothe my inner turmoil.

With each passing second, the distance between me and him was being covered and I was moving towards him. And my only wish was to escape him anyhow.

I wanted to turn back the time where everything was so normal. My whole life had been turned upside down in the last 24 hours. I wished it was all just a nightmare, from which I would wake up any moment and mama would whisper sweet nothings into my ears to chase away my fears.

But I knew it was all just a wishful thinking!

Stopping of the car broke my chain of thoughts. I looked up to see that we had reached his mansion. Calling it a mansion would be an understatement. It was so big that it looked like a freaking palace!

Very big iron gates were opened by guards and the car moved inside. My jaw dropped seeing its beauty. A huge garden was in the front with a beautiful fountain in the middle. The car stopped and before I could open my door, the driver hurriedly came out and opened it for me. That time, I muttered a small ‘thank you’ to him, to which, he gave me a curt nod.

That man in suit took out my luggage from the trunk and asked me to follow him inside. I obeyed him like a puppy.

Interior of the mansion reeked of luxury and money. Each corner of it was beautifully designed. I moved inside cautiously to avoid breaking anything by mistake.

A woman in her mid-forties, dressed as a maid, came from inside. She smiled at me warmly and greeted, “Benvenuta cara. È un piacere incontrati.”

(Welcome dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you)

I gave her a confused look. Even though I was born in Italy and my parents were Italian, I didn’t knew a word in that language. They never used it in front of me.

She must have understood my confused expression because she spoke again, and that time in English, “I am so sorry, dear. I thought you knew Italian. I was saying welcome dear. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

I smiled at her and said, “Please don’t apologise. And it is good to meet you too.”

She patted my cheeks in a motherly manner which made me miss mama. She then, said to me, “Come, I will show you your room.”

I followed her upstairs and she opened the door of the last room on right-hand side. When I went inside, I was again struck by its size. It was so big that half of my apartment in California could fit in. The walls were painted in cream colour, while the furnitures were in brown and black shade. The curtains hanging were in deep red colour. Whoever designed that room had an amazing taste in interior.

I turned around at the voice of that lady, “Do you like your room, dear?”

I nodded at her, “It is really beautiful.”

From the corner of my eyes, I saw that man in suit from earlier, placing my luggages inside the room.

After he left us alone, she spoke again, “Freshen up! I will serve you dinner. Ermanno told me to inform you that he would be late today, so he will meet you tomorrow at the breakfast table.”

The mention of his name brought me back to reality, which I had forgotten for sometime, after meeting that sweet lady. The smile which had been gracing my lips till then, left all of a sudden and I lost my appetite. I just wanted to stay alone and mourn over my destiny.

I faked a smile at her and lied, “I am too tired. Also, I ate in the plane, so I am not hungry. I just want to sleep.”

I felt guilty for lying to such a sweet soul. She nodded at me and turned around to leave, when I stopped her, “Umm... What should I call you? I mean your name?”

She smiled at me and said, “My name is Francesca, dear.”

After telling me that, she left the room. I locked the door, so that no one would sneak in while I was sleeping. I crashed on the bed. I was grateful that my meeting with him was delayed for then, even if it was for a few hours.

I was truly very exhausted and the bed was really fluffy, which welcomed me into a deep slumber.

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Next morning, a loud knock on the door woke me up from my deep sleep. I opened my eyes to find a different ceiling from my own room. My mind cleared my confusion by reminding me that I was not in California, but in Italy and that too, in his mansion.

There was again a knock on my door, which broke my chain of thoughts. I quickly left the comfort of my bed and opened the door to find Francesca standing there.

She greeted me and told me that Ermanno was waiting for me at the breakfast table. I felt like I was suddenly hit by a tornado. I knew that, there was no escaping him then.

‘The inevitable had finally arrived!’

I told her, ‘I...I wo...would be there...there in 10 min...minutes.”

She assured me, “Don’t be scared of him, dear. And come down fast. He doesn't like to wait.”

After she left, I closed the door and hurriedly got freshen up. I adjusted my hair and left the room. I didn’t want to face his wrath on our very first meeting. From what I had heard, he was unforgiving and ruthless.

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Just as I reached the threshold of the dining room, I realised that I was going into a lion’s den. Moreover, I was gonna hand myself to a monster. And I could not escape him.

Licking my dry lips, I entered the dining room with my heart hammering in my ribcage. I saw the back of a man standing near the table, dressed in black coat and black dress pants.

Hearing my footsteps, he turned and I felt like all the air had been knocked out of my chest.

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Hello my lovely readers!

How was the chapter?

Finally she has come face to face with her monster! What are your thoughts on it?

Francesca seems like a nice lady. Don’t you think?😌😌

Next POV is Ermanno’s. We will his thoughts about our Rosalia there? Who is excited?😁😁

A huge thank you to each one of you for giving my book, the precious time of your day. It made me extremely elated!🤩🤩

If you liked it, then please motivate me by pressing the star button at the bottom.🌟

I am eagerly looking forward to read your interesting thoughts and expectations from the story. Also, what was on your mind after reading the chapter.💭🗯

Also, please share it among your friends if you like the book. It would be really helpful of you guys!😇

Till then,

Keep smiling,