"You think I did it?" my father asked but it didn't seem like a question.

His familiar pair of grey eyes bore into mine. I saw disappointment, pain, guilt and a lot of emotions flash in his eyes before he looked away.

"Are you accusing me mio figlo?"

When our eyes met again, the emotions I saw were no longer present in his eyes.

"Will I be here seeking your help if I thought you did?" I groaned in frustration.

The whole coming to my father thing wasn't going as planned.

I should have stayed home.

"So what exactly do you want?"

"I want you to help me find her." I sounded desperate even to my own ears.

"You have the resources father. I know you can help me find her."

My father laughed before walking to where I was. He put a hand on my shoulder and my eyes followed the movement.

Maybe he's going to help after all.

"No."

I knew I should have stayed at home.

"But why?" I asked angrily.

"I don't want that woman for you. I never did. It's a good thing she's out of the picture."

I felt my blood begin to boil. How could he say that to me?

To his own son.

"Ceilia is good for you. Marry her son."

I shrugged off his hold on my shoulder and looked straight in his eyes.

"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you father but I will never marry her. Ria is the one I truly love and I'll find her and bring her home." I paused before speaking again.

"with or without you."

I turned around to leave but my steps faltered immediately my eyes landed on my mother.

"Mum?"

Her eyes were fixed solely on my father, her husband.

She walked past me, completely ignoring me and my eyes followed her movements.

She stopped right in front of my father and I had a feeling shits were about to blow up.

"Valentina, my darling." my father said.

He was obviously just as taken aback as I was at my mother's sudden appearance.

My Mother didn't speak. Her usual lively eyes were now as cold as ice.

"By chance did you-"

"Yes Antonio." my mother spat.

"I heard everything."

My father took a deep breath before speaking.

"Calm down cara mia (my beloved)."

"Calm down?"

By now my mother's anger was radiating all over the place.

" Sono stato tranquillo per anni (I've been quiet for years)."

"Antonio I was a virgin when you married me and you know it. So you can't look me in the eye and tell me I brought a bastard to your home."

"Valentina."

"No let me speak my mind."

"I didn't bring you another man's son Antonio. Dante is your son."

I watched my parents and honestly I didn't know what to do.

"For goodness sake I know Valentina. I know." my father groaned in frustration.

I was just there, surprised.

Never in my life have I seen my mother this way.

She's always calm, smiling, not once have I ever seen her angry.

Until now.

Oh my father crossed the line this time!

"Then why Antonio? Why do you keep treating my son like you are not his father? He asked you for help, you, his father and you turned him down. You should be ashamed of yourself."

"Abbastanza (enough)." my father said, anger coating his tone.

"I've been quiet Antonio, not because I'm stupid or because you married a fool. I've been quiet simply because I love you." my mother fired back.

"Non più (not anymore)."

" Lui è tuo figlio (he is your son)."

" Trattalo come uno (treat him like one)."

When I realized that the argument won't be ending anytime soon, I turned around and left the room.

I could still hear the exchange of words between them even when I was no longer in the same room with them.

Well they were both shouting so that explains it.

I bet my father's men can hear them outside the house.

"And don't you dare dictate my son's life Antonio. He's a grown man. He will marry whoever he wants and I swear Antonio, you won't do anything about it."

I sighed when I heard my mother's voice. Not bothering to look back, I took the stairs and made my way into the room that used to be mine. It was just the way I left it.

I looked around before settling on the bed. The picture frame by the bedside caught my eyes. My father, my mother and I, looking all happy like one big family. I was little then, probably just eight.

What went wrong?

How did we become like this?

A knock on the door brought me out of my reverie.

I looked up and my eyes landed on my mother who was standing at the entrance. She smiled at me and I returned her smile.

She sat beside me on the bed and took the picture from me.

"Look at my baby." she chuckled, tears escaping from her eyes and she quickly wiped it off.

"You are all grown now."

I nodded.

Silence fell upon the room and just when I decided to lighten the mood, my mum spoke.

"He will help you mio figlo. Your father will help you. Don't you worry my son."

I saw the hurt in my mum's eyes and it broke my heart. I felt a whole new anger directed towards my father.

" Tu sei mio figlio e io ti amo (you are my child and I love you)." my mother continued.

"Don't you ever forget that."

I sighed softly before saying the one thing that's been on my mind for years.

" How did you do it mama?"

" Do what?"

" How did you put up with that old man?"

My mother laughed, her palm covering my cheek as she caressed it gently.

" Perchè lo amo (because I love him)."

An image of an angelic beauty, blonde hair, beautiful pair of hazel eyes flashed before my eyes and I held my chest.

Just thinking of her makes my heart race.

" We will find her son and when we do I want to see the woman who managed to capture my son's heart." she smiled.

" She's amazing mum." I smiled and I felt a tear slide down my cheek.

" Vieni qui, figlio (come here son)."

My mother pulled me close and hugged me tightly. It felt extremely comforting.

*

So my father decided to help, all thanks to my mum.

He made a few calls and told me some guys will be coming over.

When they finally arrived, they joined us in his office.

"Welcome gentlemen."

Gentlemen? Really?

Three huge men dressed in all black settled in their seats. Their eyes were so cold. They were definitely not the type that bro hug and give you a pat in the back.

The vibe I get from them screams danger.

"This is my son Dante and your mission is to find his erm-"

"My girlfriend." I completed.

"Her name is Ria Lee. She was taken on new year's eve and has been missing since then."

"I already explained to them son." my father rolled his eyes.

He definitely knows how to embarrass a person.

"So what's the plan?"

One of the men asked, his voice was as deep as the ocean itself.

"First of all we need to make sure that everyone around us is clean. Who knows? Maybe the criminal is right under our nose after all."

"Everyone around us is a suspect."

"So you want us to follow every suspect?"

"Yes. Like I said everyone not present in this house is a suspect."

"Then I think cici should be the first person they follow." I said immediately.

"Trust me son, she will the the very first and if she happens to be the criminal you will be very sorry for her."

As if I'll be.

***********************************

(RIA'S POV)

When the door opened, I kept my eyes shut immediately.

I heard footsteps and it stopped right in front of me.

The man dropped a tray in front of me and the foul smell of whatever he brought filled my nostrils.

Ugh! Not this crap he calls food again.

The man probably thought he was raising a pig because there's no way any animal will eat what he's been giving me to eat.

Even a pig can't eat this for God's sake.

And then I heard a phone ring.

It must be his.

"The princess is still asleep."

"Yes she's not been talking."

There's another one? An accomplice? His boss maybe?

"You'll be coming over soon? No? What? You are being followed?"

Alright slow down so I can understand.

"Okay fine." the man groaned.

"Oh really?"

He sounded excited this time and it made me wonder what the hell they were talking about.

"Do you want me to kill everyone around her?"

Oh my God!

Kay? Dante? Shawn? Mr Kim and his wife? Everyone?

Oh no! Even poor Ethan who just got back in town?

No.

It can't be.

I felt my body tremble as the thought washed over me.

How can anyone be this cruel? They want to kill everyone I love?

I have to do something.

But what can I do?

I can barely walk or even talk.

Dammit! I'm so useless.

"Alright fine. It would have been fun to kill them off one by one but I've heard you my man. I won't touch them."

Thank you Lord!

At least I know everyone is safe now.

I just need to find a way to get out of this.

To get the the fuck out of here.

"No it's okay. You said I can kill the big guy right?"

Oh-kay the big guy? Who is the big guy now?

Ugh! It's just so hard to understand these people.

"It should be fun. I've always wanted to kill an extremely rich guy."

"That's exactly what I meant. He's a billionaire and I can't wait to pay him a visit."

A billionaire? Shawn? I don't even know who the hell they are talking about.

"Don't worry. Dante Moretti will be the least of your worries after I take him straight to hell."

I gasped and the man's eyes landed on mine.

He tucked his phone back in his pocket and bent down to level his eyes with mine.

"Look who's been awake all this time."

"Yes princess, you heard it well. Dante Moretti will be taking a quick trip to hell."

You've got to be freaking kidding me.