The air was thick with tension as Valerio stormed through the estate grounds, his sharp voice cutting through the chaos.
"Where is she?" he bellowed, his gaze scanning the area. Guards scurried in all directions, their rushed movements failing to answer the burning question.
"Damn it!" Valerio cursed, shoving one of his men aside. "You were supposed to be guarding the perimeter!"
"We were, boss," the guard stammered. "The alarms— they were triggered near the east wing, but—"
"But what?" Valerio's tone was low and lethal.
"There was no sign of anyone," the man added hesitantly.
"That's because you weren't looking properly!" Valerio snapped. "Spread out! Check every room, every corner — find her!"
Dante, standing at his side, placed a firm hand on Valerio's shoulder. "She's smart, Val. She wouldn't just disappear like that."
"That's exactly what worries me," Valerio muttered, his eyes scanning the darkened grounds. His mind raced with worst-case scenarios — Leona, hurt… or worse.
Moments later, one of the guards jogged over. "Boss, she's inside — with Alessia."
Valerio's shoulders dropped with relief, but his frustration hadn't cooled. Without a word, he marched back inside.
When he reached Alessia's room, he froze. Through the slightly open door, he saw Leona sitting on the edge of the bed, holding Alessia's hand as she whispered something soothing. His sister's tense face had relaxed — calm for the first time in days.
"She's alright," Dante muttered beside him.
Valerio didn't answer. He just stood there, silently watching the woman who somehow, without even trying, had managed to ease a burden no one else could.
Leona's voice was soft, almost melodic, as she whispered to Alessia.
"It's alright," she murmured, brushing a few damp strands of hair away from Alessia's face. "You're safe now. No one's going to hurt you."
Alessia's breathing slowed, her teary eyes fixated on Leona as if clinging to every word.
"You're stronger than you think," Leona continued, her hand gently squeezing Alessia's. "And you've got so many people here who love you."
Alessia's trembling lips quivered into a faint smile, her small fingers gripping Leona's like a lifeline.
In that moment, Valerio stood frozen in the doorway, silently watching. Leona's presence seemed to soften the room — something warm and comforting in the way she spoke, like she belonged there.
He couldn't decide what unnerved him more — the fact that she was here… or the fact that it felt right.
Leona stepped out of the room, her expression sharp as she met Valerio's gaze.
"Can you all keep it down?" she snapped, crossing her arms tightly over her chest. "She's terrified in there, and it's not good for her or the baby!"
The crowd outside stilled, Valerio's men exchanging uneasy glances. Valerio's jaw clenched, his frustration battling the undeniable truth in her words.
"Leona…" Valerio started, his tone low but strained.
"I mean it," she cut him off. "She's barely holding it together."
Valerio exhaled, running a hand through his hair before turning to his men. "Everyone, back to your posts. Now."
As the crowd dispersed, Valerio turned back to her. "You didn't have to yell."
"Then you shouldn't make so much noise," Leona shot back before heading back inside, leaving Valerio standing there — both irritated and, oddly, impressed.
Alessia's voice finally filled the room again, soft but steady as she spoke to Leona about random things — memories, her cravings, and even her future plans for the baby. The tension that once weighed down the Moretti estate seemed to lift just a little.
Valerio stood quietly by the doorway, his arms crossed as he watched his sister smile — a genuine smile, one he hadn't seen in far too long. Dante, standing beside him, gave a satisfied nod.
"Feels good, doesn't it?" Dante muttered.
Valerio's gaze softened. "Yeah… it does."
For the first time in a while, things almost felt normal — almost.
As the night stretched on, the warm glow of the bedside lamp cast a soft light over the room. Leona sat beside Alessia, her hand resting gently over hers. Their conversation had slowed, words turning quieter until they both drifted into silence.
Alessia's breathing evened out first, her hand still loosely curled around Leona's fingers. Exhaustion finally caught up with Leona too, her head resting against the back of the armchair. Sleep claimed her right there, with the faintest hint of a smile lingering on her face.
When Valerio peeked into the room later, his gaze softened at the sight — his sister, peaceful at last, and Leona, curled up beside her like a quiet guardian. For the first time in a long while, things seemed… calm.
The next morning
Leona's sharp voice echoed through the halls.
"What the hell am I doing here?!" she snapped, standing at the edge of Valerio's bed, her arms flailing in disbelief.
Valerio, still half-asleep, rubbed his face with one hand and muttered, "Morning to you too…"
"Don't 'morning' me!" Leona shot back. "I fell asleep in Alessia's room! How did I end up here?"
"You looked uncomfortable," Valerio mumbled lazily, his voice rough from sleep. "I just carried you here."
"You—" Leona's eyes widened. "You can't just move people around like… like furniture!"
Valerio propped himself up on his elbows, his smirk only adding fuel to her frustration. "Relax. I didn't do anything… unless you count saving you from a sore back."
"That's not the point!" she huffed, crossing her arms tightly. "Next time, wake me up!"
"Sure," Valerio drawled, eyes glinting with mischief. "Next time I'll let you snore in a chair."
"I don't snore!" Leona barked.
"Oh, you definitely do," Valerio muttered under his breath, just loud enough for her to hear — and just enough to make her storm out of the room.
As Leona descended the stairs, she froze in place, her breath catching in her throat. A group of men, all clad in black, stood in formation — their cold, sharp gazes locked on her. Each one had a gun drawn, fingers resting dangerously close to the trigger.
"W-What the…" Leona stammered, her hand gripping the banister tightly.
One of the men stepped forward. "You've got some nerve shouting at our boss like that," his voice was low, almost threatening.
Leona's heart pounded in her chest. This is insane.
Before she could respond, Valerio's voice boomed from upstairs.
"Put those down before you make a mistake."
The tension shattered instantly. The men immediately lowered their weapons, some muttering apologies under their breath.
"She's with me," Valerio added, appearing at the top of the stairs, his gaze locked on Leona. "And next time," he warned his men, "if anyone points a gun at her again… they'll regret it."
The cold edge in his voice sent a chill down Leona's spine. The men nodded stiffly, dispersing just as quickly as they had appeared.
Leona exhaled, her shoulders still tense. "You have a weird way of keeping guests comfortable," she muttered.
Valerio smirked. "You shouldn't yell so loud."
Leona barely acknowledged Valerio's words, rolling her eyes before turning on her heel and heading straight for Alessia's room. The hallway was still heavy with the presence of Valerio's men — their eyes silently trailing her as she walked past.
Clad in her casual shorts and a half-tucked T-shirt, she seemed completely unaware of the attention she was drawing. The men exchanged brief glances, some clearing their throats awkwardly while others shifted their gaze, pretending to be preoccupied.
Valerio stood at the top of the stairs, watching the entire scene unfold. His jaw clenched tightly as his gaze followed Leona's casual stride. The way his men's eyes lingered on her — her bare legs, her loose shirt — made his blood boil.
"Eyes forward," he barked sharply, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. The men instantly straightened, fixing their gazes anywhere but at Leona.
Yet, as Leona disappeared into Alessia's room, still blissfully unaware, Valerio remained standing there — frustrated and furious. He hated how his men had looked at her… but what bothered him even more was how much he cared.
Unbothered, Leona knocked lightly before stepping into Alessia's room. Valerio's parents were already there, seated beside the bed, their worried expressions softening the moment they saw Leona.
"Morning," she greeted with a bright smile, walking over to Alessia with ease. The tension from earlier? Completely forgotten — at least for her.
As Alessia's father, Valentino Moretti approached with a glass of pineapple juice, Leona's sharp yet calm voice cut through the air.
"I wouldn't give her that if I were you," she said, her tone soft yet firm.
The room stilled. Valerio's parents, the guards, even Valerio himself — all turned to look at her in surprise. Questioning a Moretti in their own house? No one did that.
Valerio's father arched a brow, his gaze narrowing. "And why's that?"
"Because pineapple juice isn't recommended during pregnancy," Leona explained matter-of-factly. "It can trigger contractions."
Alessia's father's grip on the glass faltered slightly before he silently set it down on the table.
Valerio, still standing by the door, couldn't help but smirk. Of all people, Leona — the one who always seemed so sweet and harmless — had just shut down his father without a hint of fear.
"You've got guts," Valerio muttered under his breath, watching her with newfound admiration.
Leona's gaze softened as she turned to Alessia.
"Pineapples aren't recommended during pregnancy," she explained gently, her voice calm but firm. "They contain certain enzymes that can alter the texture of the cervix, which could induce premature contractions. It can even lead to a miscarriage. Not to mention, it's known to cause diarrhea — and that's the last thing she needs right now."
Silence fell over the room. Alessia's father's hand stilled above the table, fingers curled tightly around the glass before he set it down without a word.
"You sure know a lot," he said, his tone edged with irritation — not at her words, but at the fact that she'd corrected him in front of everyone.
"I just know enough to care," Leona replied softly, her gaze unwavering.
Valerio watched the scene unfold, intrigued. His father wasn't a man who took kindly to being questioned, yet here Leona stood — calm, confident, and completely unaffected by the tension in the room.
"You're lucky you're right," Valerio's father muttered under his breath before stepping away.
Valerio smirked slightly, barely hiding his amusement. As the tension eased, Alessia reached for Leona's hand, giving it a grateful squeeze.
"Thanks," she whispered.
Leona smiled warmly. "I'm just glad you're okay."
Valerio, still leaning against the wall, couldn't shake the thought that this soft-hearted girl was somehow braver than half the men he knew.