I summoned every last shred of courage and spat out the words:
"Kill us both – you'll never break my spirit. Sophia, look at me... we'd rather die together than obey monsters like you!"
Sophia's swollen eyes locked onto mine, and she mouthed barely audible words:
"I love you..."
Don Victor's face contorted in rage. He raised his hand to signal the end...
But suddenly, he froze. A low, ominous voice echoed from the shadows:
"Victor, spare them... for now."
The room shifted uneasily as a figure emerged from darkness –
Don Victor's younger brother, Leonardo – the man I was originally supposed to marry.
I remained wary, eyes fixed on Leonardo as he stepped forward:
"What motive brings you to intervene, Leonardo? Saving us only delays our doom."
Leonardo's gaze flicked to Don Victor, then back to me, his expression guarded:
"Let's just say... I disagree with Victor's methods – and his claim to our father's legacy."
Don Victor sneered:
"Foolish brother – you think saving these women will gain Father's favor?"
Leonardo smiled slightly:
"I think saving them might gain me allies... against you, Victor."
Sophia clutched my hand tightly as I processed Leonardo's words – could he truly be our unexpected salvation or just another Morano manipulator?
Don Marco intervened, voice firm:
"Enough. Leonardo, explain yourself – now."
Leonardo bowed slightly before beginning:
"Father, I propose a alternative arrangement... Juliana marries me instead."
I turned to Don Victor, eyes locked intensely:
"Would you actually allow this, or will you kill your brother too? How much family blood are you willing to spill?"
Don Victor's face twisted in rage and calculation. He paced slowly around Leonardo:
"This is treason, brother. Yet... Father might see your proposal as beneficial – if you surrender your claim to the Don title."
Leonardo nodded thoughtfully:
"I'm willing to relinquish the title... if Juliana agrees to marry me and Father approves."
Don Marco intervened, voice filled with intrigue:
"An interesting power shift. Juliana, what say you – will you marry my younger son to save yourself and Sophia?"
Sophia squeezed my hand urgently – as if begging me to consider this unexpected escape route.