The man begged for mercy, his voice growing desperate. "Please, please... I’ll leave her alone, I swear! I won’t bother her again! Just stop! Please!"
But Leo didn’t soften. 
He wasn’t here to negotiate or listen to pleas. 
He was here to make sure this man would never harm Mina again. The man’s cries turned into weak sobs, his body sagging in exhaustion as the punishment continued, and soon enough, he passed out from the pain.
Once he was unconscious, Leo motioned for his men to bring the man down and throw him into a nearby cell. His eyes remained cold, his expression hard.
“Keep him locked up for a month. Give him the lessons he deserves. After that, throw him out onto the streets,” Leo instructed, his voice a frigid command. “I’ll make sure he understands the consequences of messing with Mina.”
Without a second glance, Leo turned and walked out of the room, his footsteps echoing in the cold silence that followed. 
                                 *
Leo entered the grand living room of his mansion. Mina was perched on the couch, flipping through a magazine, though her focus had drifted. At the sound of his shoes against the marble floor, she glanced up.
“I’m leaving for California tomorrow,” Leo announced, his voice steady and to the point. He never did small talk, and Mina knew better than to expect it.
Mina frowned slightly, setting the magazine aside. “California? What for? And why so sudden?”
“Work,” he replied, his tone clipped. He didn’t elaborate. He rarely did. But Mina could sense the weight behind the single word. It wasn’t just business as usual.
Her frown deepened. “And I’m not going with you?” she asked, her tone questioning but not accusatory.
Leo gave her a rare, faint smile, one that softened the edges of his usual seriousness. “I need you here. Someone has to keep things steady in my absence.”
Mina didn’t push further. She knew Leo well enough to recognize when he had made up his mind. Still, a flicker of unease settled in her chest.
“Alright,” she said finally, though the word tasted reluctant. “Just… be careful.”
“I always am,” he replied, the hint of a smirk playing on his lips. He reached out, his hand resting on her shoulder briefly, then turned and walked away, leaving the room as abruptly as he had entered.
                                 *
The following afternoon, the mansion felt quieter than usual. Leo’s presence always seemed to fill a room, and without him, it was as though the house had grown larger, emptier. Mina, hoping to distract herself, decided to take a rare moment to relax, curling up in one of the living room’s overstuffed chairs.
Her peace was interrupted by the unmistakable hum of an approaching car engine. She glanced out the window, her curiosity piqued as a sleek black car pulled into the driveway. Moments later, a striking woman stepped out, her movements graceful and deliberate. Her presence radiated confidence, the kind that only came with a lifetime of power and influence.
Mina rose from her seat, smoothing the creases in her dress just as the front door swung open. The woman entered without hesitation, her sharp eyes scanning the room before landing on Mina. Though her face bore the lines of age, it retained a regal beauty, and her tailored outfit spoke volumes about her status. This was Alicia Salvatore, Leo’s mother.
“Oh, you must be Mia Sato,” Alicia said, her voice warm but carrying an undertone of authority.
Mina froze, her breath catching. She recognized the woman instantly from the few photos she’d seen, though she had never imagined meeting her face-to-face. And she certainly hadn’t anticipated being addressed as Mia, Leo’s real fiancée.
Recovering quickly, Mina forced a polite smile. “Yes… Mia,” she said, her voice steady despite the storm of nerves swirling inside her.
Alicia’s expression softened, her lips curving into a genuine smile. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you. I’ve been waiting for this moment.”
Mina’s stomach tightened. She could feel the weight of the lie she was living, but Leo’s instructions rang in her mind. She couldn’t tell Alicia the truth—not now, not like this.
Alicia stepped closer, her movements elegant, and took Mina’s hands in her own. “You’re exactly as lovely as Leo described. He’s a lucky man.”
Mina felt her cheeks heat up. “Thank you, Mrs. Salvatore.”
“Oh, no need for formalities, dear. You can call me Alicia… or better yet, Mom,” she said with a light laugh, her eyes sparkling. “After all, we’re practically family already.”
Mina managed a nod, though her throat felt dry. Alicia’s warmth and genuine kindness only made the situation more complicated. How could she continue this charade when it felt like deceiving someone so genuine?
                                 *
Over the next few days, Alicia made herself comfortable at the mansion, and to Mina’s surprise, they grew closer. Alicia’s charm and wit were hard to resist, and Mina found herself enjoying the older woman’s company more than she expected. But there was a recurring topic that kept Mina on edge: the supposed engagement.
“Mina, dear,” Alicia said one morning as they sat together on the mansion’s sunlit terrace, sipping tea. “I’ve been thinking… there’s no need to delay things any further.”
Mina glanced up, her heart skipping a beat. “What do you mean?”
“The wedding, of course!” Alicia said brightly. “You and Leo have been engaged for long enough, haven’t you? It’s time to make it official.”
Mina froze, her mind racing. “The wedding?”
“Yes!” Alicia continued, her excitement palpable. “We can start planning everything right away. Once Leo returns from California, we’ll get the ball rolling. Don’t you think it’s time?”
Mina’s hands tightened around her teacup. She struggled to maintain her composure, forcing a smile that she hoped looked natural. “Well, uh… maybe we should wait until Leo gets back. He might have other plans.”
Alicia waved a hand dismissively. “Nonsense. Leo always listens to me. And I’m sure he’ll be thrilled. This is a long time coming.”
Mina swallowed hard, the weight of the lie pressing down on her chest. She couldn’t bring herself to confess the truth. Alicia’s happiness was so genuine, so pure, and Mina didn’t have the heart to shatter it. But the thought of what might happen when Leo returned loomed over her like a storm cloud.
That evening, Mina sat alone in her room, staring out the window as the sun dipped below the horizon. Her thoughts were a tangled mess. What was she supposed to do? Was she really going to let Alicia plan a wedding for her and Leo? And what would happen when the truth inevitably came out?
                                 *
Meanwhile, across the ocean in California, Leo was facing challenges of his own. In a dimly lit room within an unmarked building, he sat at a long table surrounded by men whose faces were as sharp and unforgiving as the weapons they carried. The air was thick with tension, the kind that came from years of unspoken rivalries and fragile alliances.
“You’re late, Salvatore,” one of the men said, his voice low and gravelly. His eyes bore into Leo with a mix of suspicion and disdain.
Leo leaned back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
The man’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t push further. Leo’s reputation preceded him, and even in this room full of hardened criminals, he commanded respect.
“We have a problem,” another man spoke, his tone more measured. “And we need your expertise to solve it.”
Leo arched a brow, leaning forward slightly. “You don’t call me for ‘problems’ unless they’re big ones. What’s the issue?”
The man hesitated, glancing at the others before continuing. “It’s Alkasia. They’re making moves again. We need to act before they gain too much ground.”
Leo’s lips curved into a faint smirk, though his eyes remained cold. “Alkasia always makes moves. The question is whether you’re ready to deal with the fallout.”
The room fell silent. Everyone knew the risks of taking on Alkasia, but they also knew that Leo was one of the few who could outmaneuver them.
“Alright,” Leo said after a moment, his tone decisive. “I’ll handle it. But this doesn’t come free.”
The men exchanged glances but nodded in agreement. They knew better than to question Leo Salvatore. As the meeting continued, Leo’s mind stayed sharp, focused on the task at hand. But in the back of his mind, he couldn’t shake the feeling that something was brewing back home—something he wasn’t prepared for.