Chapter 1 – The Devil of the City

The night was cold and quiet in the powerful city of Rome. Streetlights reflected on the wet roads after a light rain, and the city looked peaceful from a distance. But behind this beauty, a dark and dangerous world existed—one ruled by power, fear, and crime.

At the center of this world was a man whose name alone could make people tremble.

Aiden Romano.

At only twenty-eight years old, Aiden was known as one of the most powerful and ruthless mafia bosses in Rome. People described him with many words—cruel, heartless, dangerous—but no one dared to say those words to his face.

His luxurious mansion stood on the outskirts of the city, surrounded by high walls and armed guards. The building looked more like a fortress than a home.

Inside the mansion, the atmosphere was tense.

In a large, dimly lit room, several men stood silently. In the center of the room was a long wooden table, and at the head of the table sat Aiden Romano.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers resting calmly on the armrest. His sharp eyes were cold and emotionless, studying the frightened man standing in front of him.

The man’s hands were shaking.

“I… I’m sorry, boss,” he stuttered nervously. “It was a mistake. It will never happen again.”

The room was completely silent.

Everyone waited for Aiden to speak.

Aiden slowly stood up from his chair. His tall figure immediately made the frightened man step back.

“Mistake?” Aiden repeated quietly.

His voice was calm, but there was something terrifying hidden beneath it.

The man nodded quickly. “Yes, boss. Please give me another chance.”

Aiden walked slowly toward him. Each step echoed through the silent room.

When he finally stopped in front of the man, he looked directly into his eyes.

“In my world,” Aiden said softly, “mistakes are expensive.”

The man’s face turned pale.

“B-but boss—”

Before he could finish his sentence, a gunshot suddenly echoed through the room.

The man collapsed onto the floor.

No one moved.

No one spoke.

Everyone in that room understood one thing clearly—Aiden Romano did not forgive betrayal or failure.

One of his men quickly removed the body, and the meeting continued as if nothing had happened.

Aiden returned to his chair, his face completely calm again.

“To survive in this world,” he said coldly, “you must be loyal. Weakness is not tolerated.”

The men around the table nodded silently.

They feared him. But they also respected him.

Because Aiden Romano had built his empire from nothing. Through intelligence, strategy, and ruthless decisions, he had taken control of the underground crime world of Rome.

Drugs, weapons, illegal deals—everything moved under his control.

But despite all his power, Aiden lived a life without warmth.

He trusted very few people. Emotions were a weakness he refused to allow.

Love was something he believed only foolish people chased.

For Aiden Romano, power was everything.

As the meeting ended, he walked toward the large window in his office. From there, he could see the glowing lights of the city below.

To most people, Rome was a beautiful place full of dreams and opportunities.

But to Aiden, it was simply a battlefield.

A place where only the strongest survived.

What he didn’t know was that somewhere in that same city lived someone who would soon change everything.

Someone who would challenge the walls around his cold heart.

Her name was Isabella Rossi.

And very soon, fate would bring her into the dangerous world of Aiden Romano.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***