Prologue

Rain hit the windows of the De Luca mansion loudly.

The large house was dark and cold, almost like nobody lived there anymore.

Years ago, this mansion was filled with people. Guards stood outside every door. Expensive cars entered the gates every night. Men lowered their heads whenever they saw walking through the hallways.

Back then, Lucien ruled the city like a king.

People feared him.

People obeyed him.

Nobody dared to betray him.

But that was years ago.

Now the mansion felt empty.

Lucien sat alone near the window in his wheelchair. One hand rested on the armrest while the other held a glass of whiskey. His sharp face looked tired under the dim light.

Three years ago, everyone feared him.

Now many people laughed at his downfall.

His mafia empire had slowly collapsed after betrayal from his own men. Rival groups stole his businesses one after another. The attack that almost killed him left him unable to walk.

Lucien hated weakness.

And he hated depending on other people even more.

The doctors kept telling him his legs might recover someday, but Lucien stopped believing promises a long time ago.

Especially after losing everything.

Thunder shook the sky outside.

Lucien drank the whiskey slowly before looking around the silent room.

The mansion used to feel alive.

Now it only felt lonely.

No voices.

No music.

No smell of warm food coming from the kitchen late at night.

His jaw tightened immediately.

Because without wanting to, his mind thought about her again.

.

His ex-wife.

The woman he once believed would never leave him.

Elena used to wait for him every night no matter how late he came home. Sometimes she waited until morning just to make sure he ate something.

Even after arguments.

Even after cruel words.

Even after he hurt her.

Lucien closed his eyes for a moment.

Years ago, he thought fear was enough to keep someone beside him.

Now he understood how wrong he was.

A knock suddenly came from the door.

“Come in,” Lucien said coldly.

The old butler entered carefully.

“Sir, the caretaker agency called again.”

Lucien frowned immediately.

“I already told them no.”

The butler stayed quiet for a second before speaking carefully.

“You cannot continue living alone like this, sir.”

Lucien’s expression darkened.

“I said no.”

The butler lowered his head nervously. “I understand.”

But before leaving, the old man stopped near the door.

“She will arrive tomorrow morning.”

Lucien looked at him sharply.

“She?”

“The new caretaker.”

“I never agreed to that.”

“She already accepted the job.”

Lucien laughed coldly.

“Then she wasted her time.”

The butler said nothing more and quietly left the room.

Silence filled the mansion again.

Lucien looked outside at the heavy rain falling beyond the windows.

For the first time in years, the great Lucien De Luca realized something painful.

Power could not stop loneliness.

Money could not buy peace.

And regret came far too late.

Meanwhile, outside the city, Elena sat silently inside a small taxi while holding her daughter’s sleeping body carefully against her shoulder.

Sofia slept peacefully, unaware of where they were going.

Elena looked outside the car window quietly.

Rain covered the streets in darkness.

Her chest slowly tightened the closer they got to the De Luca mansion.

She never wanted to return there again.

That house held too many painful memories.

Too many nights filled with fear.

Too many tears.

But life had become cruel lately.

After her restaurant closed, Elena struggled to pay her mother’s hospital bills alone. She searched everywhere for work, but nothing paid enough.

Then she saw the caretaker offer from the De Luca family.

At first, she threw the paper away.

But in the end, reality won.

Elena looked down at Sofia carefully.

Everything she did now was for her daughter.

Even if it meant returning to the man she once escaped from.

The taxi slowly stopped in front of the large iron gates.

Elena stared at the mansion silently.

Her heart began beating faster.

After all these years…

She was finally coming back.

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