Chapter 3

The black Rolls-Royce stopped smoothly in front of the towering glass building.

De Luca Holdings.

One of the most powerful companies in Europe.

Employees instantly lowered their heads the moment Alessandro stepped out of the car.

Cold.

Sharp.

Untouchable.

His expensive black suit fit him perfectly while his dark eyes carried the same intimidating aura that made businessmen fear him across the country.

The lobby fell silent as he walked past.

Even the sound of heels and keyboards seemed to disappear around him.

“Good morning, sir,” the receptionist greeted nervously.

Alessandro gave only a slight nod before entering the private elevator.

Inside, his personal assistant and best friend, Matteo Ricci, handed him a tablet.

“You scared three investors yesterday,” Matteo said casually.

Alessandro adjusted his cufflinks lazily.

“Only three?”

Matteo laughed softly.

“You’re impossible.”

Unlike everyone else, Matteo never feared him. They grew up together, survived ruthless business training together, and understood each other without speaking much.

“What’s today’s schedule?” Alessandro asked coldly.

“Meeting at ten. Conference at noon. Dinner with the board tonight.”

Matteo paused before smirking slightly. “And your grandfather called six times.”

Alessandro sighed in annoyance already knowing the topic.

Marriage.

Again.

“If he mentions finding me a wife one more time, I’ll disappear for a year.”

“You already scare women enough,” Matteo replied.

Alessandro leaned back against the elevator wall, but suddenly his mind drifted again—

Soft trembling hands.

Tear-filled eyes.

That girl from last night.

Matteo noticed the unusual silence immediately.

“You look distracted,” he said carefully.

“I’m not.”

“That means you are.”

Before Alessandro could reply, the elevator doors opened.

The moment he entered the executive floor, another familiar voice suddenly echoed through the hallway.

“Alessandro!”

A beautiful woman rushed toward him with excitement before throwing her arms around him.

His expression softened slightly.

“Sophia.”

Sophia De Luca.

His older sister.

The only person capable of melting even a fraction of his cold personality.

“You didn’t tell me you were back,” he said.

Sophia grinned brightly.

“It was supposed to be a surprise. We just returned from vacation this morning.”

Before Alessandro could answer, another man appeared behind her.

“Well, look who finally smiled,” the man joked lazily.

Alessandro’s face instantly darkened.

Damian Russo.

Sophia’s husband.

Rich. Charming. Manipulative.

And from the first day they met, Alessandro hated him.

Something about Damian felt wrong.

Too fake.

Too smooth.

Damian casually wrapped an arm around Sophia’s waist.

“You know your brother still looks at me like he wants me dead?”

“Maybe because I do,” Alessandro answered coldly.

Sophia sighed dramatically.

“Please, not again.”

Damian chuckled like it was all a joke, but Alessandro’s eyes remained icy.

He never trusted men who smiled too much.

And Damian smiled constantly.

“Relax,” Damian said mockingly. “I already stole your sister years ago.

You lost.”

The atmosphere instantly became tense.

Matteo quietly looked away knowing things could explode any second.

But Sophia only held Alessandro’s arm gently.

“He makes me happy,” she whispered softly.

Alessandro looked at his sister for a long moment before saying nothing.

Because despite his hatred for Damian—

Sophia was deeply in love with him.

And that was the only reason Damian Russo was still breathing.

Sophia eventually dragged everyone into Alessandro’s office despite his obvious irritation.

The massive office overlooked the entire city, with dark modern furniture matching Alessandro’s cold personality perfectly.

The moment Sophia’s two children ran inside, however, the atmosphere changed completely.

“Uncle Alex!”

A small boy nearly crashed into Alessandro’s legs while his little sister followed behind laughing loudly.

Matteo almost choked in shock watching the feared CEO immediately bend down to catch them before they fell.

“Well,” Damian smirked while sitting comfortably on the couch, “looks like the devil does have a heart.”

Alessandro ignored him completely.

The little girl climbed onto his lap without fear while the boy started pressing random buttons on his office tablet.

“Luca,” Sophia warned gently.

“Don’t touch your uncle’s work.”

“It’s fine,” Alessandro said quietly.

Matteo stared like he had witnessed a miracle.

This was the same man who made grown executives tremble during meetings.

Now he was letting a five-year-old destroy his schedule.

Sophia smiled warmly watching her brother with her children.

“You spoil them too much.”

“They have better manners than most adults,” Alessandro replied while fixing the little girl’s messy hair.

Damian laughed loudly.

“You know, if people saw this side of you, De Luca Holdings stock might actually rise.”

Alessandro gave him a cold glance.

“Or maybe they’d finally realize I tolerate idiots.”

Sophia sighed dramatically again.

“Can you two survive one conversation without fighting?”

“No,” both men answered at the same time.

That made her burst into laughter.

For a few rare moments, the office no longer felt cold or suffocating. It felt normal.

Like family.

Eventually Sophia stood up, picking up her daughter carefully.

“We should go before the kids fall asleep here.”

The little boy immediately frowned.

“But Uncle Alex promised to take us for ice cream.”

“I said later,” Alessandro corrected calmly while straightening the child’s tiny jacket.

“After my dinner with the board.”

“Promise?” the little girl asked sleepily.

A softness crossed Alessandro’s usually emotionless face.

“Promise.”

The children instantly smiled.

Sophia watched him quietly for a second before walking closer.

“You work too much,” she said softly.

“So do you,” he replied.

“That’s different. I actually enjoy my life.”

His lips twitched slightly, almost forming a smile.

Almost.

Damian grabbed the car keys lazily before walking toward the door.

“Come on, sweetheart. Let your terrifying brother return to making millions.”

As Sophia followed her husband out, Alessandro’s eyes lingered on Damian for a brief moment.

That same uneasy feeling returned again.

Dark.

Wrong.

Like something dangerous was hiding beneath the man’s charming smile.

Damian suddenly turned back and smirked casually.

“Don’t look at me like that, brother-in-law.

You’ll hurt my feelings.”

Alessandro’s expression turned ice cold again.

“I’d need to care first.”

Matteo sighed the second the office doors closed.

“One day you two are genuinely going to kill each other.”

Alessandro walked silently toward the large window overlooking the city.

For some reason, his mind drifted once again to the girl from last night.

And somehow—

The emptiness in his office suddenly felt heavier than before.

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