The morning in the Moren mansion drifted in softly, brushing warm gold along the marble floors. Isabella stepped out of her room in a simple white shirt tucked loosely into pale denim shorts. Her bare feet pattered softly against the floor, anklet there — as always now.
Her chestnut hair, glowing with soft golden strands, was tied half-up, a few curls falling forward to frame her face. She looked… young. Free. A quiet contrast to the storm quietly waiting for her outside.
Belrum was at the dining table, clutching his tea like a lifeline. The instant he saw her, fear jolted through him.
"Baba, I'm going to the orphanage," she announced with a small, hopeful smile.
He nearly dropped the cup.
"What? No. Not today."
His voice was too sharp… too afraid.
Isabella paused. "Baba, we have the charity program tomorrow. I promised the children I'd help with practice."
"No, Isa." He stood up, pacing in front of her. "You don't understand. Today—"
"Please."
Just one word. Soft. Pure. Earnest.
Belrum froze.
She rarely begged.
And when she did, it broke him.
He placed his hands on her shoulders, torn between terror and helpless love. "Two hours," he whispered. "I'll pick you up myself."
Isabella smiled with that quiet glow he feared he would one day lose forever.
"Thank you, Baba."
And she was gone — leaving him staring at the doorway with dread swirling in his chest.
---
The orphanage smelled of dusty books, pressed flowers, and childhood. The walls were faded, but the laughter was bright.
"Didi!"
Children rushed toward her like a tiny tidal wave. Isabella bent down, hugging them tightly, heart swelling at their joy.
A small tug on her shirt made her turn.
Mona.
A little girl with soft, curly hair and fearful eyes — unable to speak, but speaking volumes through her trembling.
Isa knelt and kissed her forehead.
"Good morning, sweet girl."
Mona touched Isa's cheek with tiny fingers, then hid shyly behind her.
"Come," Isabella said, standing. "Let's dance today."
The sunlight poured through the cracked windows as music played from an old speaker. Isa lifted her white shirt slightly and began moving — barefoot, graceful — teaching the children slow hand movements.
Her laughter filled the room, warm and ringing.
And in the doorway…...someone watched.
---
He didn't knew why he came. It was never like him to do something so meaningless without any reason or any benefit but today he did. He was there at a call of his enemy's daughter that he should hate and destroy but he couldn't and still came like she asked him to.
He stood there silently, leaning against the wooden frame — tall, dressed in black, shadowed in menace. But his eyes…
His hazel-grey eyes were fixed entirely on her.
The moment he entered, every sense he had sharpened violently.
That white shirt.
Those bare, soft feet on the dusty floor.
Her voice.
Her smile.
Her care.
She looked untouched by darkness.
Unreachable.
Unreal.
He came closer, silently, his presence almost a shape in the room. The children didn't notice him. Isa didn't either — too lost in teaching little Mona the next steps.
But Leo watched…
like a predator mesmerized by something he didn't understand.
Every spin she made tightened something inside him.
Every time Mona clung to her, something restless in him twisted.
He didn't know why he came.
Didn't know why he followed her.
Didn't know why he couldn't turn away.
She was beautiful — but it wasn't beauty that trapped him.
It was her light.
And Leonardo Romano was a man carved entirely of shadow.
Suddenly the gate crashed open with a violent bang.A man staggered in — drunk, furious, reeking of cheap alcohol."Mona! You brat, come here!"
Mona flinched and ran to Isa, burying her face into Isabella's stomach. Isa shielded her instantly.
"Sir, please leave," she said firmly. "You're frightening her."
"That's my daughter!" he roared, stepping closer. "She's coming with me!"
"No," Isa said, voice steady but eyes sharp. "You used to beat her. You cannot take her without the proper—"
His hand flew up and grabbed Isa's wrist brutally."I'll take her whenever I damn want—"
He didn't finish.Because Leo moved.
Fast.
Silent.
Deadly.
His hand clamped around the man's wrist like a steel trap — twisting it backward with a slow, cruel pressure.
"Let go!" The voice was still and dark with just one meaning and one message.
The man screamed.Leo's eyes were pure ice. "I said," Leo growled, "let go."
The man's knees hit the floor. Bones cracked loudly under Leo's tightening grip.
He would have broken the arm completely — if Isabella's gentle voice hadn't touched his shoulder.
"Mr Leo… please. Let him go." His jaw clenched. He didn't like anyone touching him. He didn't like being told what to do.
Yet he released the man instantly.
The man crawled away, whimpering.Mona peered from behind Isa — then slowly, fearfully — approached Leo.
And placed her tiny palm on his hand.
Her silent "thank you."
Leo froze.
His breath hitched.
He didn't know how to respond to innocence.
Isabella bowed her head to him sincerely.
"Thank you," she whispered. "Truly."
Leo stared at her. His heartbeat… was not normal.
He didn't blink as she stood there — hair messy, shirt loose, face flushed from dancing — looking like she didn't belong to his world.
But for a dangerous moment…He wanted her to.
"Mona baby....di come one its time for lunch so in...." Isabella talks to Mona in sign language and tells the other children to ho in as well.
"Mr Leo.....thankyou so much....first donation....and now this.....you are like angel that came to help them.....I don't know what could have happened if you were not here so thankyou so much."
Leo was frozen my her words...Angel....it was maybe most ridiculous thing he ever heard in his life. A Mafia to be called Angel is pretty much calling a dark cat as a white cat.
"Isabella....you really say the most intriguing thing I ever hear in my life..." Leo leaned at a tree looking directly at her eyes making Isabella blush off a little.
"Isabella!" The voice was shaking — terrified came directly from behind them.
Belrum stormed inside, breath heaving. The moment his eyes found Leonardo....
Everything stopped.
His blood ran cold.
His voice died.
His knees nearly buckled.
"Le… Leonardo Romano…"
Leo slowly turned his head — lazy, calm, deadly.
Belrum's face drained of life.
He rushed to Isabella and gripped her shoulders protectively.
"Isa, we're leaving. Now."
"Baba—? What—"
"No questions." His hands trembled. "Come."
He tried pushing her behind him, shielding her with his own body like she was the last thing he had left in the world.
Leo watched them. Watched the way Belrum clung to her. Watched the fear in his eyes.
Something dark curled inside Leo.
Something amused.
Something hungry.
Isabella looked back at Leo one last time — confusion and warmth in her eyes.
Leo didn't move.
He just watched her leave.
Watched the door close.
Watched the last trace of her disappear.
But the imprint she left in him didn't fade.
If anything…
it burned deeper.
---