The first thing Alessia Romano noticed as she stepped off the train in Florence was the weight of expectation—thick and suffocating, like the summer heat pressing down on the cobblestone streets. Every glance from the townspeople seemed to measure her, judge her, as if they remembered the girl she used to be—and expected nothing less than perfection now.
Alessia squared her shoulders and adjusted the sleek black coat she had worn on the journey from abroad. Years away had taught her many things: how to survive, how to negotiate, how to read a room without ever speaking. But nothing could prepare her for the family she was returning to—the Romano legacy, powerful, influential, and shadowed by secrets no one dared speak of aloud.
Her father's mansion loomed ahead, elegant and imposing. The gate swung open before she could even knock, as if it had been waiting for her all these years. Don Romano appeared on the balcony, tall and severe, his eyes narrowing as they met hers. "Alessia," he said, voice calm but weighted with authority. "You're finally home."
"I'm here, Father," she replied, keeping her voice steady. Behind her calm tone was a storm of determination. She had returned not just to claim her place, but to protect her family from the threats they didn't yet see coming.
Inside, the house smelled of polished wood, old leather, and faint perfume—her mother's, lingering years after she had passed. Her sister, Elena, appeared in the hallway, eyes wide with surprise and a hint of admiration. "You… you've changed," Elena said softly, though Alessia knew better. She hadn't changed. She had sharpened. She had become someone who could face any threat—any enemy—without flinching.
"Only stronger," Alessia replied.
Later that evening, during the family dinner, conversation flowed around her like she was merely a shadow in the room. But Alessia's mind was elsewhere—on Marco Vitale, the rival whose influence was already threatening the Romano estate. She had heard whispers during her years abroad, rumors of power plays, blackmail, and danger creeping closer every day. And now she was home, ready to confront it all.
As she lay in her room that night, overlooking the glowing city of Florence, Alessia's thoughts were clear: family, honor, power—and revenge if anyone dared cross her. She wasn't just returning; she was preparing for battle.
And Alessia Romano never lost.