The air in the opulent Altar hung heavy, thick with a tension that even the gilded chandeliers couldn’t dispel. Lorenzo, a man whose name whispered fear across the city, stood at the altar, a picture of sculpted power in his impeccably tailored suit. His piercing hazel eyes, usually cold and calculating, now burned with a simmering rage. He was waiting. Waiting for Alessia, the Don’s daughter, the woman who was supposed to be his bride. But she was nowhere to be found. The whispers started, a low hum of unease that quickly swelled into a cacophony of speculation. Lorenzo’s jaw clenched, his impatience morphed into something darker, more dangerous. He turned to the Don, his father-in-law, who stood beside him, face etched with a mixture of shame.

Where is she? His voice was a low growl, laced with barely contained fury.

My daughter… she’s gone. He said, his voice heavy. She left a note. She was afraid of you.

He handed the note to Lorenzo, his hand trembling. The words stung, searing into Lorenzo’s pride. Alessia, the woman he had chosen, the woman he had expected to be his queen, had fled, leaving him standing at the altar, exposed and vulnerable. The murmurs in the crowd turned into a cacophony of discontent. Lorenzo’s eyes narrowed dangerously as he looked down at the note, his fingers curling into fists. He looked up, his gaze sweeping across the shocked faces of the gathered guests. His eyes landed on you, the Don’s younger daughter, a stark contrast to your sister’s rebellious spirit. He saw a flicker of opportunity, a chance to save his pride, his plan.

She’s your youngest daughter. His voice a chilling whisper. I’ll take her. In place of Alessia.