The massive golden doors of De Santis Royale Casino remained firmly shut. Aurora stood in front of them, breathing heavily after running across half the city.

"I'm telling you, my father is inside!"

Victor didn't even blink.

"I'm sorry, miss." "Sorry?" she snapped. "Move." "This establishment is private." "My dad is in there!" "No entry." She threw her hands into the air. "Are you serious? He's ruining our lives in there and you're telling me 'no entry'?" Victor remained like a statue. "I said no." She pointed a finger at his chest. "You could literally swallow me whole. Can't you move two steps aside?"

Nothing. No reaction. "I swear you're talking less than a brick wall!" Victor folded his hands behind his back. "Please leave." "I'm not leaving!" She tried slipping past him, but he blocked her with one effortless step. She looked ridiculous tiny standing in front of him

"LET ME IN!"

"No."

"My father is inside!"

"No."

"I have to see him!"

"No."

She stomped her foot.

"UGH!"

At that moment, a black luxury car stopped at the entrance. The guards immediately straightened. The rear door opened, and a tall man stepped out in a perfectly tailored black suit. Calm. Unreadable. Every conversation around the entrance died the moment he appeared. Lorenzo De Santis. His eyes moved toward the commotion.

"Is there a problem?" Aurora turned to him. "Are you the owner?" "Yes." "Good. Tell him to let me inside." Lorenzo studied her. "This isn't a place for children." "I'm eighteen." "It still isn't a place for you." "My father is inside." "Tell me his name." "I'll have someone bring him out." "No. I need to catch him in the act." "I'm afraid that's not possible." "You don't understand!" "I understand." "No, you don't!" "The answer is still no." She clenched her fists. He simply looked at her. No anger. No annoyance. "Fine!" She spun around and stormed away. Victor watched her disappear while Lorenzo entered the casino without another word. Five minutes later, Aurora climbed through a small service window behind the building. "This has to work..." She squeezed inside and looked around. "There you are..." Her father sat at a luxurious poker table with several wealthy men. Sweat covered his forehead. His hands trembled. He was losing. Again. Aurora marched straight toward the table. Without warning, she swept the poker chips and cards off the table. Cards flew into the air. The casino fell silent. Every head turned. Caleb froze. "Aurora...?" She glared at him. "You promised me!" He shot to his feet, knocking his chair over. "What are you doing?!" "You promised you'd never gamble again!" The men around the table stared in disbelief. Caleb grabbed her wrist tightly. "What is wrong with you?!" She winced. "You embarrassed me!" "You lied to me!" "Get out. NOW!" People had already begun whispering. Caleb tightened his grip, and red marks quickly appeared on her wrist. Then a calm voice cut through the silence. "Let go of her." The room became completely still. Caleb slowly turned around. Lorenzo stood there, composed as ever. His eyes rested on Aurora's wrist. "I said... let go." Caleb immediately released her. Lorenzo looked at Aurora for a brief second before speaking in the same calm tone. "I told you..." "...there is no place for children here."