The air in the dining room was thick, charged with something Elisa couldn't quite name. Ricardo's gaze was on her.
She felt it like a weight on her skin, making her fingers tighten around her fork. The way he watched her calm, unreadable made her uneasy, but not in the way she expected.It unsettled her and made her too aware of him.
She forced herself to focus on the food, her stomach still hollow from the days spent in Emiliano's captivity. But how could she eat when the man across from her was the reason she was here in the first place?
When he finally stood and left the room, she exhaled, her shoulders slumping slightly. She hadn't realized she was holding her breath.
She needed space
Wandering through the penthouse, Elisa found herself drawn to the kitchen. There, she saw the housekeeper, an older woman with warm eyes and a quiet presence putting away the dishes.
For some reason, Elisa didn't want to be alone.
"Do you need help?" she asked softly.
The housekeeper looked up, surprised, before smiling. "No, dear. You should rest. But if you'd like some tea, I can make you a cup."
Elisa nodded, grateful for the distraction.
As the tea brewed, the conversation drifted, and Elisa found herself asking about the Castillo family. She needed to understand the world she had been thrown into.
And that was when she learned the truth.
The divide between Ricardo and Emiliano wasn't just about inheritance, it was betrayal, power, and a fight for dominance.
Her chest tightened, was Ricardo even capable of love? Or was all of this just a means to an end for him?
She swallowed hard. Was she just another piece in his game?
The Library
Still lost in thought, Elisa wandered down a hallway she hadn't explored before.
A slightly open door caught her attention.
She pushed it open and froze.
It was a library and not just any library, a masterpiece. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a fireplace casting golden light across the room, and a large leather armchair positioned beside a beautifully carved wooden desk.
For the first time since being taken from her home, she felt at peace.
She ran her fingers along the spines of the books, curiosity taking over. But as she pulled one out, her stomach twisted.
Power. Wealth. The Art of War. The Rise of a Mafia Lord.
This wasn't just a library she thought…
It was Ricardo's mind, laid bare in pages.
Was this all he thought about? Control? Strategy? Power?
She sighed, sinking into the chair.
Maybe she was foolish to think there was more to him. Still, exhaustion weighed on her, and before she knew it, her eyes fluttered shut
When Elisa woke, she wasn't in the library.
She was in her room looking disoriented but she sat up, blinking at the dim light. She wondered if she had walked here in her sleep? No…
The realization sent a strange warmth through her chest.
Ricardo.
He must have carried her here.
A ridiculous thought, but one she couldn't shake. He hadn't just left her there. He had brought her back to her bed but she pushed the thought aside, but the warmth remained.
Across the city, Emiliano sat at the head of a long, polished table, the room filled with his father's most powerful allies. He leaned back in his chair, confidence radiating from him.
Ricardo may have taken Elisa, but he had gained something greater power or so he thought. The doors to the meeting room swung open.
Silence.
All eyes turned as Ricardo walked in. Emiliano smirked, feigning boredom. "You're late, little brother."
Ricardo didn't react. He didn't need to. His presence alone shifted the atmosphere, turning the room heavy with unspoken tension.
"I see you've been busy," Ricardo said coolly, his gaze sweeping over the table. "Gathering my father's allies."
"Our father's allies," Emiliano corrected, tilting his head.
Ricardo stepped forward. "Then I assume you've told them about the will."
A murmur rippled through the room.
Emiliano's smirk faltered, but he masked it quickly.
Ricardo let the silence stretch before speaking again. "My father's empire belongs to me. His wealth, his power… it's all mine."
The allies exchanged uncertain glances.
For the first time, Emiliano felt something foreign crawl up his spine , it was doubtful.
Ricardo had just shattered the foundation he had built.
And then, the tension in the room snapped.
The fight began between them and also between their men.
Back at the penthouse, Elisa stepped downstairs, glancing around, Ricardo was gone and this made her stomach twisted
She turned to the housekeeper. "Where is he?"
The woman gave her a knowing look. "He left in a hurry." "Come dear," the housekeeper said gently. "Dinner is ready. He instructed you to eat, even without him." But Elisa barely heard her, she knew something was wrong but couldn
't place it. She is more determined to wait for him but doesn't know why she feels like doing so.