Chapter 7 - The Man Who Destroyed Victor’s Family Came for My Daughter—And Victor Finally Admitted He Was in Love With MeWe moved Lucia and the boys to a secure estate outside the city.
I barely slept.
Victor stayed awake beside the security room.
We were all afraid.
But fear had changed something.
It had brought the family closer.
The boys never left Lucia's side.
Nico slept near her door.
Alessandro carried her backpack everywhere.
Marco insisted he was “head of security.”
Matteo said nothing.
He simply held her hand.
One night, I found Victor outside.
Snow fell softly.
“You should come inside.”
“So should you.”
“I can't sleep.”
“Neither can I.”
I stood beside him.
“Do you love your boys?”
He looked at me.
“More than my life.”
“Even when they're impossible?”
“Especially then.”
I smiled.
“They love you.”
“They fear disappointing me.”
“That isn't the same thing.”
He looked away.
“You're right.”
Silence.
Then he said,
“I don't want them to become like me.”
“Why?”
“Because I know what power does to people.”
“You use it to protect.”
“Sometimes.”
“And sometimes?”
“I use it to destroy.”
I looked at him.
“And me?”
His eyes met mine.
“You changed that.”
My heart raced.
“How?”
“I started wanting a future.”
He stepped closer.
“With you.”
I couldn't breathe.
“Victor…”
“I know.”
He touched my cheek.
“I know this is complicated.”
“It is.”
“You have a daughter.”
“Yes.”
“I have four sons.”
“Yes.”
“My enemies want us dead.”
“Also yes.”
He laughed softly.
“Then let's admit this is a terrible idea.”
I smiled.
“It is.”
He leaned closer.
“But I want it anyway.”
He kissed me.
Slowly.
Gently.
Like he was afraid I would disappear.
I kissed him back.
For one moment, the world disappeared.
Then an alarm sounded.
We broke apart.
Security rushed outside.
A car had been discovered near the gate.
Inside was a photograph.
Lucia.
My daughter.
Sleeping.
Taken twenty minutes earlier.
Victor's face turned white.
“He was here.”
The security team searched the property.
Nothing.
Then we found another message.
MIDNIGHT. BRING THE GIRL.
Victor stared at it.
“No.”
I looked at him.
“What do we do?”
“We don't play by their rules.”
Midnight came.
Nobody moved.
Then every light went out.
Gunfire erupted.
The boys screamed.
Victor grabbed me.
“Safe room!”
We ran.
Nico carried Lucia.
Marco held Alessandro.
Matteo stayed close to me.
The alarm system failed.
Doors locked.
Shots echoed.
Then someone shouted from the corridor.
“Boss!”
Victor opened the safe room.
A guard staggered inside.
“Uncle got in.”
Victor's face hardened.
“He has the code.”
“How?”
The guard pointed at Daniel.
He was standing behind him.
My heart stopped.
Daniel smiled.
“I told you I'd take my daughter.”
Victor raised his weapon.
Daniel grabbed Lucia.
I screamed.
“Lucia!”
Everything happened at once.
Marco attacked Daniel.
Nico screamed.
Victor fired at the ceiling.
Daniel dropped the weapon.
Lucia ran toward me.
I caught her.
Daniel was tackled by security.
Victor stood over him.
“You chose the wrong family.”
Daniel laughed.
“No.”
He looked at me.
“She was never your family.”
Victor's eyes became cold.
“She is now.”
That sentence silenced everyone.
Victor looked at me.
“I love her.”
Daniel laughed.
“She's using you.”
Victor leaned down.
“No.”
“She saved my sons.”
“She saved me.”
He stood.
“And I would burn everything I own before I let you touch her again.”
Daniel was arrested.
The police took him away.
But the uncle escaped.
He left one final clue.
The original ledger was hidden in a location connected to my family.
My childhood home.
We returned to the city.
The house had been abandoned for years.
Inside, everything looked smaller than I remembered.
My mother had died there.
My father had disappeared.
I had grown up believing it was just a broken family home.
Now I knew it had been a vault.
We searched.
Nothing.
Then Lucia called from upstairs.
“Mommy!”
I ran.
She pointed toward a painting.
Behind it was a safe.
Victor opened it.
Inside—
the ledger.
And a letter.
From my father.
I opened it.
Serena,
If you're reading this, then the Rinaldis found you.
My hands shook.
I stole the ledger because I wanted power.
I betrayed your family.
I thought I was protecting you.
I was wrong.
Tears filled my eyes.
Then I read the final line.
Your daughter carries the only blood tie that can unlock the final account.
I looked at Lucia.
“What does that mean?”
Victor stared at the letter.
Then he realized.
“Your daughter isn't just leverage.”
“What?”
“She is the heir to the account.”
My blood ran cold.
The money.
The evidence.
Everything.
And suddenly I understood.
Daniel hadn't been trying to take Lucia because he wanted custody.
He wanted access.
To the money.
To the ledger.
To the Rinaldi empire.
The uncle had been using everyone.
Including Daniel.
Including my father.
But he had made one mistake.
May you like
He had underestimated the mother he was trying to destroy.
Me.
Related Stories
