Chapter 3: Deal For Truce Or War

Matteo De Luca stood in the main hall while one of his men delivered reports from the attack.

"Three vehicles were destroyed, sir. Eight of our men were injured, and two are dead."

Matteo's hands tightened. "And what about my daughter?"

One of the guards lowered his head. "She was taken…sir."

Matteo's eyes hardened. "By whom?"

"The Morettis, sir."

Marco Vitale stood nearby, still wearing the suit he had planned to wear for the wedding. "We should send men after her."

Matteo looked at him. "No."

Marco frowned. "What do you mean, no? That asshole stole my bride!"

"You know what kind of man Damien is, Marco. He wants us to attack. Your future wife has been kidnapped, and if we’re going to do that, she could die. Your bride is my one and only daughter, so I can’t afford to lose her."

Marco fell silent.

Before either man could say anything else, a phone rang.

One of Matteo's men answered. After listening for several seconds, he walked toward Matteo. "It's Damien Moretti."

Matteo took the phone. "Where is my daughter?" He’s trying to calm down even though he wants to yell.

Damien's voice came through. "She's safe."

"Put her on the phone."

"No, old man. Not yet. Do you think I will let you get what you want that easily?"

Matteo's voice became colder. "If you've touched her—"

"I haven't, so don’t worry."

"What do you want?"

"You already know, Matteo."

"I want to hear you say it."

Damien paused. "The marriage between Calysta and Marco Vitale is canceled. That is what I want."

Marco stepped forward, but Matteo raised a hand, signaling him to stay quiet.

Damien continued. "Calysta… will marry me."

Matteo's face became expressionless. "Have you lost your mind?"

Damien just laughed.

"You kidnapped my daughter, and now you're demanding her marriage? Are you some kind of psycho?"

"I'm offering peace, Matteo. So, if you don’t like it, it’s up to you."

"Peace? By kidnapping her on her wedding day?"

"And you want to give her away. Does it make any difference from me kidnapping her? I just saved your daughter and your family from the possible danger you’re not even aware of, Matteo."

Matteo clenched his jaw. He stayed silent even though the anger inside him was growing bigger. "What happens if I refuse?"

"Then the De Lucas and Vitales will have their alliance." Damien paused. "And the Morettis… along with your daughter, will go to war against both." He smiled. “Isn’t it a big twist? A daughter against her own father who sided with a sucker?”

"You’re threatening me using my daughter, you psycho?!"

"I'm giving you a choice, Matteo." Damien continued, "If Calysta marries me, the Morettis and De Lucas will have no reason to fight against each other. The Vitale alliance will end before it begins, and the territories will remain untouched. What’s yours is yours and what’s mine can be yours too. "

"But—"

"No buts. You don’t want to go against me, right, Matteo?"

Matteo's expression darkened.

Damien's final words came slowly. "Choose carefully, Matteo. This time, you aren't deciding the fate of your empire. You're deciding the fate of your daughter. You’re a wise man. I know that. So be it."

Then when the call ended, Marco finally spoke. "We can't let him have her."

Matteo looked at him. "I know."

"Then we have to attack."

Matteo stopped Marco. "No. We can’t do that."

"Why?"

"Because Damien wants that."

Marco stared at him.

Matteo's eyes remained fixed on the phone. "We have to find another way."

Meanwhile, Calysta's vehicle passed through the towering gates of the Moretti estate, carrying her farther away from the life she had known and deeper into the world she had never wanted to enter. The gates slowly closed behind them as the vehicle came to a stop in front of the mansion. Damien stepped out first and walked around to open her door, but Calysta remained where she was, refusing to move.

“You can’t sit there all night, princess,” Damien said, his voice calm despite her obvious defiance.

“I’d rather be.”

“We have a wedding to plan.”

Calysta finally turned her head toward him, staring at him in disbelief. “You really intend to marry me, don’t you?”

“Yes.”

There wasn't even a hint of hesitation in his answer.

Calysta let out a humorless laugh. “Then listen carefully. I will embarrass you in front of everyone for the rest of my life. I will make sure you regret every second of this marriage. Do you understand?”

Damien held her gaze, but instead of answering her threat, he spoke as though he had already decided how this would end. “Whether you agree today or tomorrow, the circumstances remain the same.”

Calysta's expression hardened. She finally stepped out of the vehicle and looked toward the Moretti mansion, the place that was now supposed to become her home. Then she turned back to him.

“Then remember this, Damien Lucius Moretti.” She deliberately emphasized his name, refusing to show the slightest fear. “I may be your hostage today, but I will never willingly become your wife.”

Damien simply held his gaze. “We'll see.”