The Rose & The Lion

The storm clouds that had loomed over Milan the night before lingered, casting the city in a somber gray. Dante paced his office, the tension in his chest coiling tighter with each passing second. The conversation with Leonardo the previous night had left a sour taste in his mouth.

Lia's face flashed in his mind—the way she had looked at him, her eyes filled with hurt and defiance. He told himself he had done the right thing, that he'd acted to protect his company and reputation. Yet, the doubt clawing at his resolve refused to be silenced.

The door to his office opened, and Sandro De Luca, his longtime friend and head of security, stepped in.

"You called for me, boss?" Sandro asked, closing the door behind him.

"I need you to look into something," Dante said, his tone sharp. "Discreetly."

Sandro raised an eyebrow but didn't question him. "What's the target?"

Dante hesitated for a moment before speaking. "Leonardo. And anything he's been involved in over the past year."

Sandro's expression hardened. "Leonardo? Are you suspecting something?"

Dante's jaw tightened. "Just find out if he's been… overstepping his boundaries. And keep this between us."

Sandro nodded, his loyalty evident. "Consider it done."

As Sandro left, Dante sank into his chair, staring at the empty divorce papers still lying on his desk. The doubt that had begun as a whisper was now a roar, and for the first time, he wondered if he had been played.

At the Romano Villa...

Lia sat at the kitchen island, a steaming cup of tea in her hands as the early morning light filtered through the windows. The villa was quieter now, her brothers having gone about their daily routines, but she knew it wouldn't last. They never let her stay alone for too long.

She had just taken a sip of her tea when Lorenzo strolled into the kitchen, his phone in hand and a smirk on his face.

"Morning, sorellina," he said, leaning against the counter.

"Morning," she replied, setting her cup down.

He studied her for a moment, his smirk fading. "You look better today. Did you sleep?"

"A little," she admitted, avoiding his gaze.

Lorenzo nodded, pushing his phone across the counter toward her. "Good, because I think you should see this."

Lia frowned, picking up the phone. Her stomach dropped as she saw the headline on the screen.

"Divorce Scandal: Dante Moretti and Lia Romano Split Amidst Allegations of Corporate Betrayal."

Her heart sank as she scrolled through the article, the words blurring together. Details about the alleged betrayal, the accusations against her, and whispers of her "humble origins" filled the page.

"Who leaked this?" she asked, her voice trembling.

Lorenzo shrugged, his expression dark. "My guess? Someone in the Moretti camp. Probably that snake Leonardo. He's always hated you."

Lia's hands tightened around the phone. "This isn't fair. I didn't do anything wrong."

"We know that," Lorenzo said firmly. "And we'll make sure everyone else knows it too. But first, you need to decide how you want to handle this."

"What do you mean?"

"You can't keep running, Lia," he said, his voice gentle but firm. "This isn't just about you anymore. This is about our family's reputation too. If they think they can drag your name through the mud, they're sorely mistaken."

Lia looked away, her mind racing. She had spent so long trying to avoid confrontation, but Lorenzo was right. She couldn't hide forever.

"I'll think about it," she said finally.

"Good," Lorenzo said, his smirk returning. "Because the moment you're ready, we're going to make them regret ever crossing a Romano."

Later That Day, Back in Milan...

Sandro returned to Dante's office, a folder in hand and a grim expression on his face.

"I found something," he said, placing the folder on the desk.

Dante opened it, his eyes scanning the documents inside. What he saw made his blood boil. Bank transfers, hidden communications, and a pattern of suspicious activity—all pointing to Leonardo.

"He's been siphoning company funds," Sandro said, his voice tight. "And I think he's been feeding information to our competitors. The same ones he accused Lia of working with."

Dante's grip on the folder tightened. "Are you saying—"

"Lia was framed," Sandro said bluntly. "And Leonardo's the one who did it."

The air left Dante's lungs as the truth hit him like a freight train. He had been wrong. Horribly, unforgivably wrong.

"Sandro," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "I want everything you have on him. And I want it now."

Sandro nodded. "Already in progress."

As his friend left, Dante leaned back in his chair, his mind racing. He had accused Lia of the very thing Leonardo had done, and in doing so, he had driven her away.

His hands clenched into fists. He couldn't change the past, but he could make things right.

And he would.

No matter what it took.

To Be Continued...