Wrath of The Dragon General.

Set things right

Dante did not look back as he walked away. His steps were slow, but his heart was burning. His blood felt hot and heavy in his veins. Anyone who saw him would think he was calm, but inside him was a silent storm. He could have destroyed everything in that house today. He could have made them beg for mercy on the floor. But Dante had a plan, and he was not going to ruin it because of anger. Revenge tasted better when it was served at the right time.

Inside the mansion, Mateo and Susan were furious. Their faces were red with anger, and their voices were raised.

"I cannot believe that boy," Mateo shouted. "He stood there and threatened the heir of the Santoro family. I knew he would bring trouble the moment we took him in."

Susan shook her head slowly, bitterness in her eyes. "He has always been like this. He has no respect. We should never have brought him into this house."

Marcello tried to calm them down. "There is nothing to worry about. Xavier has connections with the Dragon General. He will deal with Dante. He will not leave this matter alone."

Xavier smiled confidently at their words. There was pride in the tilt of his head. "Do not worry. I already know what I will do to him."

He turned toward Caterina and touched her face gently. His voice softened as if he was a loving partner. "I will help you. I will remove that problem once and for all. You will no longer have to think about him."

Caterina leaned into his touch, nodding lightly. The rest of the family relaxed after hearing this. They believed that Dante’s end was near. They believed Dante was weak, foolish, and alone.

But they had no idea who Dante truly was now.

Outside, Enzo stood near the car waiting. The moment he saw Dante approaching, he hurried forward.

"Your Grace, how did it go? Did they ask for forgiveness?" he asked eagerly.

"No," Dante replied simply as he walked past him.

Enzo rushed to open the car door. He could not believe what he heard. "What? How dare they disrespect you. I will go in there and teach them a lesson myself."

"You will do nothing, Enzo," Dante said, cutting him off. His voice was calm, but it carried weight. Enzo stopped instantly.

Dante sat in the back seat. His face had no expression. "I gave them one chance because they were once my family. But if they choose to ignore my warning, then I will treat them like criminals when the month ends. I will not show any mercy."

"Yes, Your Grace," Enzo responded, bowing his head.

He understood that they did not believe Dante was the Dragon General. If he, the commander of the armies in Monterio, had entered that house beside Dante, they would have bowed without hesitation. But Dante wanted them to laugh now, so that their fear later would be deeper.

There was a moment of silence, then Enzo spoke again.

"Sir, there is something else I must report."

Dante slowly rubbed his forehead, looking exhausted. "What is it?"

Enzo took a breath. "The night you caught your wife with Xavier and left the house, you went to a tavern. You were drunk and heartbroken. That night, you spent time with a woman there. Her name is Emilia Moretti."

Dante’s eyes opened, sharp and alert.

Enzo continued. "She became pregnant. Her family found out and threw her out. They told her to get rid of the baby if she wanted to return. But she refused. She has been living in the slums ever since, raising the child on her own."

Dante stared at him, shock visible for the first time. "And you are only telling me this now? Why did you not help her?"

"She does not trust anyone," Enzo explained quickly. "She is always being bullied by the people around her, but she still refuses help. She believes no one cares. I tried, but she chased me away each time."

Dante closed his eyes, guilt twisting in his chest. He remembered that night. The pain. The confusion. The feeling of being abandoned by the person he had loved.

"Take me to her," Dante said. His voice was quiet, but the force behind the words was strong.

A short while later, they arrived at the slums of Monterio. The difference from the rich district was shocking. The air smelled old and heavy. The houses looked fragile, like they would collapse if someone leaned too hard on them. The ground was uneven, muddy in some places, and dusty in others.

"This is the place, Your Grace," Enzo said softly.

Dante got out of the car, his eyes locked on the small worn house where Emilia and the child lived.

"Do not follow me," Dante said. "From today onward, pretend you do not know me unless I call for you."

"But Your Grace..." Enzo hesitated.

Dante turned to him. His eyes were cold. "Did you understand me? Or are you deaf?"

Enzo lowered his head at once. "I understand, Your Grace."

“Good,” Dante replied. “She is wary of other people. If she sees you, the chance that she will accept me will be slim. All I want right now is to make things right for them and my child. Make sure no one dares to bully them again.”

“Sure, Your Grace. I am always waiting for your orders.” Enzo bowed as Dante walked away, his boots crunching on the scrub that ringed the small house.

He knocked on the door once and waited. His heart was beating fast. This was the first time he had felt anxious in a long time. The last time had been when he fought the previous Dragon General to take his place. Since then, nothing had made him flinch.

The door opened to reveal a woman, and immediately his memory flashed back to that night at the tavern: the woman with ebony hair that cascaded down her shoulder and the chocolate eyes that suited her tanned complexion. She was not like any other woman he had met before.

He had always thought Caterina was an angel on earth. But that woman had felt unreal.

Dante remembered falling into her arms that night and, for a moment, he had forgotten Caterina, the Virellis, and his troubles.

But the woman standing in front of him now was not the same. Her eyes had lost their spark. Her hair was tied in a messy bun and her face was streaked with dirt as if she had not had a proper bath in days. Still, one could guess she might have been a proper belle if she were taken care of.

“Mum, come on, the food will get cold! Who is at the door? Is it the evil landlady again?” a tiny voice shouted from inside.

Dante did not need anyone to tell him that was his five-year-old son, Leonardo.

“It’s nobody, baby! You can start eating. I’ll join you soon!” she called back. She closed the door quickly and stepped outside.

“What the hell are you doing here?” Her voice was venomous, and Dante did not need an interpreter to know she was not happy to see him.

“Emilia, I…” Dante stuttered as his palm began to sweat. “I... I mean, I am sorry for being away all these years. I know—”

“I don’t need your apology or your presence. Leave. We never met and I don’t know you.” She hissed angrily and turned away, but Dante caught her hand mid action.

She faced him and threw him an angry glare, but Dante did not relent.

“I can’t imagine the kind of pain you have gone through, Emilia. But now I am here. Those days of pain are over. I will make you the happiest person in Monterio. All I need is your permission to make things right. Just say the word, and those people who looked down on you or caused pain to you and our son will pay tenfold.”