Bloodline and Betrayal

CHAPTER 3

THIRD PERSON’S POV

The fresh smell of coffee blended with the weak fragrance of leather and tobacco in the grand office of Moretti estate. The room was a blend of old-world luxury and power, dark wood-paneled walls lined with bookshelves.

Luca Moretti sat behind the desk, his gaze fixed on the horizon outside. The distant murmur of the city barely reached him here, his world isolated from the chaos that seemed to follow him wherever he went.

“Rosalia morales”, he murmured, the name rolling off his tongue like a curiosity he was still trying to unravel.

The girl was an unknown piece in the board, a trump card forced into his hand by necessity rather than choice. Her father's desperation had made the arrangement easy- exchange of assets for allegiance. A deal struck for not love or partnership, but rather for power and control.

“She’ll arrive in a few hours”, Ryo's voice broke his thoughts. Luca turned to face Ryo who stood by the doorway, his suit faultless as usual.

“Is everything prepared?” Luca asked, his tone measured.

“Of course “, Ryo replied. The staff has been informed. Her room is ready and the security detail has been doubled.

Luca raised an eyebrow, his lips twitching into a small grin. “Doubled? Do you think she’s a threat?

He leaned back in his chair, his finger tapping continuously against the armrest. “She's not the threat, Ryo. Her father on the other hand….

“ The Morales family is desperate, he continued and desperate men make dangerous moves”. This isn't just a marriage. Her father thinks I will allow him to gain full access to our empire in the Spain territory, yet what he doesn't understand is that he’s just given me the upper hand.

“And the girl?”Ryo asked, his voice neutral. Luca hesitated, his jaw tightening. “You know she is just a collateral”. Ryo studied Luca for a moment.“ you don't seem entirely convinced of that,” he said finally.

Luca’s smirk faded, replaced by a more serious expression. She’s an unknown variable. But I’ll figure her out soon.

A knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Felix Lopez stepped in, his standard strut on full presentation. Felix was one of the few people who could enter Luca’s space unannounced and not face immediate consequences.

“Well, well, well the groom-to-be looks awfully serious,” Felix said, grinning as he poured himself a glass of whiskey. “Cold feet already?”

Luca shot him a pointed look. “I don’t get cold feet.”

“Right,” Felix said, raising his glass in mock salute. “Because feelings are for lesser men, isn’t that right?”

“Enough,” Luca said, his tone sharp but not without a hint of amusement. You know why I'm doing this so I don't expect you to be feigning over the situation.

Felix leaned against the edge of the desk, his grin softening slightly. “In all seriousness, Luca, this girl… are you sure about this? An alliance with Morales is one thing, but tying yourself to someone you’ve never even met? That’s risky, even for you.”

Luca’s eyes darkened, his expression hardening. “I don’t make decisions lightly, Felix. This is about more than just her. It’s about power, influence, and ensuring no one questions the Moretti name.”

“And if she doesn’t fit into the plan?” Felix asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Then she’ll learn to,” Luca said coldly. “One way or another.”

The room fell silent, the heaviness of his words hanging weighty in the air. Felix glanced at Ryo, but neither of them spoke. Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. One of the staff members appeared by the doorway, bowing slightly. “The driver called, he said the car is five minutes away, sir”.

Luca took a final gulp of his whiskey before he answered. He adjusted the sleeves of his shirt, his movements precise and deliberate.

Luca stepped out of the room, his footsteps echoing down the hall as he made his way to the lobby. The mansion was quiet, the staff moving efficiently but silently in preparation for the arrival of their new mistress.

As he stood by the entrance waiting for the car to pull up, Luca allowed himself a moment of reflection. He didn’t know what to expect from this new chapter of his life nor did he know much about Rosalia Morales—only what the file Ryo had compiled told him. She was young, with a complicated family history and a father who saw her as a tool for his own ambition.

But there was something about her, something in the photograph he’d seen. Her eyes had caught his attention, dark and full of something he couldn’t quite place.

The sound of tires grinding on the gravel driveway snapped him out of his thoughts. He straightened, his expression hardening into the mask he wore so well.

The car came to a stop, and the driver stepped out to open the door. Luca’s eye caught the slight hesitation as Rosalia stepped out. For a moment she stood there, scanning the unfamiliar surroundings. She was dressed modestly, her posture stiff as if she was bracing herself for the storm.

Rosalia's eye met his, and Luca felt a flicker of something he couldn’t quite name. It wasn’t hesitation or doubt, those emotions had no place in his world.

Rosalia Morales,” he said, his voice cutting through the heavy silence like a blade.

She squared her shoulders, her chin lifting slightly. “Luca Moretti.”

The corners of his lips twitched, but he didn’t smile. Instead, he extended a hand, watching as she hesitated before placing hers in his. Her grip was firm, her palm cold.

“This is your home now,” he said, gesturing to the sprawling estate behind him. “I trust you’ll make yourself comfortable.”

Her eyes flickered with something wariness, perhaps and she nodded. “I’ll do my best.”

Luca stepped aside, allowing her to move past him and into the house. Felix shot him a look that said This should be interesting, but Luca ignored it.

As Rosalia disappeared into the estate, Luca turned to Ryo and Felix. “Keep an eye on her,” he said quietly. “I want to know everything, how she moves, who she speaks to, what she’s thinking.”

Felix raised an eyebrow. “Planning to marry her or interrogate her?”

“Both,” Luca said, his tone leaving no room for

argument.

Felix smirked but said nothing, and Ryo simply nodded.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, Luca stood in the shadows of his office, watching the estate come alive with lights. Somewhere in the massive house, Rosalia Morales was settling into her new life, a life she hadn’t chosen, one that would test her in ways she couldn’t yet imagine.

And Luca? He was preparing for the next move, the next step in the game.

Because in his world, every decision, every relationship, every moment was a calculated risk.

This was it. The beginning of the next move in the game.

It was curiosity.

And curiosity, he knew, could be just as dangerous as any weapon.