The Don's Forbidden Heir

The Mansion

Elara’s assigned room was bigger than her entire apartment. The ceilings were high, the heavy curtains the colour of blood, and the four-poster bed made of dark wood with intricately carved posts. An empty fireplace took up one wall. The bathroom was bigger than her old kitchen. Someone had laid out fresh towels and a simple black dress on the bed, sleeveless, modest, expensive. A pair of low heels waited beside it.

She didn’t put them on

Standing at the tall window, she looked out over the grounds. She could see the high walls, the security lights, the men walking patrol in dark coats. It was less a home and more a nicely decorated prison.

There was a knock on the door.

She opened it to a woman in her forties, her hair pulled back in a severe bun, her expression carefully schooled.

“Miss Voss. I am Mrs Caruso, the household manager. Dinner is in twenty minutes. The Don values punctuality

Elara glanced at the dress on her bed,

“I’m fine like this

Mrs Caruso gave her a long look, taking in the boots and jacket before returning her gaze to Elara’s face.

“As you wish. Follow me

The dining room was long and luxurious, with a crystal chandelier letting the light shimmer over the dark wood table, where a meal awaited. Vincenzo Moretti sat at the head of it.

He was older than she expected, with a few silver strands woven into his dark hair, and the same strong features as his son, though his face was more severe. His suit was perfect, his eyes colder.

His son, Matteo, sat to his right, already present, his posture relaxed but his expression guarded. A third place setting stood across from him; the fourth one was empty.

Vincenzo did not get up when she entered.

“Elara,” he said simply, and the name felt foreign on his tongue, “sit

She took the place across from his son, the table stretching between them, but she could feel his gaze on her like a brand

A server arrived, poured wine for the men and water for her, and left as silently as they’d come.

Vincenzo studied her for a long time.

“You have her eyes,” he said at last, “Lillian’s. Her stubbornness, too

Elara kept her hands folded in her lap.

“I didn’t ask for this

“No one does,” Vincenzo replied, “but it is done, nevertheless. You are my daughter, which means I have certain obligations to you. Protection, provision, status. It also means I have certain expectations from you

He paused, his gaze sharp.

“You will live here, on my estate, and you will not leave it without permission or my son’s escort. You will not ask outsiders to interfere with family matters, and you will not bring dishonour to this household.

“And if I refuse?”

Matteo’s gaze lifted from her to lock onto his father’s, a smile ghosting on his lips.

“As I said, you have my expectations. If you disappoint me, my son will be more than happy to correct your behaviour.

The first course arrived, and the conversation stayed light. Vincenzo asked a few pointed questions about her education, her job, and whether she had any close friends who would miss her. Elara answered in clipped sentences. Matteo said little, but she could feel his gaze on her, assessing. Calculating. Taking her measure. Once, when she reached for her water glass, their eyes met, and something unspoken passed between them. Something that had nothing to do with the conversation, the meal, the room, the men. Forbidden. Immediate. She looked away first, heat crawling up her neck.

Vincenzo seemed to notice it, but he said nothing, and the tension in the room dissipated.

After dinner, he stood

“Mrs Caruso will show you the grounds and the parts of the house you are permitted to enter. The east wing is off-limits, as is my study. Matteo will brief you on the security details tomorrow

With that, he left, not waiting for her response.

Matteo lingered until Vincenzo’s footsteps faded, then he got up from the table, coming to a stop behind her chair.

“You talk back to him too much,” he said quietly. “He will start taking examples. You should be more obedient.

“I’m not afraid of him

Matteo leaned down, one hand on the back of her chair.

“You should be. You should also be more careful when looking at me in front of him.

Her heart pounded in her ears.

“I wasn’t

“You were,” he said, his grey eyes searching hers. “I saw it. So did he. Keep it behind closed doors, little sister… or don’t look at all

The words little sister cut through her like a knife. He straightened, the moment passing, and left the dining room.

Elara was left alone at the table, the taste of dinner turning to ash in her mouth, and the feel of him lingering in her skin.

Forbidden glances had already begun.