Lucius leaned forward, his sharp features hardening as his brows knitted tightly together and his jaw clenched. His voice carried an edge of anger as he spoke.
"And what exactly did you think you’d gain from Carlo? Are you out of your mind, Sylvia? You walked straight into the territory of that backstabbing bastard who betrayed your brother! Did you honestly believe he’d give you any valuable information?" His frustration palpable, but Sylvia kept her gaze lowered, her expression calm and unreadable.
Layla shifted in her seat, tempted to interject and ask Lucius to tone down his reprimand, but she stopped herself. Sylvia needed to understand the consequences of her actions, and Layla silently agreed it was a lesson worth teaching.
Unbothered by Lucius’s scolding, Sylvia finally lifted her head and replied evenly, "Carlo did give information. And it cost ten million dollars."
Lucius’s brows shot up, disbelief flickering across his face. "Ten million?" he echoed, tilting his head as if trying to process her words. "And what exactly did you learn?"
Sylvia’s voice held steady as she explained, "Carlo told that my brother t with a Russian mafia leader—the kind of man even the most dangerous people steer clear of. Carlo didn’t know the na, but he said if I want answers, I need to go to Russia. Matteo used to make trips there often, and I think it was connected to this mafia."
Lucius stared at her, struggling to believe Carlo had divulged such critical information. His mind churned with possibilities, but he knew Carlo’s intentions were far from noble. It was obvious that Carlo only told Sylvia to use her as leverage—to blackmail Lucius by taking her captive if it suited him.
Sylvia’s voice cut through his thoughts. "Did you already know about this?" she asked.
Lucius hesitated before replying. "Yes. And you’ll stay out of this. You’re going back to the States, Sylvia. Focus on your business there."
Her defiance was imdiate. "I don’t want to leave," she stated firmly. "I promise I won’t cause trouble for you or Layla. But if I go back, Carlo could send soone after . Besides, I’m planning to sell the company."
Lucius shook his head, his tone softening slightly. "Don’t sell the company you worked so hard to build."
"I can always start a new one here," Sylvia countered. "It’s only a matter of ti."
Layla, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, "Don’t send her away, Lucius. Let her stay."
Lucius’s eyes flicked to Layla briefly before Aiden, who had been listening intently, broke the silence. "How did you escape from Carlo, anyway?"
Sylvia’s lips curved into a small, confident smile. "I used my skills. I’m a black belt in judo and trained in martial arts. I don’t rely on n to get out of dangerous situations," she declared, her tone tinged with pride.
Roger, leaning casually against the armrest of the couch, smirked. "And yet, instead of calling the police, you called the boss for help," he remarked dryly, his tone laced with mockery.
Sylvia shot him a cold look but didn’t respond. Instead, Layla rose from her seat and gestured for Sylvia to follow. "Co with . I’ll show you the guest room—you should rest for now," she said warmly.
Without another word, Sylvia stood and followed Layla out of the living room, leaving the n.
"Carlo won’t stop here," Roger said, his sharp gaze fixed on Lucius.
Lucius leaned back in the sofa, running a hand through his hair in frustration. "Every mafia knew what Matteo was up to—everyone but . Was I really that blind? How could I not know my close friend was heading to Russia frequently?"
"That’s because you weren’t fully imrsed in this life back then, Boss," Roger interjected.
Aiden, who had been quietly observing, stepped into the conversation. "Not all the mafias knew about Matteo’s trips, Boss. Fabio knew because of his father’s connections, while Carlo probably pieced it together from other sources. I won’t deny it—he’s always been resourceful. Even when he worked under Matteo, he had a knack for gathering information."
Lucius’s mood darkened further as the weight of the revelations settled over him. He leaned back, closing his eyes in an attempt to steady his turbulent thoughts.
~~~~
"Aren’t you upset?" Sylvia asked hesitantly as she accepted the clothes from Layla’s hands.
Layla paused, her brows arching in curiosity. "What do you an by that?"
Sylvia fidgeted slightly, avoiding Layla’s gaze. "I tried to co between you and Lucius. I caused you trouble more than once. That day, when I called you for help, I honestly thought you wouldn’t co. I figured you’d still be upset with for everything I did."
Layla’s expression softened, her lips curving into a small, understanding smile. "Sylvia, I’m not heartless," she said gently. "You sounded panicked and desperate. I couldn’t just ignore that because of past grievances. Whatever you did, it doesn’t an I’d turn my back on soone in need."
Sylvia looked up, surprised by Layla’s genuine response. "Thank you," she said softly, her gratitude evident in her tone.
Layla gave her a small nod. "Hmm. You should freshen up and get so rest. It’ll help. Sleep is probably the best thing for you right now."
Sylvia pressed her fingers lightly to her temple, feeling the throbbing ache in her head. "Yeah, my head’s been killing . I think sleeping it off is a good idea."
"Good." Layla gave her arm a reassuring pat before turning to leave.
Just as she reached the door, Sylvia’s voice stopped her. "Layla," she called out. Layla glanced back over her shoulder.
"I heard you beca the Chairwoman of De Salvo Group. Congratulations on that. The news was everywhere—I saw it too," Sylvia said with a warm smile.
A faint smile touched Layla’s lips. "Thank you," she replied simply before stepping out and gently closing the door behind her.
As Layla stepped back in the living hall, she saw Lucius on the couch, lying on it while Roger and Aiden couldn’t be seen around.
Approaching Lucius, Layla crouched on her knees and caressed his cheek. He opened his eyes and held her hand. "Sleep with . I feel tired," he murmured.
"Here?" Layla’s eyes widened for a mont.
"No one is around. Even if they are, it’s our house," Lucius said, propping on his elbows and giving her the space. Layla removed her slippers and lay beside him on the couch. His hands wrapped around her, embracing her in his warmth.
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