{Welcome to another romance, I guarantee it will be a wonderful and delicious experience, without negative comments or criticisms, remember empathy for others is good, a kiss on your hearts and let's enjoy}

Lecce is one of the most beautiful Italian cities, a true pearl of art and culture in southern Italy. Located in the southern part of Puglia (the "heel" of the boot), a region called Salento, among the most visited in Italy thanks to its wonderful beaches, the city of Lecce is a happy mix of different cultures and eras: Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Spaniards.

And that day it was raining hard, life is so full of mysteries, one day happiness was at its peak and the next she was crying in front of two tombs.

Emily didn't even know what tears were anymore, her face wet from the rain, her expression sad, she heard many murmurs beside her.

"So young and already going through such a loss."

There were her mother and stepfather, whom she considered her father, in a tragic accident that took both their lives and she had no one left in the world. She had good conditions but at 18 she was still considered immature to take over things, so her mother's trusted lawyer was always by her side.

The ceremony went well, but Emily still stood looking at the tombs, even when there was no one else there, until she felt that cold hand on her shoulder, it was the lawyer.

Ramires=come here girl.

He hugs her tightly, he has always been part of the family but now there was nothing left for her, they didn't live in the capital but in the countryside of France on a large farm, now she didn't know what was going to happen since she couldn't stay alone.

In the car back to the farm with Ramires he says nothing, respects her silence, when they arrive he knew he wanted to talk about the matter, but she was a hurt girl who didn't know what to do at that moment.

Emily =what's going to happen now?

Ramires=you are not yet considered responsible under the law, the family's assets will be frozen until you reach 20 years old, there are no more responsible people in the family, but I have already organized all the paperwork and there is someone who will be responsible.

Emily =what, who?

Ramires=your stepfather's son. Lucian.

Emily remembered him, he didn't even go to his own father's funeral, she knew the hatred he had for them for always judging her and her mother, he said it was their fault his father left the family, she saw him once when she was 5 years old but didn't remember his face, he may be the only one alive but he wasn't her family, they were only associated because he was her stepfather's son, but he hated her and she knew he wouldn't want to stay with her.

Emily =he won't want to...

Ramires=now girl, I met with him before to notify him of his father's death, everything was explained and he agreed.

Emily knew the hatred he felt so why did he agree to accept her, her fate could be a nursing home or convent since there were no more living relatives, was it out of pity, had she reached this state that that heartless man felt sorry for her.

Ramires=I know it's difficult, but this is the only way out, I don't want to see my friend's only daughter being thrown into an orphanage, please Emily, stay in his care until you are 20 years old and then everything will be passed on to your name.

She knew that Ramires' words were sincere, she also had no choices, despite suffering a lot from the loss she needed to think about the future.

Emily =when is he coming?

Ramires=no dear, you are going to his house in the city.

She had only seen this man once in her life and what she received was his hatred, she knew that even going to his house would be a real hell but she had no choices.

Ramires =I'll let you rest and pack your bags, I'll come pick you up tomorrow.

He gives her a strong hug and leaves, Emily walks around that huge house, the photos of her mother and stepfather made her cry a lot, even at 18 she was not considered responsible, only after 20, she was no longer a child, she was going to leave everything behind, her friends and school to go to the city, she had to endure two years in the house of that stranger who the only certainty she had was that he hated her, it wasn't her fault that her mother married his father, she didn't even know how that story started, she was too young at that time.

She goes to her room and cries like a child, she liked the farm, she may have had good conditions but she always helped and didn't like the city very much, it would be a new life and that made her afraid, she packs her bags and takes only what is important, her pillow was already wet from crying so much, why did this accident take away what was so important to her.

EMILY 18 YEARS OLD

Emily watched as the trees and mountains were replaced by houses and buildings, the traffic was chaotic, she didn't sleep well and all that noise gave her a headache, her life would be a complete surprise and she didn't know what to expect, Ramires by her side said nothing, little by little the scenery changed, the houses became more luxurious in a green area, houses with high walls and distant from each other, Emily knew that he had money after all her stepfather was rich so surely the family would be too, the car passes through a huge gate with a garden and further ahead you could see a huge house.

He parks, there was a maid waiting for them, she received them very well, she seemed friendly, she only greets, her mourning was still at its peak and made her depressed, but she forces a smile.

She enters and inside the house was big but you couldn't see any more maids only that woman, her life would be like that now, empty, she hears steps behind and sees the maid greeting and when she turns around she sees that presence. She needs to look up, even having seen him only once she still remembered those eyes, it was Luciano, it had been 13 years since she saw him how he changed, he was a handsome man and those eyes that seemed to scare her, she receives a cold look but Emily is already sad enough and that contempt didn't help at all, he didn't seem to be sad about his father's death.

LUCIAN 28 YEARS OLD

Emily=I'm sorry for the loss of the ........

Lucian=show her her room..

He simply ignored her completely, didn't even look her in the eyes, she seemed invisible and she already imagined that she would receive that contempt, but even so she just wanted support or a hug, after all they both had the same loss.

Lucian=come Ramires.

Ramires gives her one last hug and goes with him to a private room, her life would be like that now, dealing with loss and contempt, if he didn't want her there then why did he accept her, that man didn't seem to have a heart.

Emily follows the maid up the stairs, passes through many doors until she enters a room, it was beautiful and with a beautiful view of the garden.

Maid=I'll let you get settled in, lunch will be served at noon.

Emily wasn't thinking about eating, she had barely eaten these days that was the truth, she didn't know how her life could continue, looking at the balcony she sees Ramires getting in the car and waving to her, so now she was alone, in that house there was an absurd silence, she hears steps in the corridor, it was heavy, stops at her door but doesn't knock, then continues on.

Emily spent the day in the room, didn't go down for lunch, she didn't feel hungry, everything there was unknown, until she hears knocks on her door.

Emily=come in..

Maid=lunch has already been served miss.

Emily=sorry I'm not hungry.

She leaves without saying anything else, she stayed there in the room all day, she had no more tears to cry or lament about what happened, they weren't going to come back because of her suffering, and out of tiredness she ends up falling asleep.

When she opens her eyes a cold wind was coming in through the window, it was already night, Emily takes off her clothes and goes to take a bath, lets the hot water run down her body, her body has always been well developed for her age, her body was beautiful, full breasts and a thin waist after all she was no longer a child, just too innocent.

She looks at herself in the mirror, that wasn't the cheerful girl she always was, she was dejected and her eyes red from crying so much, there was no way to avoid that, it was too much loss for someone like her, but she needed to pull herself together, she wraps herself in the towel and goes to the room, she was going to get some clothes when her door is opened brutally and she sees that man enter in a hurry, Emily holds the towel tight when he stops in front of her, she was startled and scared, Lucian almost kicked the door down and for the first time he was there looking in her eyes, practically invaded her room.

Lucian=if you intend to starve to death do it somewhere else and not in my house.

Emily felt so fragile in front of that tall and strong man, he didn't show sadness on the contrary, he seemed to hate her, his caramel eyes had a deadly shine.

Emily=I... don't....

She didn't know why but her tears were running down her face, he showed indifference, did he hate her so much, she wasn't to blame for what happened, she feels those warm fingers hold her chin.

Lucian=your tears don't move me at all.

Emily=don't you lament the loss of your..

She couldn't speak anymore, he increases the pressure of his fingers on her face.

Lucian=I lament many things but not the death of that jerk who traded family, and you for me are a stranger.

Emily=it...hurts..

She holds his hand trying to pull it away, so her towel ends up slipping and stopping on her hips thus leaving her breasts exposed, she sees when his eyes of surprise look at every detail, he seemed to examine, then covers them quickly, he releases her, Emily covers herself quickly with the towel.

Emily=if you didn't want me here then why did you accept me?

Lucian=dinner in ten minutes, come down.

He simply turns his back and leaves, that wasn't a request or invitation, it was a short and rude order, she had been there for a day and already hated him, there was no reason for that but she felt that hatred.

She wears something lighter, a dress, braids her hair and goes down, the dining table was beautiful, he on the other side sitting reading some papers, his empty plate on the side showed that he had already had dinner, at no time does he look at her, she sits and the food is served, she wasn't going to deny that it was delicious, she eats little but even so she eats well.

Maid=I'll serve dessert.

Emily=I don't want any, I'm already satisfied.

Lucian=you can serve it.

He completely ignored her pretext, and served, it was beautiful but Emily didn't feel like eating, then she sees him get up and come in her direction, leans between the chair and the table.

Lucian=don't make a fuss, eat.

Emily=you don't order me ..

Lucian=it's something I have no interest in.

She could see that he was holding her chair tightly, the veins in his arm showing, why did he care so much about her, she still didn't understand why he accepted her there, the inheritance she has the right to is only on her mother's side so nothing involved her stepfather's family, did he feel sorry for her even, and something that is difficult to believe, she didn't know why but she felt the crying coming back, these days she broke down in tears and didn't want to show that in front of a stranger.

Lucian=I already said that your tears don't interest me, did you cry like that when your mother destroyed a family.

Emily=I wasn't to blame for anything, and my mother she..

Lucian=and a whore who destroyed a marriage.

Emily gets up quickly, looks at him with hatred he wasn't going to disrespect her mother.

Emily=my mother is not that, if your father wasn't happy in his marriage it's not her fault, my mother made him happy.

She can feel his hateful gaze, but Emily wasn't going to back down, she wasn't to blame for anything, he could pour out his hatred on her but she wasn't going to dishonor her mother's memory.

Lucian would carry her guilt, and that could only mean the same thing.

Emily—And you have nothing to do with your father; he was kind and had a good heart.

Lucian—Look at how he ended up.

He felt no remorse for his father's death, only a terrible hatred. Being like this might seem immature to her, but she never understood more than this about their life story. Still, she was not to blame for anything, watching him deliberately maintain his posture while never taking his eyes off her.

Emily—Why accept me if you didn't want me here?

Lucian—At the request of your lawyer, or would you rather live on the street since you can’t touch one cent of your inheritance?

Emily—So you have a good heart for accepting me.

Lucian—Don’t be mistaken; I hate you, and believe me, living here won’t be your paradise. You will share in this hatred and understand what I've suffered.

Emily—I don’t want anything of yours—certainly not your disdain.

Lucian—Good, then it’s mutual.

He walks past her, showing indifference.

Emily was sure he was a scoundrel. She didn’t want to be rude to the maid who seemed to have prepared dessert, so she returned to her seat and ate—it was truly delicious.

Emily—It’s magnificent! Did you make this?

Maid—Yes, ma’am. I’m pleased to know you enjoyed it; I will be responsible for you here in this house.

Emily didn’t need a babysitter, but it seemed that was his order. She didn’t wish to speak to the maid and left everything in her hands.

Emily—I’m grateful.

She finishes eating and heads upstairs. A disturbing silence reigned in the house; there really were no other employees. She had to bear this until she could get her hands on the inheritance, but would she be able to endure it? The pain of losing the only person in her life was so unbearable it felt like it was destroying her heart.

The night was restless; she tossed from side to side. Everything was new; that was not a bed she was accustomed to sleeping in. She got up to arrange the rest of her things. She would never get used to it; her home was at the farm, not there.

It was already past midnight when she decided to go downstairs for water. Upon reaching the kitchen, she encountered a woman; she was only in her bra and panties, a beautiful body. Emily stood frozen, watching as the woman drank water, and the woman seemed just as surprised to see her.

Woman—Didn’t know he had a sister.

Lucian—And I don’t. She’s just a visitor who will be staying for a while.

Emily saw him pass by her and enter the kitchen, just a towel around his waist. A nearly naked woman, and he was the same, so she could guess what was going on. It embarrassed her; Emily had never done anything like that in her life. She didn’t know that side of him, even though she had been curious and discussed it many times with her friends. Seeing that body on display for the first time was shocking; he took the woman and kissed her.

Lucian—Wait for me in the bedroom.

The woman went upstairs eagerly. Emily averted her gaze and headed toward the refrigerator, grabbing a cup of water, but he remained still in front of her, the weight of his stare heavy.

Lucian—What are you doing awake at this hour?

Emily—I can’t sleep.

She could see he was sweaty, indicating he had been exerting himself and had not yet slept. There was nothing to say; the house was his, but it didn’t feel right, as if he were her boyfriend or something similar with that woman.

Lucian—Don’t wander around so much; there are things you don’t need to see. Feel free just in your room; don’t confuse freedom too much.

Emily—Don’t worry; I’m not going to settle into your house, and I don’t wish to see anything.

He approached her and placed a finger on her forehead.

Lucian—Great, so it's not empty in there.

Emily—I’m not stupid, nor am I a child.

Lucian—Of course not; a child doesn’t have this body.

He merely brushed past her, but what kind of comment was that? There was only disdain, and that scene was one Emily did not wish to see again. She went upstairs to her room and threw herself onto the bed, wanting to sleep. She tried so hard that she finally managed to do so.