The grand ballroom sparkled under the glow of golden chandeliers, filled with the hum of aristocrats and business tycoons mingling over champagne.

Leonardo De Luca.

The 28-year-old CEO of De Luca Enterprises and the feared mafia kingpin, stood near the balcony, his towering 6’4” frame exuding authority. His sharp jawline and piercing emerald eyes made him the center of attention wherever he went. But tonight, amidst all the grandeur, his attention was drawn to a girl standing nervously in a corner.

Aria Evans.

She was only 17, petite with a height of 5’4”, her innocent doe eyes scanning the room with uncertainty. A soft pink gown hugged her delicate figure, but she seemed out of place, overwhelmed by the crowd. Orphaned at a young age, she had been thrust into a world she barely understood when her scholarship granted her access to one of the most prestigious universities in the country. Tonight, she was here on the recommendation of her professor, unaware that she had walked into the lion’s den.

---

Leonardo's eyes narrowed as he watched her fidget with the hem of her dress, her naivety radiating like a beacon. Something about her tugged at a place deep within him—a place he had thought was cold and unyielding. The world around him faded as a single thought consumed his mind: She’s mine.

He handed his glass to a passing waiter and made his way toward her, each step calculated, like a predator approaching its prey. As he stood before her, towering over her small frame, Aria looked up, her breath catching in her throat.

“Y-you must be Mr. De Luca,” she stammered, recognizing him from the introduction earlier. “I... I didn’t mean to disturb your event. I was just—”

“Aria, isn’t it?” His deep voice sent a shiver down her spine.

“Yes,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

He leaned in slightly, his emerald eyes locking onto hers with an intensity that made her heart race. “You’re not disturbing anything. In fact, I find your presence quite... refreshing.”

Aria swallowed hard, feeling both flattered and intimidated. There was something about the way he looked at her, as though he could see straight into her soul.

Over the course of the evening, Leonardo stayed close to her, brushing off any attempt she made to retreat. His possessive nature had already taken root, and he didn’t care who noticed. By the end of the night, Aria felt a strange mix of fear and intrigue toward the enigmatic man who had taken such a keen interest in her.

As the event drew to a close, Leonardo leaned in closer, his voice low and commanding. “I’ll make sure you get home safely,” he said, his words leaving her heart racing. Aria opened her mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes silenced her.

His presence felt overwhelming, yet comforting, as though he would protect her from anything. As the limousine door closed behind her, Aria caught a glimpse of his watchful eyes from the window. His silent promise lingered in the air—a promise that would haunt her every step from that moment onward.

The ride back to her dorm was quiet. Aria sat in the back seat of the sleek black limousine Leonardo had insisted she use after the party. Her heart raced, her mind replaying every moment of the evening. Leonardo De Luca's gaze had lingered on her longer than anyone else's ever had. There was something about him—an air of dominance that made her feel vulnerable, yet strangely protected.

She shook her head, trying to push the thoughts away. He was just being polite, she reasoned. Someone like him, powerful and rich, wouldn’t be interested in a simple, orphaned girl like her.

But she was wrong.

From the moment Leonardo saw her, he couldn’t think of anything—or anyone—else. As the car disappeared into the night, he stood by the grand windows of his mansion, his fingers gripping the edge of his whiskey glass.

“Who is she?” he asked, his voice calm but laced with an undertone of obsession.

His right-hand man and childhood friend, Matteo, stood beside him, holding a tablet with Aria's information. “Aria Evans. Seventeen. Freshman at Columbia University. Orphaned at the age of five. No family, no significant ties.”

Leonardo smirked, his eyes glinting with a dark determination. “No ties? That makes it easier.”

Matteo raised a brow. “You’re serious about this? She’s just a kid, Leo. And you don’t exactly have a history of... handling innocence well.”

Leonardo’s gaze darkened, a possessive edge creeping into his tone. “She’s not just a kid. She’s mine. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

Matteo sighed, knowing better than to argue. When Leonardo set his sights on something—or someone—there was no stopping him.

The next few days were a whirlwind for Aria. Strange things began to happen—her tuition fees were mysteriously paid in full, her cramped dorm room was upgraded to a luxurious private suite, and her part-time job suddenly canceled her shifts, citing “funds from a private benefactor.”

She was confused and uneasy, but when she tried to investigate, she hit a dead end. Little did she know, Leonardo was pulling strings behind the scenes, weaving an invisible web around her.

One evening, as she walked back from the library, she felt a shadow following her. Her pulse quickened, and she turned around, clutching her books tightly.

“Who's there?” she called out, her voice trembling.

Out of the shadows stepped Leonardo, his tall frame intimidating in the dim streetlight. Aria’s heart pounded as he closed the distance between them.

“Mr. De Luca?” she whispered, her voice a mix of relief and fear. “What are you doing here?”

“I was worried about you,” he said, his tone gentle but firm. “It’s not safe for a young girl to walk alone at night.”

Aria frowned, confusion knitting her brows. “How did you even know I’d be here?”

Leonardo ignored her question, his hand reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re too precious to be wandering alone. From now on, you’ll have someone escort you.”

“I-I don’t need an escort,” she stammered, stepping back. “I can take care of myself.”

His expression hardened, his emerald eyes blazing with a possessiveness that made her stomach churn. “It wasn’t a suggestion, Aria. It’s for your safety.”

Before she could protest, he turned and walked away, leaving her standing in the dimly lit street, her mind racing.

Back at his mansion, Leonardo paced his study, his thoughts consumed by Aria. His family—his younger sister Sophia and his parents, Vincent and Elena—watched him with growing concern.

“Leo,” Sophia said gently, placing a hand on his arm. “She’s young. Don’t scare her away with your intensity.”

“She’s not scared,” Leonardo snapped, though his voice softened when he looked at his sister. “She just doesn’t understand yet.”

Elena sighed, exchanging a look with her husband. “Leonardo, love can’t be forced. You have to give her space.”

But space was the last thing Leonardo was willing to give.

“She’ll understand,” he said, his tone final. “Because she doesn’t have a choice.”

The following week was unlike anything Aria had ever experienced. Everywhere she went, she felt watched, though she could never pinpoint who—or what—was behind the sensation. She tried to shake it off, convincing herself it was just paranoia, but deep down, she knew better.

Her phone buzzed as she sat in her new private dorm room, staring blankly at the luxurious decor. Everything felt too extravagant, too out of place for a girl like her.

Unknown Number: Did you get back to your dorm safely?

Her heart skipped a beat. She stared at the screen, her hands trembling slightly.

“Who is this?” she typed, her fingers hovering nervously over the keyboard.

The reply came almost instantly.

Unknown Number: Leonardo. I asked your number from your professor. I needed to make sure you’re safe.

Safe. That word felt like a double-edged sword coming from him. She typed back, trying to mask her growing discomfort.

Aria: I’m fine. You don’t have to worry about me.

But his next message made her blood run cold.

Leonardo: I’ll always worry about you, Aria.

She set the phone down, her heart thudding in her chest. Why was he so interested in her? Why did it feel like every move she made was under his watchful eye?

Later that evening, Aria decided to distract herself with a visit to her favorite café near campus. She sat in her usual corner, sipping on her latte and reading her textbook. For the first time in days, she felt a sense of normalcy.

“Aria?”

She looked up to see a familiar face—Maya, her bubbly classmate and the only person who had made an effort to befriend her.

“Maya!” Aria smiled, relief washing over her. “It’s so good to see you.”

The two girls chatted for a while, laughing and sharing stories about their classes. For a moment, Aria forgot about the suffocating presence of Leonardo in her life. But as the evening wore on, her unease returned.

When they stepped outside the café, Maya offered to walk her back to her dorm. But as they approached the street corner, a sleek black car pulled up alongside them. The tinted window rolled down, revealing Leonardo.

“Aria,” he said, his voice calm but commanding. “Get in.”

She froze, her eyes widening. Maya glanced between them, sensing the tension.

“Is... is this your boyfriend?” Maya asked hesitantly, a nervous smile on her face.

Before Aria could respond, Leonardo stepped out of the car, his tall frame casting a shadow over them. “Yes,” he said smoothly, his gaze fixed on Aria.

Maya’s smile faltered, and she quickly mumbled an excuse to leave. Aria barely noticed her friend’s retreat; her focus was on Leonardo.

“You didn’t answer my messages,” he said, his tone deceptively soft as he stepped closer.

“I... I was busy,” Aria stammered, taking a step back.

Leonardo’s eyes darkened, and he leaned in, his voice low and dangerous. “You don’t ignore me, Aria. I only want what’s best for you. Don’t make me worry.”

Her heart pounded as she nodded, too scared to argue. He opened the car door for her, and she reluctantly slid in, feeling the walls of his invisible cage closing in tighter.

Back at the mansion, Leonardo’s family watched as he returned home with Aria. Sophia, his younger sister, met him in the hall, her expression a mix of concern and disapproval.

“You brought her here already?” Sophia whispered harshly.

“She needed a reminder,” Leonardo replied, his voice cold but steady. “She’s safer with me.”

“Leo, you’re suffocating her. She’s not a possession,” Sophia said, her tone pleading.

Leonardo’s jaw tightened, but he didn’t respond. Instead, he turned to Aria, his expression softening as he reached out to tuck a strand of her hair behind her ear.

“You’re safe here,” he murmured. “No one will ever hurt you.”

But as Aria looked up at him, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was already trapped—and that the danger wasn’t outside the walls of his mansion but within them.