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The property was enveloped by lush, mature landscaping, creating an unexpected forest-like atmosphere despite its coastal location. Towering cypress trees swayed gracefully in the wind, their rustling leaves harmonizing with the ocean’s symphony.
Leon’s house was undeniably impressive, a testament to his wealth that he seemed to downplay with his modest demeanor. His natural humility made the opulence of his surroundings even more striking. I felt a sense of awe as I stepped out of the car, realizing that this would be my home one day too.
I felt a rush of excitement as I took in the angled lines of the house, the avant-garde sculptures placed strategically throughout the garden, and the short staircase leading to the entrance. Large pots brimming with vivid pink bougainvillea adorned the landing, their vibrant blooms climbing the house’s facade.
The scene was breathtaking, and I couldn’t help but feel a flutter of nerves mixed with anticipation.
Sunlight filtered through the magnolia trees as I crouched beside Leo, my loyal Greek shepherd. Her tail swept the grass in broad, happy strokes while she sniffed the air, nostrils flaring as she drank in every new scent.
I slid my fingers through the soft waves of her curls, feeling the warmth radiate through her coat into my palm, steady and comforting. Each delicate pant against my hand reminded me that I wouldn’t face this next chapter alone.
Leaning back, I grinned down at her. “You know what, Leo? We’re going to live here soon.”
She tilted her head, one ear flipping forward, then let out a high-pitched whine.
“Don’t worry,” I said, brushing her ears. “You’re coming too, my love.” Her tail resumed its frantic wag as we looked up at the house ahead.
It was strange to think I’d be moving into a home this grand, especially without my sisters. They’d always been nearby. Vik too. It was going to take some getting used to, for sure.
I stood at the edge of Leon’s sprawling estate, tracing the elegant lines of his mansion, a postcard-perfect vision nestled among manicured gardens. The grandeur of the place seemed almost ethereal, a world away from anything I had known.
Papa had been wealthy, but his riches paled in comparison to the opulence before me. Marble columns, intricate ironwork, and sprawling lawns evoked a sense of timeless luxury beyond my wildest imaginings.
The sheer scale of the life Leon maintained seemed incomprehensible. He had inherited the mantle of his family’s business, a weighty responsibility for someone so young. I couldn’t imagine the immense effort and countless hard choices he’d made to keep his family’s empire together.
No wonder he’d garnered the formidable reputationsurrounding him. As the head of a syndicate with such influence and power, it was inevitable.
Papa had once presided over a vast and critical region, a position that ultimately claimed his life. Ruthless adversaries had gone to great lengths to annihilate him, leaving his loved ones vulnerable and destitute. In this world, survival demanded a merciless nature. You had to be unyielding, impenetrable, and perpetually vigilant. Otherwise, you’d be crushed. The system operated with ruthless efficiency.
Avra had told Laya and me about our mother’s experiences. Mama often felt trapped, surrounded by an impenetrable wall of security, simply because she was married to the head of the Vitalis syndicate.
Papa was well aware that his enemies would seize any opportunity to reach him through her. Despite feeling like a prisoner, she accepted her lack of privacy out of love for him.
After our parents’ deaths, when we fled to Prague, I too began to feel the restrictions as I grew up. Initially, I was too young, a mere child needing security and safety. However, once I entered adolescence, I craved freedom and the need to spread my wings and not always be under Vik’s vigilant gaze.
Was I about to exchange one gilded cage for another?
A knot tightened in my stomach at the notion. Doubt crept in, whispering that perhaps this decision had been a mistake.
Just as uncertainty threatened to consume me, a blur of black fur catapulted toward us.
Leo tensed, ears pinned back in alarm, but soon relaxed,her tail wagging in delight as the fluffiest dog I’d ever seen pranced around us.
The dog’s glossy black coat was speckled with tiny white patches, a joyful distraction from my tumultuous thoughts.
“I see you’ve met Cosmo,” Leon called out.
There he stood, leaning casually against an arched doorway that led to the back of the house, his posture relaxed yet exuding a quiet confidence. The sunlight streamed down, casting a golden glow over him, and the vibrant pink blooms surrounding him seemed to amplify his striking presence.
“I think Cosmo met us?” I glanced down at the energetic ball of fur still circling our feet.
Leon’s gaze locked onto mine, his expression intense and smoldering, a contrast to the bright day that enveloped him.
My heart skipped a beat, and all the doubts that had been lingering in my mind began to dissolve like mist under the morning sun.
He dressed in casual jeans that hugged his frame just right, and a black button-down shirt with the sleeves rolled up to reveal the defined muscles of his forearms. The gentle breeze tousled his dark hair, a stray lock dancing over his forehead, accentuating the strong lines of his chiseled jawline.
A storm of emotions swirled in his deep brown eyes, mirroring the electric tension that seemed to vibrate in the air between us, leaving me a tad breathless.