Page 2 of The Godfather's Black Rose

Even though she left late, Lucia still arrived at the restaurant before Vincent.

She ordered his favorite dishes and waited in the private dining room for over an hour before Vincent finally showed up with an

apologetic expression.

"Lucia, I'm sorry. A few old guys from the family suddenly called me over, which delayed me. I kept you waiting so long—you must

be starving! Let's eat quickly."

After Vincent sat down and saw the table full of his favorite dishes, he smiled sweetly at Lucia.

"You're the best, Lucia. You always remember what I like. I really can't live without you—being with you makes me so happy."

The dishes had been kept warm the whole time. He skillfully picked up his fork, cut the best piece of steak, and naturally placed

it on Lucia's plate first. "You eat first. Be careful, it's hot."

Throughout the meal, whenever Lucia's wine glass was empty, Vincent would stop eating and refill it for her.

After dinner, he also took care of helping her with her coat and tidying up, not letting her lift a finger.

As Vincent put it: "You protect me in big things, I take care of you in small things. We're a perfect match."

These had been their habits for seven years, but now, feeling Vincent's attentiveness, Lucia couldn't feel even a trace of

happiness.

In fact, every time he acted so considerate in front of her, she would think of his chat records with Scarlett.

At the movie theater, Vincent didn't book the entire venue, wanting to have a date with Lucia like an ordinary couple.

Lucia didn't mind either way, so she naturally wouldn't refuse. They bought popcorn and Coke and followed Vincent into the

theater.

They had bought couple seats. When they sat down, two girls nearby looked at them in surprise and whispered to each other.

"Oh my God, are those two celebrities? The guy is so handsome and tall, and the woman is so elegant and beautiful—they look like

they walked out of a movie!"

"Their interaction is so sweet! When they walked over, the guy always stayed half a step behind to protect her, and when she

looked back at him, her eyes were full of tenderness and familiarity. So sweet!"

Vincent heard this and smiled happily. Under the girls' gaze, he leaned close to Lucia and suddenly kissed her.

Suppressed excited squeals came from nearby. Vincent's eyes crinkled with laughter as he gently traced his index finger in Lucia's

palm.

"Lucia, they all say we're sweet. I think so too—every moment with you is incredibly sweet."

Lucia met his bright eyes and reached out to touch his hair, saying nothing.

The movie Vincent chose was somewhat dull, running three and a half hours long.

During the screening, Lucia noticed that Vincent wasn't paying attention. He kept looking down at his phone, and in the dark

environment, the screen's glow was particularly glaring as it lit up and dimmed repeatedly.

Perhaps sensing that the atmosphere around Lucia had grown tense, Vincent nervously traced her palm again.

"Lucia, it's from the company—they keep sending messages. Don't worry, I've already told them I'm spending the afternoon on a date

with you and asked them to stop bothering me."

He claimed it was the company, but Lucia knew that from the morning call that was hung up to the afternoon's constant messages,

what was really disrupting them was never the company, but Scarlett.

But she didn't make an issue of it. Under Vincent's nervous gaze, she simply ruffled his hair like she used to.

"It's fine. Let's watch the movie."

Vincent immediately relaxed, sitting up straight with relief. Seeing Lucia turn to look at the screen, he quickly typed a message

on his phone.

"From now until tomorrow, don't send me any more messages. Shut up!"

Lucia caught a glimpse from the corner of her eye. After the message was sent, the other person immediately replied with a crying

emoji.

Then came another message: "Vincent, you don't love me anymore. You only think about being with that woman—you don't have me in

your heart at all."

Vincent paused after seeing this, hesitated for a few seconds, and didn't reply.

Lucia thought he could finally focus and spend this last anniversary with her properly.

But unexpectedly, after five or six minutes, Vincent restlessly picked up his phone again.

His fingers quickly tapped on the screen: "I really don't have time today. Be good, baby. Daddy will make it up to you tomorrow."

As soon as he sent it, Scarlett replied instantly.

"Love you Daddy, you really do love me the most!"

Vincent's expression relaxed, and he replied with a smile: "Daddy loves you too. Wait for me tomorrow like a good girl."

After sending this, he carefully looked up and observed that Lucia was sitting upright with her eyes fixed on the screen ahead,

assuming she was completely unaware.

He thought he had pulled the wool over her eyes.

But Lucia, who had witnessed everything, felt her heart riddled with holes, her chest tight with pain.

After the movie ended, Vincent accompanied Lucia to the Coney Island amusement park, where he won her a giant stuffed bear at a

shooting booth.

On the way back, Vincent chatted excitedly about the day's fun moments, circling around Lucia like an energetic puppy.

But no matter how he tried to amuse her, Lucia remained listless.

Vincent sensed something was wrong and looked at her nervously, asking cautiously, "Lucia, are you unhappy? Why aren't you saying

anything?"

The concern in his eyes was utterly sincere, that worry almost spilling over from his handsome gaze.

Just like every time before, whenever Lucia showed the slightest coldness, Vincent would notice immediately and then try every way

to cheer her up.

This time was no exception. Ignoring the driver in front, he leaned close to Lucia, took her hand and pressed it gently against

his face.

"Lucia, if you're unhappy, you must tell me. I'll always be here with you, to make you happy."

Lucia followed his movement and looked down, staring intently at his face.

Seven years had passed, yet time had left few traces on Vincent's face. He was still young and handsome, like a boy who had just

walked out of college.

The dependence on his face toward her didn't seem fake, that intense love almost melting enough to melt anyone.

But this was the very man she had personally helped rise to power, who was secretly keeping a starlet behind her back. Thinking of

Vincent's two completely different faces, Lucia couldn't muster any enthusiasm.

Even her words of comfort came out perfunctory.

"It's nothing, there's some trouble in Chicago that needs handling. I'm just thinking about business."

Vincent breathed a sigh of relief, then looked at her with some uncertainty: "Lucia, it's really just business? You promise you're

not hiding anything else from me?"

Lucia ruffled his hair, "What else could there be? I promised you I'd tell you if something was wrong, that I wouldn't shoulder

everything alone anymore. Don't worry."

Only then did Vincent regain his energy, hugging her arm and chattering away again.

After returning to the Long Island estate, Vincent went to shower on his own, coming out loosely wrapped in a bathrobe that

revealed his well-defined abs.

His tall frame embraced Lucia from behind, kissing her ear and making a suggestive invitation.

"Lucia, today is our seven-year anniversary, tonight we..."

Lucia instinctively leaned back into his warm chest.

She was too familiar with his body and scent. Almost without any foreplay, her body had already responded to him, craving his

kisses and embrace.

But the next second, she thought of those explicit messages between Vincent and Scarlett.

Her body's passion instantly faded. Lucia calmly pushed him away and spoke indifferently: "Vincent, do you feel tired?"

Vincent was stunned, "Lucia, what are you talking about?"

Seeing he didn't respond, Lucia continued asking: "In front of me, you always have to watch my moods, suppress yourself, play that

role of someone who needs protection. Vincent Gallo, are you tired?"

Perhaps Lucia's tone was too serious. Vincent froze instantly, then was overwhelmed by crushing nervousness and panic.

"Lu... Lucia, how could I be tired? As long as I'm with you, I'll never be tired!"

"Don't say things like that anymore. We've been through so much, it wasn't easy getting to where we are today... Being with you

only brings happiness, no exhaustion..."

Vincent spoke at breakneck speed, as if slowing down even a second would make Lucia disappear from before him.

Tears streamed down his face as he buried his head in Lucia's chest, his voice both aggrieved and choked.

"Lucia, don't ask me if I'm tired anymore. In front of you, I'm willing to forever be that boy who needs you, forever."

Watching Vincent desperately making promises, Lucia remained silent for a long time, finally sighing without saying anything.

She gently stroked his back, "Sleep now, don't overthink."

Vincent sobbed himself to sleep in her arms.

Even in his dreams, he held tightly to Lucia's arm, like a frightened beast clinging desperately to its last support, refusing to

let go even in sleep.

In the latter half of the night, Vincent slept peacefully, even wearing a relaxed smile on his face.

But Lucia remained awake all night.

Early the next morning, Vincent was awakened by the ringing of his phone.

Still not fully awake, he instinctively hit the speakerphone button. A sultry female voice came through from the other end, and he

jolted awake, quickly pressing mute.

Meeting Lucia's penetrating gaze that seemed to see right through everything, Vincent's face flashed with panic as he explained

awkwardly, "It's one of my men with urgent business to report. I'll step out to take it."

Lucia didn't stop him, letting him rush out of the bedroom without even putting on his slippers.

She knew perfectly well that the caller wasn't one of his subordinates, but Scarlett, whom Vincent had promised to "compensate"

yesterday.

After all, in these seven years together, aside from the recently appeared Scarlett, Vincent had never kept any secrets from her.

She could freely enter and exit his office, his encrypted phone was never password-protected around her, and he had even given her

contact information for all his trusted associates.

One of his confidants had once complained privately, "Vincent, don't you think Lucia's being too controlling? What kind of family

boss lives like you do, with zero personal space?"

Lucia happened to overhear that comment. Just as she was wondering if she really was being too demanding, she heard Vincent laugh

and shake his head.

"I don't think so. Besides, it's not that she wants to control me—I'm the one who chose to lay everything bare for her to see."

His subordinates all thought he'd lost his mind.

But Vincent just smiled sweetly, saying it was an understanding between him and Lucia that outsiders wouldn't get.

"Lucia, I need to go to the office. I won't be able to have lunch together."

Vincent quickly got dressed, dropped that line, and hurried off without waiting for Lucia's response.

Watching the door slam shut, Lucia let out a silent, mocking laugh.

His words from back then still echoed in her ears, but the man who spoke them had already changed.

Since Vincent wanted his freedom, she wouldn't stay for him any longer.

Lucia spent the entire day packing her belongings around the estate.

They'd been together too long—seven years of living side by side had intertwined their lives and possessions until they were

inseparable.

But now, she had to personally peel apart everything that had once been so tightly bound together.

Entertainment news popped up on her phone about Scarlett joining a film production.

Right after that, Vincent called. "Lucia, the company's new film investment is starting production, and as the major investor, I

need to go discuss the follow-up with the director and producers. Since this is our first venture into Hollywood, I need to

oversee it personally."

Halfway through, his tone became cautiously probing: "The crew is in Los Angeles, so I probably won't be coming home for the next

few days."

To Vincent's surprise, Lucia agreed without hesitation.

"Alright, go ahead."

After saying that, she hung up without even giving Vincent time to respond.

Vincent stared down at the darkened screen, somewhat dazed. An inexplicable sense of panic rose in his chest, as if something

important was about to spiral out of control.

Just then, Scarlett walked over with a smile, looking completely pleased with herself.

"Vincent, thank you for being willing to come with me to the set. The director and everyone are being so much nicer to me now."

She took his hand, stroking it suggestively. "The hotel suite the production arranged is amazing. Tonight we can..."

One of Vincent's lieutenants approached, and seeing Scarlett's actions, gave Vincent a knowing smile before turning to leave.

"Sir, it's rare to find such an understanding young lady. You should..."

Hearing his subordinate's flippant tone, Vincent's brow twitched sharply, and he jerked his hand away from Scarlett's as if

electrocuted.

His expression turned ice-cold.

"I've warned you all to respect Lucia. Her position can never be replaced by anyone. Stop making assumptions, or I'll consider

replacing you."

After reprimanding his subordinate, he turned to Scarlett.

He wanted to refuse, but seeing her on the verge of tears, Vincent softened again.

He sighed, wrapping his arm around her waist. "Next time I won't indulge you like this, you disobedient little minx."

Scarlett's face immediately lit up with an obedient smile as she stood on her tiptoes to kiss his cheek.

"Don't worry, Daddy. I promise I'll be good. Let me take real good care of you tonight~"