Night — Valentina's House.
The house was bathed in soft light. Around the large dining table, Valentina and Carlos shared a peaceful dinner filled with laughter and light conversation. The atmosphere was relaxed until the sharp sound of heels echoed against the tiles. Chloé appeared like a vision—stunning, unsettling, almost unreal. Her short, tight dress hugged her curves with provocative elegance. The corset emphasized her slim waist, and her hair tied into a bun revealed the delicate line of her neck. Yet her eyes seemed empty, devoid of any sparkle.
Carlos froze, his fork suspended halfway between his plate and his mouth. He swallowed hard, unable to hide the way he stared at her. She sat beside Valentina, directly across from him, without sparing him a single glance.
Val (smiling)
_ You were impossible to find earlier. I came to your room, but you were asleep. Everything okay?_
Chloé (weakly)
_ Yeah… just a headache._
Carlos (calmly, slight smile)
_ Did you take anything for it?_
Chloé (sighing)
_ No, don't worry. I'll just sleep a little more, it'll pass._
Val (eyes wide)
_ Sleep? Again? No way, beautiful, tonight we're going out._
Chloé (surprised)
_ Going out? Where exactly?_
Carlos (smirking)
_ Dancing a little. Just to clear your mind. What do you say?_
Chloé barely lifted her eyes toward him, looking completely uninterested. Without answering, she picked up her utensils and slowly began eating, royally ignoring his suggestion.
Val (sighing, amused)
_ Excuse her, sometimes her "bad mood mode" activates without warning. Anyway, let's finish eating quickly, because tonight I'm not coming home before dawn._
Carlos (teasing)
_ You're talking as if Chloé already said yes._
Val (mischievous laugh)
_ When she stays quiet, it means she accepted._
Hearing that, Chloé looked at her, her gaze calm but authoritative.
Chloé (calm but firm)
_ Val, stop. I don't feel like going out. I know you want to cheer me up, but not tonight._
Val (insisting)
_ Come on, just a little dancing, one drink, we laugh and—_
Chloé (cutting her off firmly)
_ I said no, Val. Not tonight._
Her tone was soft, but final.
Carlos (calmly, conciliatory)
_ She's right, Val. If she wants to rest tonight, let it go. We'll do it tomorrow._
Chloé (shaking her head)
_ No, you two should go. Have fun. And… I want to apologize, Carlos, for earlier. I was a little harsh._
Val (curious)
_ Earlier? Did you two argue?_
Carlos (discreet smile)
_ No, nothing important._
Chloé (looking at Val)
_ Anyway, enjoy yourselves. I'm going upstairs to sleep._
She stood up, calmly grabbed a glass of orange juice, and left the room without another word. Her footsteps echoed through the sudden silence.
Carlos followed her with his eyes until she disappeared upstairs.
Carlos (serious)
_ Val… your friend isn't okay. You can tell from miles away._
Val (sadly)
_ I know, but she won't tell me anything. I'd rather leave her alone tonight. She looks exhausted… and completely lost._
Carlos nodded silently before returning to his meal, thoughtful.
Upstairs — Chloé's Bedroom.
Chloé lay curled up on her bed as if trying to protect herself from an inner cold. Her loose hair partially covered her face. Tears rolled down her cheeks, soaking the pillow without her bothering to wipe them away. She looked lost. Empty.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ I miss him…_
Her inner voice trembled, almost like a whisper trapped inside her chest.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ I want to be in his arms, to smell his perfume, to fall asleep against him… I want him to hold me like before, to make love to me as if the world could stop right there._
But the sweetness of those memories suddenly collided with a bloody, brutal image. Fabio.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ How do I forget? How do I love a man with blood on his hands? How do I accept that he's capable of the worst things?_
Her fingers tightened around the bedsheet.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ What am I supposed to do? Confront him? Ask him why? Why Fabio? Why murder him? Was it necessary?_
Her thoughts tangled together. Guilt ate at her even more than the pain.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ I was there… I took part in it. I'm the one who knocked Fabio out. I delivered him to his death. So what does that make me?_
One tear, then another. Her breathing became uneven.
Chloé (whispering)
_ Lorenzo… what kind of monster have you become? Or maybe… maybe you've always been this way?_
She closed her eyes, desperately searching for air amid the chaos inside her.
Chloé (inner voice)
_ I need to make a decision. Either I demand answers from him, or I keep this disgusting image of him forever. But stay away from him? No… I can't. I can't live without that bastard. He stole my heart, and now… even my peace._
Lorenzo's Villa — Same Night.
Lying on his bed, Lorenzo stared at the ceiling without really seeing it. His arms rested behind his head as he breathed slowly, as though every thought weighed on him. His face seemed calm, but in his eyes a silent storm raged. And at the center of it all was always the same name, the same image: Chloé.
Lorenzo (inner voice)
_ If she doesn't come back, I'm going to die… die from love. I already loved once before, and it ended in ashes: Irina betrayed me in the worst possible way. I killed her with my own hands. Since that day, I swore I'd never love again. Then she came into my life, that little brat. She slipped into my world at the worst possible moment, when I least expected it. I tried to stay away from her. I pushed her away, even treated her like… like she meant nothing, just so she would hate me. I tried everything not to fall again, but I couldn't. She made me fall completely, madly. She stole my heart, made it beat again, and now she's breaking it by staying away from me. But I understand her. She must be in shock. I hate myself for exposing her to all this. I should've handled my business somewhere else, far away from home. I should never have dragged her into this mess, even if sooner or later she would've found out that I'm a killer, that I've always killed and that I'll keep doing it if necessary. All I want is for her to listen to me. To let me explain. Just give me one second chance to tell her who I really am and why I acted that way. I don't want to lose her. I'll never find anyone like her again, and even if I did, I wouldn't want them. I only want her… my girl._
Lost in his thoughts, Lorenzo didn't immediately hear his phone ringing on the bedside table. The call stopped, then started again, and it was only on the third ring that he startled. Sitting up abruptly, he grabbed the phone and answered.
Lorenzo (hoarse voice)
_ Do you have the information I asked for?_
Marco
_ Yeah, I already sent it to your email._
Lorenzo (curious)
_ Did you see her?_
Marco
_ No, I only saw Valentina and her boyfriend._
Lorenzo (surprised)
_ Valentina's boyfriend? Val has a fiancé?_
Marco
_ Yeah… well, I'm not really sure, but from the way I saw them together, it looks like he lives with her. Which means… he's living under the same roof as your wife too._
A wave of anger rushed to Lorenzo's face, but beneath it was something worse: a dull pain, a cold panic hollowing out his chest.
Lorenzo (eyes wide)
_ What?! Chloé is living with another man? What kind of bullshit is this?!_
Marco
_ There's nothing weird about it. If he's Val's boyfriend, it's normal for him to be there._
Lorenzo (furious)
_ There's no way I'm letting my wife sleep under the same roof as another man without me there to protect her._
Marco
_ Calm down, man. Chloé isn't a child. And Val is with her, right?_
Lorenzo (angrily)
_ And what if this guy's insane? A psychopath? A rapist? A dealer? I want you to find out everything about him. Everything: his past, his connections, all of it. I want to know exactly who he is._
Marco (surprised)
_ What's wrong with you, Lorenzo? I thought she never wanted to see you again. What are you planning to do? Because it sounds like—_
Lorenzo (imposing tone)
_ Don't think. Obey. My wife is just confused because she knows I'm a murderer now, that doesn't mean she doesn't love me. I know she loves me. Even if she refuses to see me, she'll have to listen. Tomorrow morning, I'm bringing her back. She won't spend another night under the same roof as another man._
Marco
_ But you don't even know the guy. And if he's just Val's boyfriend, that's none of your business._
Lorenzo (red with anger)
_ Can't you see I'm already hurting? Being away from her is killing me. And now you're telling me she's living with another guy. Two girls and a stranger under the same roof. You think that doesn't affect me?_
Marco
_ Alright, alright, breathe. I'll investigate him. If we find out he's shady, we'll make sure to keep him away. But don't start a scandal. Chloé won't leave with you just like that, you know it._
Lorenzo (firmly)
_ Doesn't matter, Marco. I'm getting her out of that house tomorrow whether you send me the information or not. I won't let another man admire what belongs to me._
Marco (dryly)
_ "What belongs to me"? Did you win the lottery or something? Reminder: you're talking about a woman who doesn't want to see you anymore._
Lorenzo (calm but determined)
_ She's mine. Even if she sees me as a monster, I won't give up._
A heavy silence crossed the line. Then Marco spoke again, almost provocatively, saying something that shook Lorenzo in another way entirely.
Marco
_ Fine. Then go to sleep and stop imagining that guy stealing your wife. And maybe start thinking about how you're going to explain to your parents that you killed Fabio—the man they thought was your friend._
Marco hung up.
Lorenzo remained frozen, the phone still warm in his hand. Anger exploded inside his chest like a storm, but beneath the anger was fear—fear of losing Chloé, fear of becoming the man he hated again, fear of losing everything. He jumped to his feet and threw the phone onto the bed as if trying to erase the image of the unknown boyfriend, then began pacing around the room, breathing fast as though his lungs could no longer hold enough air.
Lorenzo (murmuring)
_ I'm going insane. Fuck… as if this wasn't enough already._
Out of breath, he finally collapsed onto the couch facing the bed. His eyes drifted into emptiness, but his mind remained trapped around one single silhouette: Chloé. He thought about her laughter, the way she frowned when angry, the warmth of her hand in his. Pain, jealousy, love—everything mixed together into something burning and unbearable. He promised himself he would bring her back. Tomorrow, he would do whatever it took.
The Next Morning.
Valentina's House.
Chloé (shouting)
_ For God's sake, stop pressing the damn doorbell like that! I'm coming! I'M COMING! Damn, are they trying to burst my eardrums or what?!_
Still wearing the same tight corset dress from the night before, Chloé sat on the couch eating breakfast peacefully when the doorbell started ringing nonstop. Annoyed, she sighed heavily, slammed her tray onto the coffee table, and hurriedly slipped on her shoes. Red with irritation, she stormed toward the door, ready to destroy whoever was outside.
But the moment she opened it, her heart skipped a beat. Her eyes widened, frozen on the man standing before her: Lorenzo.
He was there, standing tall in a black shirt partly open over his chest, matching black pants, looking imposing, dangerous, almost unreal. His scent filled the air, and suddenly the space felt too small.
Chloé (trembling voice)
_ You…? Wha… what are you doing here, Lorenzo?_
Lorenzo remained silent. He stared at her intensely without blinking, as if nothing else existed around them. His eyes locked onto hers as though he could read her soul, unable to look away.
Chloé (red with anger)
_ Answer me, damn it! I told you I never wanted to see you again! What the hell are you doing here? Did you come to threaten me? Don't worry, I didn't go to the police about what you did to Fabio!_
Lorenzo didn't move, still silent, his gaze heavy. Chloé felt anger rise hotter inside her.
Chloé (furious)
_ Did you come here just to stare at me or to talk? And how did you even know I was here? Did you have one of your men follow me? Answer me!_
Lorenzo inhaled deeply and stepped closer to her slowly, reducing the distance between them until she could feel his breath and his familiar scent.
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ Tell me… how are you? Are you sure you're okay here? Nobody hurt you? Did anyone—_
Chloé (firmly, sarcastic)
_ Seriously? You really want to ask me that kind of question? Are you sure you want the truth? Do you honestly think you're capable of understanding how I feel?_
Lorenzo (calmly)
_ We need to talk, Chloé. I have to explain why I did it. Fabio was a traitor. He betrayed me, and I had to eliminate him. He had—_
Chloé (furious, sarcastic)
_ You actually have the nerve to come here and feed me that bullshit? So for you, killing someone is justified because they betrayed you? That's your excuse? Then give me a gun so I can kill you too, because you're a traitor as well, Lorenzo! You told me you just had unfinished business with him. Do you know how I feel now? Thinking that I helped you achieve your goal… I feel dirty, Lorenzo. Dirty and disgusted! And you want to know the worst part? The worst part is that I can't accept that the man I loved—the man I loved despite his excessive personality—is a murderer. I can accept everything except that._
Lorenzo felt a violent pain tear through his chest. It wasn't anger—it was agony. The agony of seeing Chloé cry in front of him. Tears streamed down her face, and in her eyes he could read fear, disappointment, terror… emotions he himself had caused. And that was what destroyed him most.
Lorenzo (softly)
_ Chloé… calm down, please. Let me explain. I'll tell you everything—about my life, about everything I've done. I promise you'll know everything, but come with me. I don't want you staying here._
Chloé (coldly, sarcastic)
_ Who the hell do you think you are? You show up here, force your presence on me, and think you have the right to force me to leave with you?_
Lorenzo (calm but firm)
_ I don't want you living here. If you want, I'll leave the villa myself, but come home, Chloé. Come back with me._
Chloé (firmly)
_ I'm not going anywhere with you, do you hear me? And you can keep your explanations to yourself. You're nothing but a liar, a filthy murderer. Even if Fabio was a traitor, he didn't deserve to die. He—_
Lorenzo (shouting explosively)
_ ENOUGH, CHLOÉ! ENOUGH! I'M NOT GOING TO LET YOU DEFEND THAT BASTARD WHO KILLED YOUR FATHER! ENOUGH!_
A heavy silence fell.
Chloé froze, her eyes wide with shock. The words hit her violently. Her legs trembled, her breathing stopped, her heart pounded so hard she thought it would explode.
Chloé (trembling voice)
_ Wha… what did you just say? Who… who killed my father?_
Lorenzo (calm but firm)
_ Fabio. Your father didn't die from a heart attack, Chloé. Someone caused it. He was poisoned, and that person was Fabio. He killed your father. And he's also the one who tried to rape you while pretending to be a taxi driver. Stop acting like a child and let me explain the whole story from the—_
Lorenzo didn't even have time to finish.
Chloé staggered. Her vision blurred, and her body collapsed heavily to the ground. She had fainted.
Lorenzo (shouting)
_ CHLOÉÉÉÉÉ!_
He dropped to his knees beside her, panic spreading across his face, his breathing cut short. He grabbed her face gently, shaking her softly. She didn't move. His heart pounded violently. Fear wrapped around Lorenzo's throat—the fear of losing her, this time for good.
To be continued…