the birthday party

Lily woke before sunrise.

For several seconds, she remained still beneath the covers, staring at the unfamiliar ceiling. Then she remembered. Today was Roselyn's birthday, and today, she would finally meet Don Luciano.

Lily slowly sat up. The room was quiet except for the soft sound of Luciana breathing from the other side of the bed. They had shared the room since arriving at the mansion, and Luciana had fallen asleep almost immediately the night before. Lily envied her. She had barely slept.

She slipped out of bed and walked toward the window. The moment she pulled the curtains aside, she realized the mansion was already awake. People were moving across the grounds. Staff members carried boxes, flowers, trays, and decorations, and several men were setting up tables outside while security guards stood around the property.

Lily watched them silently. This wasn't going to be a small birthday dinner. Whatever Roselyn's birthday usually looked like, this family clearly knew how to make an event out of it.

Behind her, Luciana groaned. "Why are you awake?"

Lily turned. Luciana was still buried beneath the blanket, her eyes barely open.

"It's morning."

"That is not an answer."

Lily smiled faintly. "Today is her birthday."

Luciana slowly opened her eyes. "Roselyn."

"Yes."

Luciana sat up and rubbed her face. "And you're thinking about Luciano."

Lily didn't answer.

Luciana stared at her. "You are."

Lily sighed. "I've been waiting for this."

"For meeting him?"

"For everything." She looked back through the window. "Today is the first time I'm actually inside his world."

Luciana climbed out of bed. "Well, if you're going to meet the Don today, you should probably look like you belong in his world."

Lily glanced at her. "That sounds like something Roselyn would say."

"I'm serious."

"So am I."

Luciana walked toward the wardrobe, where the clothes Veronica had arranged for Lily filled most of the space. She opened one side and began looking through the dresses.

"This one?" She pulled out a black dress.

Lily shook her head. "Too dramatic."

"This?"

"No."

"You're difficult."

"I know."

Luciana continued searching until she pulled out a deep burgundy dress. Lily looked at it. It was elegant, fitted without being revealing, with long sleeves and a modest neckline.

"That one."

Luciana smiled. "I knew we'd find something."

Lily took the dress and disappeared into the bathroom to change. When she came out, Luciana was sitting on the edge of the bed, waiting. She looked Lily up and down.

"Beautiful."

Lily walked toward the mirror. Her hair fell over her shoulders, and the dress made her look older than eighteen. For a moment, she barely recognized herself.

Nine years ago, she had been a frightened nine-year-old girl who couldn't understand why her mother had become a stranger. Nine years later, she was standing in a mansion owned by one of the most powerful men she had ever heard about. She had survived, and now she was here for one reason.

Revenge.

Luciana came to stand beside her. "You look nervous."

"I'm not."

"You are."

Lily looked at her reflection. "Maybe a little."

"That's normal."

Lily turned toward her. "What if he doesn't like me?"

Luciana stared at her. "That's what you're worried about?"

"No." Lily smiled. "I don't care whether he likes me."

"Good."

"I care whether he trusts me."

Luciana's expression became serious. "Lily, don't forget what we're here for."

"I haven't."

"Good."

Lily looked back at herself in the mirror. "I won't."

A knock sounded, and both girls looked toward the door.

"Come in."

The door opened, and Roselyn stepped inside. Her eyes immediately landed on Lily. For a moment, she said nothing. Then she smiled.

"So you're ready."

"Yes, Mother."

Roselyn walked farther into the room. "You seem surprisingly comfortable."

Lily smiled politely. "I'm trying to adjust."

"To what?"

"To being home."

Something flickered across Roselyn's face. She clearly didn't believe her.

"You'll need to remember that this house has rules."

Lily lowered her gaze. "I know."

Roselyn studied her. Perhaps she had expected Lily to come back angry. Perhaps she had expected questions and accusations. Instead, Lily was standing in front of her calmly, and that seemed to bother her more.

Roselyn's eyes narrowed. "You've changed."

"I've had nine years to change."

Roselyn said nothing.

Lily smiled. "Happy birthday, Mother."

Roselyn's expression softened into a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "Thank you." She turned toward the door. "Come downstairs when you're ready."

Once she left, Luciana looked at Lily. "She definitely doesn't trust you."

Lily looked toward the closed door. "She shouldn't."

By late morning, the mansion was crowded with people.

Lily and Luciana walked downstairs together. The main hall had been completely transformed. Flowers decorated the tables, elegant arrangements covered the walls, and staff members moved through the house carrying food and drinks. Security guards stood near every entrance.

Lily slowed as she looked around. "This is bigger than I expected."

Luciana nodded. "Same."

They walked farther into the hall, and Lily's attention was drawn to a large collection of framed photographs on the wall. She stopped.

There he was. Luciano.

In one photograph, he stood beside his daughters. In another, he was surrounded by members of his family. Lily studied the pictures. She recognized the twins immediately, having seen them on television countless times.

"That's them," she murmured.

Luciana looked at the photographs. "His daughters?"

"Yes."

"You remember them?"

Lily nodded. "Rosa used to make me watch reports about this family."

Luciana's expression darkened slightly. "I remember."

"She said it was part of learning how powerful people behaved." Lily looked at Luciano's photograph. "At the time, I didn't think I'd ever actually meet him."

"And now?"

Lily's eyes remained on the photograph. "Now I'm standing in his house."

A group of staff members walked past them, and one of them whispered, "The Don will be here soon."

Lily's fingers tightened around her purse. Luciana noticed.

"You're nervous again."

Lily took a slow breath. "I've seen him hundreds of times on television."

"That doesn't mean anything."

"I know." She looked toward the entrance. "But this is different."

Luciana smiled. "You've planned this for years."

"I know."

"So stick to the plan."

Lily nodded. "I will."

Outside, several vehicles suddenly arrived, and security moved at once. The atmosphere inside the mansion changed. Conversations became quieter, people straightened, and staff members stepped aside.

Lily turned toward the entrance, and her heart began beating faster.

Then the doors opened.

Several men entered first. And then he walked in.

Don Luciano.

Lily had seen photographs of him. She had watched news reports about him. She had seen people speak about him with careful respect. But seeing him in person was different. He looked exactly like the kind of man who never needed to announce his authority. People simply recognized it.

He walked into the hall wearing a dark suit, his expression calm and unreadable. Lily watched him carefully. This was the man she intended to use, the man whose trust could help her destroy everything Roselyn had built.

Luciano exchanged a few words with one of his men before his gaze moved across the room. His eyes passed over the guests, then Roselyn, then Lily.

He paused. His gaze remained on her for a moment, and Lily didn't look away.

Luciano turned toward Roselyn. "Who is she?"

Roselyn smiled. "My daughter."

Luciano looked at Lily again. "My daughter. Lily."

A brief silence followed. Then Luciano nodded. "Oh." His eyes remained on Lily. "So this is the daughter you brought back."

"Yes." Roselyn stepped closer. "She arrived yesterday."

Luciano nodded. "I see."

Lily lowered her gaze slightly. "Good morning, Don Luciano."

Luciano looked at her. "Good morning."

His voice was calm, and there was nothing more in it. There was no dramatic reaction, no immediate warmth, no sudden interest. It was just a first meeting between two people who had never stood face-to-face before.

Lily raised her eyes again. For years, she had studied him from a distance. She had watched the news, listened to reports about his family, and learned his name long before she ever knew she would meet him. But now that he was standing in front of her, something became painfully clear.

He was harder to read than she had expected.

Luciano glanced at her once more before turning his attention to the people around him. Lily remained still. She had imagined this moment so many times. She had imagined him being easy to approach, easy to charm, easy to manipulate. But there was nothing easy about him.

Luciana leaned slightly toward her. "Well?"

Lily kept her eyes on Luciano. "I don't know yet."

"Know what?"

"If my plan is going to work."

Luciana frowned. "You're already doubting it?"

"No." Lily smiled faintly. "I'm realizing I might have to work harder than I thought."

Luciana said nothing.

Lily watched Luciano greet the guests. He didn't seem interested in her anymore, which should have made things easier. Instead, it made her more curious. She had spent nine years preparing for revenge. She had learned patience, obedience, and how to hide fear. Most importantly, she had learned how to watch people without letting them know she was watching.

Luciano had no idea who she really was. He only knew her as Roselyn's daughter, and that was exactly how Lily wanted it.

For now.

She looked toward her mother. Roselyn was smiling at the guests, enjoying the attention surrounding her birthday. Lily's smile disappeared. Her father was dead. Her brother was dead. And Roselyn was standing there celebrating as though none of it had ever happened.

Lily slowly curled her fingers into her palm. She had waited nine years. She could wait a little longer. But this time, she wasn't waiting helplessly. She was inside the enemy's house, and she had finally met the man who might help her bring her mother down.