ONE MONTH AGO
DE SILVA ESTATE
“Boss, we understand that you trust the young master, but he’s becoming more difficult to control.”
Martin, Luciano De Silva’s consigliere, looked deeply troubled as he spoke.
“He disobeys your orders, disrespects you in front of the other clans, and refuses to follow the rules. How can someone like him become the next leader of this family?”
Martin genuinely feared for the future of the De Silva Clan.
Aciel, Luciano De Silva’s illegitimate son, had recently been chosen as the new underboss.
He was now second-in-command and was being prepared to inherit the position of Mafia boss someday.
Originally, Aciel had only been trained to become one of the capos.
But everything changed three years ago after Luciano’s legitimate heir was killed.
At first, Luciano never considered Aciel as his successor.
Despite being the son of a royal princess, Aciel remained an illegitimate child within the family.
And Aciel himself never cared about power.
He had never wanted to become Mafia boss.
However, Luciano’s remaining children were either too young, too weak, or female—something many traditional members of the clan still refused to accept as leadership material.
In the end, it was Aciel’s uncle—the man who supported him since childhood—who nominated him as the new underboss.
Some opposed the decision.
But unexpectedly, the majority of the clan supported Aciel.
Since becoming a made man at only thirteen years old, Aciel had already built a terrifying reputation inside the organization.
He was the youngest among five hundred made men.
Yet he defeated every single one who challenged him.
“Why do you always fight with them?” his uncle would often scold him.
“They’re your brothers, not your enemies. You need to learn how to trust them, Aciel.”
But no one truly understood why Aciel rebelled so fiercely against his father and the clan itself.
He was never abused.
Never neglected financially.
Yet despite everything, he never once felt genuine fatherly affection from Luciano.
Growing up inside the Mafia taught him one thing very early:
Love only made people weak.
When Aciel turned twenty, Luciano finally announced to the entire clan that Aciel would become the next Mafia boss.
“Why did you choose me?” Aciel asked him afterward.
Luciano merely stared back at him calmly.
“Are you against it?”
Aciel never answered.
He simply walked away, leaving his father wondering about his thoughts.
At that time, even Aciel himself did not know whether he wanted the position or not.
But after becoming the official successor, his rebellion only worsened.
“I can’t leave this world without a proper successor,” Luciano said quietly while looking at Martin.
“The clan will collapse if someone weak takes my place.”
His tired eyes darkened.
“And you, of all people, should understand that.”
Martin sighed heavily.
Luciano had been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer and was given less than six months to live.
Only Martin knew the truth.
Luciano personally ordered him to keep the illness secret from everyone else.
“I understand, Boss,” Martin answered respectfully.
Luciano narrowed his eyes slightly.
“Do you have a solution for Aciel?”
Martin slowly nodded before explaining his plan.
A few days later, Aciel was summoned to the main estate.
He originally planned to meet Simon that day and had no interest in visiting his father.
However, Martin personally arrived at his house to fetch him.
Since refusing would only create unnecessary conflict, Aciel eventually agreed.
The moment he entered Luciano’s office, Martin handed him a thick stack of photographs.
Aciel frowned immediately.
“What’s this?”
“These are the daughters of the wealthiest families in Bloomsdale City,” Martin explained.
“Your father wants to strengthen alliances with them through marriage.”
Then he added bluntly,
“One of them will become your future wife.”
Aciel stared at him in disbelief.
“You’re telling me to choose a wife from a bunch of photographs?”
Martin nodded calmly.
Suddenly, Aciel laughed coldly.
“You’re both insane.”
He tossed the photos onto the desk carelessly.
“Do you seriously think I’ll let you control my life like this?”
Martin looked ready to argue back, but Luciano quietly raised his hand to stop him.
Then—
Luciano spoke softly.
“I’m dying, Aciel.”
Silence instantly filled the room.
For the first time in years, Aciel looked genuinely stunned.
Luciano’s voice sounded different.
Weak.
Tired.
Human.
“I was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer,” Luciano admitted quietly.
“The doctors said I only have six months left.”
Aciel remained frozen in place.
“I know choosing you was never part of the original plan,” Luciano continued.
“When your mother entrusted you to me, your future was supposed to be different.”
A bitter smile appeared on his lips.
“I know I was never a good father—not only to you, but to all of my children. But everything I did was for this family.”
Then Luciano looked directly into Aciel’s eyes.
“And I truly believe you’re the only one capable of protecting this clan after I’m gone.”
For the first time in his life—
Aciel could not argue back.
He didn’t even know what he was supposed to feel.
Sadness?
Anger?
Pity?
He wasn’t sure anymore.
Both men desperately hoped he would agree.
After several long seconds, Aciel finally turned toward Martin with a dark expression.
“I’m not choosing a wife from photographs,” he said coldly.
Martin frowned.
“Then what exactly do you want?”
Aciel glanced at the scattered pictures on the desk.
“All these girls attend Bloomsdale University for Women, right?”
Martin nodded slowly.
Aciel smirked faintly.
“Then merge their school with ours.”
Both men looked surprised.
“Turn it into a co-ed school,” Aciel continued calmly.
“I’ll personally observe these women myself.”
His silver eyes darkened.
“If one of them interests me, I’ll tell you.”
Then he leaned back lazily.
“And if none of them do…”
A dangerous smile appeared on his lips.
“I’ll find someone else.”
After discussing it further, Luciano and Martin eventually agreed to Aciel’s proposal.
However, they only gave him two months to make his decision.
PRESENT DAY
Aciel slowly opened the black notebook Martin previously gave him.
Inside was a complete list of the women considered suitable to become his future wife.
One by one, he carefully checked every page.
Then he frowned slightly.
“She’s not here.”
His eyes shifted toward the magazine lying beside him on the bed.
The page remained open to one of Xylia’s swimsuit photoshoots for Pandora.
In the picture, she stood on the beach wearing a black two-piece swimsuit while seawater glistened against her skin beneath the sunlight.
The image was elegant.
Beautiful.
Dangerously captivating.
Aciel clenched his jaw slightly while staring at the photo longer than he intended.
“What the hell…” he muttered under his breath.
Frustrated, he suddenly closed the magazine and threw it onto the floor.
He hated how strongly Xylia affected him.
It made no sense.
He had seen countless beautiful women before.
He had spent time with models, actresses, and socialites his entire life.
So why was Xylia different?
Why did merely looking at her photos make his chest tighten strangely?
Annoyed by his own thoughts, Aciel grabbed his phone and dialed Colt’s number immediately.
The call connected almost instantly.
“Bring two women to the penthouse,” Aciel ordered coldly.
Then he stood up from the bed and grabbed his jacket.
“I’ll be there in an hour.”