“Off-limits?” Aciel repeated coldly.
“Why?”
His silver eyes darkened dangerously as he stared at Martin.
“All the wealthiest girls in the city were included on your list except her. I already knew something was suspicious.”
He stepped closer.
“So tell me the real reason.”
Martin was momentarily caught off guard.
For the first time in years, he saw Luciano’s shadow inside Aciel.
The rebellious young man standing before him no longer looked like a reckless teenager.
At that moment— he looked exactly like a future Mafia boss.
Ruthless.
Sharp.
Dangerous.
“Aciel,” Martin said carefully, “I’m only following your father’s orders. I’m not the right person to explain this matter to you.”
Aciel clenched his jaw.
For a brief second, he genuinely wanted to grab Martin by the throat and force the truth out of him.
But despite his frustration, he still respected the man who had loyally served his father for decades.
Aciel slowly leaned back against the table instead.
“Your position as Consigliere saved you today, Martin,” he muttered coldly.
Then his expression hardened again.
“I won’t ask further.”
His silver eyes narrowed slightly.
“But let me remind you about the agreement regarding my marriage.”
Martin remained silent.
“You told me I could choose any woman if I found someone who interested me.”
Aciel picked up one of Xylia’s photographs from the table.
“And I chose her.”
His gaze darkened while staring at her picture.
“I won’t marry anyone else.”
Martin quietly sighed inwardly.
He truly never expected Aciel to become interested in Xylia Antonov.
That was exactly why Luciano confidently excluded her from the candidate list.
Both he and Luciano believed Aciel would never notice her.
Clearly— they were wrong.
Martin folded his arms before finally asking,
“Did you already fall for that girl?”
Aciel immediately laughed coldly.
“Fall in love?” he repeated mockingly.
“Do I look like the type of man who falls for women?”
He tossed the photograph carelessly onto the table again.
“The Antonov Clan is the wealthiest family in the country.”
His voice turned serious.
“If I’m going to become the next Mafia boss, then I should create ties with the strongest family possible.”
A dangerous smirk appeared on his lips.
“I don’t need some useless middle-class woman as my wife.”
Martin quietly observed him.
Unfortunately—
Aciel’s reasoning actually made sense.
The De Silva Clan became powerful because of strategic alliances with influential families and organizations.
Even Aciel’s own mother—a royal princess from another country—was originally part of such an arrangement.
Whether wife or mistress, powerful women had always been treated as tools for political gain inside the Mafia world.
Still, Martin disliked how casually Aciel spoke about women.
To him, they were not merely pawns.
Before Martin could continue the conversation, the penthouse doors suddenly opened.
A loud voice echoed through the room.
Aciel immediately looked up.
“Uncle.”
Antonio De Silva walked inside with his usual relaxed grin.
He was Luciano’s younger brother and the man who supported Aciel since childhood.
Unlike Luciano, Antonio always treated Aciel more like a son than a subordinate.
“What brings you here?” Aciel asked politely.
Antonio laughed loudly before dropping onto the couch.
“I was nearby,” he answered casually.
“And since my ungrateful nephew never visits me anymore, I decided to visit him instead.”
Aciel chuckled faintly.
“I’m fine. You worry too much.”
Antonio grinned proudly.
“You’re still alive, so I suppose you’re doing great.”
Then suddenly, his eyes landed on Martin.
The atmosphere instantly shifted slightly.
“Martin,” Antonio said lazily, “are you pressuring my son to marry again?”
Martin frowned internally.
My son?
Since when did Antonio start openly calling Aciel that?
Everyone inside the clan knew Antonio was only ordered to watch over the boy.
Nothing more.
Still, Martin calmly answered,
“You know my duty, Antonio. I need to find a suitable woman for the future boss.”
Antonio waved his hand dismissively.
“Yeah, yeah. I know.”
Then he smirked.
“But Aciel’s still young.”
His grin widened mischievously.
“He should enjoy life and play with women before settling down.”
Aciel laughed lightly.
“I can still do that even after marriage.”
His silver eyes darkened arrogantly.
“I don’t plan on limiting myself to one woman.”
Martin remained silent throughout the conversation.
Inside the Mafia world, wives were rarely treated like queens.
Most of them existed only to strengthen alliances and produce heirs.
Nothing more.
Nothing less.
After another half hour of enduring Antonio’s loud laughter and pointless jokes, Martin finally decided to leave.
Before walking out, however, he discreetly handed something to Aciel.
“Don’t let your father see that,” Martin murmured quietly.
Aciel glanced down at his palm.
A small USB drive rested there.
His eyes immediately darkened.
Inside that tiny device— was probably the truth about why Xylia Antonov was considered untouchable.
Once Martin finally left, Antonio casually walked back toward the table.
He picked up Xylia’s photograph curiously.
“This girl is the Antonov heiress, right?”
Aciel nodded before sitting down on the couch.
He stared at the picture silently.
Truthfully, he never cared about women before.
But somehow—
“Yeah,” he answered calmly.
“And I want her to become my wife.”
Then his eyes narrowed.
“But Martin said she’s off-limits.”
Aciel looked directly at Antonio.
“Do you know why?”
Antonio froze briefly.
His reaction alone already gave Aciel part of the answer.
“Uncle?”
Antonio sighed heavily before rubbing his forehead.
“Yeah,” he admitted quietly.
“I know.”
Aciel immediately leaned forward.
“Then tell me.”
His voice turned serious.
“Martin refused to explain anything.”
Antonio looked conflicted.
“Aciel… the women of the Antonov Clan have been considered off-limits for decades.”
He paused briefly.
“No man from our clan has ever married one of them.”
Aciel frowned deeply.
“Why?”
His voice sharpened slightly.
“I need a real explanation.”
Then he added calmly,
“If the reason is acceptable… I’ll stay away from her.”
Antonio sighed again.
“Your father’s going to kill me if I tell you.”
A slow smirk appeared on Aciel’s lips.
“But I’m the future boss.”
His silver eyes locked onto Antonio’s.
“And we both know your loyalty belongs to me now… not my father.”
Antonio immediately burst into laughter.
“You really are terrifying,” he admitted.
Then he shook his head in disbelief.
“I didn’t expect you to see through me so quickly.”
Aciel only chuckled.
“Well, I was forced into this life anyway.”
His expression darkened slightly.
“If I’m going to inherit the clan, then I might as well take it seriously.”
Then his gaze shifted toward Xylia’s photograph again.
“And honestly…”
A dangerous smile slowly formed on his lips.
“She might make life more interesting.”
Antonio narrowed his eyes suspiciously.
“Are you sure that’s your only reason?”
His grin slowly returned.
“Or are you actually starting to—”
“Oh, come on,” Aciel interrupted immediately.
“I just need a woman with a good reputation and enough money to strengthen the clan.”
Then he scoffed.
“I don’t have time for romance.”
Antonio silently stared at him.
Clearly unconvinced.
But instead of arguing further, he simply raised both hands in surrender.
“Fine,” he muttered.
“Believe whatever you want.”