Chapter 22

"Pieces Falling into Place"

Valeria's POV

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I couldn't believe I had done that.

Resting my head against Ren's chest like some lovesick idiot? What the actual fuck was I thinking?

I mean, sure, the man had this whole "brooding, devastatingly handsome mafia don with a heart" thing going on, but I wasn't some naive little girl swooning over her knight in shining armor. I was Cipher—a woman who hacked governments for fun and made entire corporations cry. I didn't do vulnerability.

And yet, last night, I had crumbled.

It wasn't like he said anything earth-shattering. Just that he cared. That he thought I was worth it. That he'd be there when I was ready.

Which, okay, sounded a lot more earth-shattering when I replayed it in my head.

"Ugh," I groaned, flopping face-first onto my bed. The memory of his arms around me, warm and steady, sent an irritating flush to my cheeks. "You're pathetic, Vee."

I lay there for a minute, glaring at the pillow as if it were somehow to blame for my spiraling thoughts. I couldn't let this thing—whatever it was—distract me. Not now. Not when I was so close to cracking Raymond's files.

The last thing I needed was feelings complicating my already chaotic life.

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The laptop hummed quietly on the desk as I stared at the screen, my fingers tapping idly against the keyboard. I had been up all night decrypting another chunk of Raymond's files. The deeper I dove, the more I realized how much dirt the man had buried.

And then I found it.

It wasn't marked with a giant neon sign or anything, but the keywords—coordinates, names, dates—set off alarm bells in my head. I followed the trail, my heart pounding as the pieces started falling into place.

I stared at the screen, my pulse racing. There it was, plain as day: the connection between Raymond and the night my family was murdered.

My breath caught as I read through the details, the cold, calculated orders he had given. It wasn't just some random hit. He had orchestrated it—every step, every detail.

My hands trembled as I pushed away from the desk, pacing the room like a caged animal.

Raymond. The man who had taken me in, who had molded me into Cipher, who had used me for years, pretending to be my savior. He had been the one to destroy my family.

A bitter laugh escaped my lips, sharp and hollow. Of course, it was him.

I clenched my fists, trying to steady my breathing. I couldn't let this break me. Not now. I needed to be smart, to think this through.

Revenge wouldn't be enough. I didn't just want him to pay. I wanted to tear his entire empire apart. And I will do that.

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By the time I had pulled myself together, the sun was already creeping through the curtains. My phone buzzed with a text from Ren.

Dinner at the estate tonight. Bring your charm.

I rolled my eyes. Of course, he would make it sound like a business deal.

But honestly? A distraction didn't sound terrible. I could put on a smile, play nice with his family, and pretend—just for a little while—that my life wasn't a complete dumpster fire.

I've been trying to cry for a while now, but here's the thing, I can't even remember them anymore. The memories have slowly faded into nothing, and honestly? That makes me feel like a total bitch. Let's hope this dinner is worth the emotional mess.

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The estate was just as ridiculous as I remembered. Marble floors, towering columns, and chandeliers that probably cost more than my entire life savings.

"Vee!" Luca and Leo barreled toward me the second I walked in, their grins wide and infectious.

"Careful, guys," I said, laughing as they practically tackled me in a hug. "I'm fragile, remember?"

"No, you're not," Leo said confidently. "You're a superhero!"

"I mean, he's not wrong," Ren's voice drawled from behind me.

I turned to see him leaning casually against the doorway, looking entirely too pleased with himself. He was wearing a crisp button-down and slacks, but it was the smirk on his face that caught my attention.

"You clean up nice," I said, trying to sound unaffected.

"So do you," he replied, his eyes lingering a little too long.

I looked away, focusing on the twins. "What's for dinner, guys?"

"Spaghetti!" Luca announced, dragging me toward the dining room.

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Dinner with the Morettis was the usual. A chaos. Loud, messy, and oddly comforting.

Luca and Leo were arguing over who could eat the most meatballs, Marco was rolling his eyes at their antics, and Dante was trying to keep the twins from accidentally choking. Sophia was fussing over everyone, making sure their plates were full, while Lucifer kept cracking dad jokes that made everyone groan.

And Ren? Ren was watching me.

Every time I looked up, his eyes were on me. Not in a creepy way, but in a way that made my chest feel tight. Like he was trying to figure me out, piece by piece.

I focused on my plate, trying to ignore the warmth spreading through me.

"So, Vee," Mamma said, breaking through my thoughts. "How are you finding everything? Ren hasn't been too much of a pain, has he?"

I snorted, glancing at him. "Oh, he's a pain, all right. But I've handled worse."

"Is that so?" Ren said, raising an eyebrow.

"Don't start, Moretti," I warned, but there was no bite to my words.

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After dinner, I found myself wandering through the garden, needing some air. The stars were out, twinkling above like they hadn't gotten the memo about my life falling apart.

I heard footsteps behind me and didn't need to turn around to know it was Ren.

"Can't resist following me, huh?" I said, trying to sound lighthearted.

"Can't resist checking on you," he countered.

I sighed, leaning against the railing. "I'm fine, Ren."

"You keep saying that," he said, his voice soft. "But I'm not sure I believe you."

I didn't respond, my eyes fixed on the horizon.

"Whatever it is, Vee," he said, stepping closer, "you don't have to carry it alone."

His words hit harder than they should have, and for a moment, I let myself believe him.

Just for a moment.

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˗ˏˋ Author's note ˎˊ˗

Heyy (✿◡‿◡)

Finally the truth! and the end of Act 3!

Please Vote and comment to make another insignificant human happy (^◕.◕^)

Question of chapter:

Time machine or magic wand?

Magic wand. You can literary make a time machine appear with the wand.

See you in Act 4!

Never get too comfortable cause change is inevitable <3

Byeeee

Izel

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