HARVEY'S POV

My heart pounded in my chest as we were led into the grand countryside mansion where Grandpa Massimo resided. As Luca and I entered through the front gate, I scanned the surroundings, unable to catch sight of Olivia and my mother. The sprawling mansion exuded an air of formality, and I couldn't shake the nervousness that settled in my stomach.

We were quickly ushered into a spacious foyer, and I settled onto a large couch beside Luca. The weight of the upcoming meeting hung heavily in the air, and I leaned over to whisper to Luca, "Where are the other two?"

Luca leaned in to reply, his voice low and cautious, "Grandpa found out the reason we sent them here. He didn't allow them to rest and put them to work as soon as they arrived."

My anxiety deepened as I imagined the uncomfortable situation Olivia and my mother were probably facing. The room was abuzz with people coming and going, casting curious glances at me. Food was placed in front of us, and I grabbed a glass of water, downing it quickly to soothe my dry throat.

Before I could ask Luca about our grandpa's whereabouts, the door burst open, drawing my attention. Slowly, I turned to face the imposing figure that entered. Recognition struck me as I realized who he was. Beside me, Luca bowed his head slightly, a sign of respect that I failed to mirror.

Luca nudged me, encouraging me to show the proper respect, but the man's laughter stopped me. "There will be none of that, boy," he said, his voice resonating with authority. "We are family. Look at me with your head held high."

Luca adjusted his posture, embarrassed by his error. The man's eyes shifted to me, and I felt the weight of his gaze upon me. He approached, placing his hands on my shoulders and studying me intently. My exposed tattoo sleeve seemed to draw his attention, and his mouth curved into a smirk.

Turning to Luca, he commanded, "You stay here." Then, his gaze fixed on me once more, he instructed, "Follow me, little one."

As he walked away, I exchanged a look with Luca, a mixture of nervousness and curiosity in our eyes. I pushed myself off the couch, following Grandpa Massimo with hesitant steps, unsure of what awaited me as I entered his domain.

I followed my grandfather up a seemingly endless flight of stairs, my curiosity battling with my nervousness. Eventually, we reached a large oak door, reminiscent of the one at the mansion's entryway. Grandpa Massimo swiftly entered a code and scanned his fingerprint, causing the door to swing open. I followed him into the room without a word, and he gestured for me to take a seat in the large chair positioned across from his desk.

I settled into the chair, turning my attention to him as he leaned against his desk. His gaze met mine expectantly, and he asked, "What do you want to know?"

I shrugged lightly, feeling a mix of uncertainty and anticipation. "How do you know I want to know something?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.

He chuckled softly, shaking his head in amusement. "You're your father's daughter, always seeking answers. Go ahead, ask whatever it is that's on your mind."

Taking a deep breath, I ventured into the topic that had been bothering me. "My mother... I overheard her mentioning something about a prince I'm supposed to marry. When I asked my father about it, he acted as if he had no idea."

Grandpa Massimo interrupted my rambling, his gaze piercing. "It's the Russian heir," he stated matter-of-factly.

My heart seemed to skip a beat, and I stuttered, "W-what?"

He raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by my reaction. "You know the boy?" he inquired, his tone curious.

I hesitated for a moment before conceding with a shrug. "Something like that," I replied cryptically. Realizing I needed more information, I added, "What about the marriage?"

My grandfather leaned forward, his expression growing serious. He shuffled through a pile of papers on his desk, his fingers deftly searching for something. My heart raced as he finally looked up at me, his gaze unwavering. "It's up to him."

His words hung in the air, leaving me both relieved and apprehensive. The weight of the situation settled on my shoulders, and I knew that the next steps in my life were far from certain.

I was about to rise from my seat, ready to digest the shocking information my grandfather had shared, when his commanding voice stopped me in my tracks. "Sit down, little girl. We have much more to discuss," he ordered with a firmness that compelled me to obey.

I sank back into the chair, my eyes fixed on my grandfather. His demeanor was serious, yet there was a spark of amusement in his eyes as he pushed a file across the desk towards me. I reached for it eagerly, my fingers closing around the edges like a starving predator seizing its prey.

As I opened the file, my gaze darted between its contents and my grandpa's enigmatic expression. "Your marriage, however, can be nullified," he declared, his words sparking a fire of hope within me.

Leaning forward, I practically devoured the information within the file. My heart raced, a mixture of desperation and determination fueling my questions. "How?" I demanded, my voice a growl that betrayed my urgency.

His smile only deepened, and he regarded me with a mixture of amusement and recognition. "You remind me of a young me," he mused, seemingly enjoying the spark of fierce determination in my eyes.

I pounded my hands on the table, my frustration and impatience breaking through. "Tell me how, right now," I demanded, my tone laced with desperation.

Grandpa leaned back in his chair, his amusement undiminished. "Take over for me," he replied, his gaze steady as he placed a weighty challenge before me.

"Take over?" I echoed, my eyebrows furrowing in confusion. The prospect was both intriguing and daunting, leaving me uncertain about what exactly my grandfather was proposing.

He nodded, his gaze unyielding. "Yes, take over," he confirmed, his voice carrying a weight of responsibility that I could hardly fathom.

His next words sent a chill down my spine, "I've been tracking your moves since you got back. I've seen you fight." His words were a mixture of both pride and observation, and I couldn't help but feel exposed under his scrutiny.

As my thoughts raced, he continued, "Now, I'm sure you're aware of all activities that go down under your father's, now your brother's surveillance, but my question to you is, are you aware of the Ring?"

I shook my head, my curiosity piqued and my mind racing to process the information he was presenting. The term 'the Ring' held an air of mystery and intrigue, and I was eager to uncover its secrets.

"The Ring, Tereso," he began, his tone taking on a nostalgic quality, "is a group of carefully selected assassins from all over the world." His words sent a shiver down my spine, and I leaned in, captivated by the revelation. "The Ring existed many, many years ago," he continued, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of nostalgia and determination, "and now, I'd like to bring it back, starting with you and another kid."

His words hung in the air, a proposition that was both overwhelming and enticing. I looked at him, my eyes searching his for answers. "Another kid?" I questioned, my mind racing to piece together the significance of his words and his plans for me.

He nodded slowly, his gaze fixed on me, and then reached for a picture from a file on his desk. As he handed it to me, my heart almost stopped in my chest. The image before me was like a punch to the gut, and I felt a strange mix of emotions surge through me.

In the picture, it was me and a boy wrapped up around each other, cuddling in a bed. His hands rested on my waist possessively, while I slept peacefully against him, our bodies fitting together as if we were made for each other. My legs were tangled with his, creating an intimate and comfortable scene that was both shocking and heartwarming.

For a moment, I tried to wrack my brain for any recent memory of me being so intimately close with someone. Had there been a night where I had cuddled with someone like that? But then, it hit me like a ton of bricks. The reason I couldn't recall such a memory was that the guy in the picture had slipped in and out of my bed unnoticed.

It was Damien.

My mind raced as I looked at the picture, a swirl of emotions churning within me. Shock, embarrassment, confusion—all of it mixed together in a confusing cocktail. I felt my cheeks flush as I realized that this moment, this intimate snapshot of a shared night, had been captured and presented to me by my grandfather.

I cleared my throat, trying to regain my composure as I placed the picture back on his desk. "Why are you showing me this?" I finally managed to ask, my voice a mix of curiosity and apprehension.

His chuckle was slow and measured, a sound that sent shivers down my spine as he looked at the picture in my hands. "I don't tolerate immodesty in this house," he began, his voice low and dripping with a peculiar mixture of authority and amusement, "but you will be the key to getting me that kid."

I lifted my eyes to meet his gaze, a mixture of confusion and concern settling over me. "You want Damien?" I asked, the words leaving my lips with a sense of incredulity. It was as if the ground beneath me was shifting, taking me into uncharted territory.

He nodded, his expression serious. "He's a wild card, isn't he? A skilled one at that. The kind of person I could use in the ring," he explained, his eyes never leaving mine. "And you, my dear, will be the one to bring him in."

My mind whirred with a flurry of thoughts, my heart racing in response to the weight of his words. Damien, a part of the ring? The very idea was both thrilling and terrifying, a collision of my past and present that I hadn't anticipated. My fingers traced the edges of the picture absentmindedly as I tried to wrap my head around this new revelation.

"Why me?" I asked, my voice wavering slightly. "Why would he listen to me?"

My grandfather's lips curled into a faint smile, a glint of intrigue in his eyes. "Because you have a way of getting under people's skin, dear. You've lived a life that's different from the rest of us—more pain, more hardship. You can understand him in a way that others can't."

I bit my lip, my mind racing as I considered his words. The idea of bringing Damien into this world, into the ring, was both alluring and dangerous. It could change everything, for him and for me. And as I stared at the picture of us together, I couldn't help but wonder if fate had woven our lives together for a reason beyond what I could comprehend.

Extra long ch for y'all and yeah I'll Deal with Olivia and the other one in the next ch :) so long