Chapter 182

Chapter 182

This kind of unreserved, pure familial affection was too foreign to me—it even made me feel a flicker of panic. I instinctively took half a step back.

My back collided with a solid chest.

Vincent wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, his large palm warm and firm, steadying all my unease.

He lowered his head, his thin lips brushing against my earlobe, his voice low and resolute. "Go and see, Elena."

I tilted my head slightly to look at him.

"That's your family. Go see what they can offer you." Vincent's deep black eyes held absolute indulgence and confidence. "Don't worry. I'm right here with you. If you're unhappy, I'll take you away immediately. The Corleone family will always be your safe haven."

His words were like a shot of adrenaline, completely smoothing the restlessness in my heart.

I took a deep breath, turned to look at the tearful couple, and spoke in a calm tone. "I can go back with you, but first, let's make proper introductions."

I took Vincent's hand, our fingers intertwining tightly, and met their gaze directly. "This is Vincent Corleone, my fiancé and the father of my child. He's coming with me."

In Europe's old-money circles, the Corleone family's notorious reputation sent shivers down spines.

Under normal circumstances, these self-proclaimed noble aristocrats would avoid the mafia like the plague.

But right now, their eyes were filled only with their long-lost daughter.

The man nodded repeatedly, even extending his hand to Vincent with genuine sincerity. "Mr. Corleone, thank you for taking care of Selena all these years. As long as she's willing to come home, we have no objections whatsoever."

Vincent gave him a brief glance, extended his hand for a short handshake, his demeanor neither servile nor arrogant.

Half an hour later, we were seated in a convoy heading to the outskirts.

It wasn't until I sat in the back seat of the bulletproof Rolls-Royce that I learned the identity of this middle-aged couple who had been cautiously trying to please me. They were the current heads of the Colonna family—a top-tier European noble house with centuries of heritage.

In Italian and European financial history, the Colonna family name was practically synonymous with absolute wealth and power.

They not only controlled a massive banking system but also owned countless castles, estates, and hidden political resources.

Jocelyn was right. If I hadn't been lost, I would have been this family's most dazzling jewel.

The convoy entered a vast private estate.

Passing through a dense oak forest, a magnificent Gothic manor appeared at the end of the road.

A massive fountain sprayed water into the night, flanked by meticulously trimmed rose gardens.

At the manor entrance, dozens of uniformed servants and butlers stood in two neat rows, their heads bowed respectfully.

The car door opened. I stepped out in my heels.

My parents stood beside me, looking extremely nervous.

This patriarch of the Colonna family, who commanded respect in European financial circles, now resembled a child afraid of doing something wrong, carefully observing my expression.

"Selena, it's windy outside. Let's go inside first." My mother said softly, wanting to take my hand but restraining herself and pulling back.

Walking into the manor's interior, the opulent décor didn't impress me.

Vincent's estate was equally extravagant. I had long grown accustomed to this kind of material luxury.

"We've prepared a room for you." My father rubbed his hands together, his tone pleading. "We didn't know what style you'd prefer, so we had it decorated to the most comfortable standard. If you don't like it, we'll have it completely redone tomorrow."

I followed them upstairs and through a heavy oak door at the end of the corridor.

It was an enormous suite.

There was no rigid, archaic luxury—instead, it was arranged with exceptional warmth.

The floor was covered in thick white cashmere carpet, and warm-toned wall lamps cast a soft glow.

The walk-in closet was filled with current haute couture from major brands, and the jewelry counter displayed a dazzling array of pieces, all in my exact size.

Clearly, after confirming my identity, they had poured all their effort into this in the shortest time possible.

"Thank you. I love it." I looked at their tense expressions, my tone softening slightly.

Hearing my approval, my parents simultaneously breathed sighs of relief, finally showing expressions of genuine happiness.

We sat down on the sofas in the sitting room. Servants brought hot tea and pastries.

"Selena..." My mother held her teacup, her eyes still red-rimmed. "All these years, how did you survive in New York? Jocelyn said you were in the slums..."

Her voice broke before she could finish, choking with emotion.

I leaned back against the sofa, playing with the rim of my teacup, my expression calm.

Facing their heartbroken gazes, I deliberately concealed the darkest, most brutal experiences.

"Nothing special." My tone was flat, as if telling someone else's story. "I grew up on New York's streets, worked a few odd jobs, was later adopted by the Rossi family, and then I met Vincent. He pulled me out of that hellhole."

I erased the part about getting my ribs broken over half a moldy piece of bread, concealed the humiliation of fighting stray dogs for food in garbage heaps, and didn't mention the days and nights Mario locked me in the basement, treating me as a bargaining chip.

But the Colonna family weren't fools.

If they'd traced me to New York, they must have uncovered fragments of my past.

Listening to my understated account, my mother's tears flowed again.

She covered her face, her entire body trembling with sobs. "My daughter... you should have been a pampered princess, but instead you suffered so terribly in that place... It's all our fault."

My father's eyes reddened, his gaze churning with extreme fury and heartbreak.

He suddenly slammed his fist on the coffee table, making the teacups rattle.

"The Rossi family." My father ground out the name through clenched teeth, his voice laced with chilling killing intent. "That bastard Mario Rossi dared to use you as a pawn! I will never let him go. I'll make the Rossi family disappear from this world completely. I'll make him pay a devastating price for hurting you!"

Watching my father's rage, I set down my teacup and spoke coldly.

"Don't bother." I looked at him, my tone devoid of emotion. "Mario is already dead. On a cruise ship in the Atlantic, he was blown to pieces by a bomb and his remains sank to the ocean floor. The Rossi family has already been cleaned out by Vincent."

Hearing my words, my father suddenly looked up sharply, his expression growing extremely grave.

He looked at me, his brow furrowed tightly, and said in a heavy voice, "No, Selena. He's not dead. The Colonna family's intelligence network intercepted an encrypted message on the dark web just yesterday. We've traced his whereabouts."

Mario wasn't dead.

Hearing this news, I narrowed my eyes slightly, a flash of coldness crossing my heart.

Vincent's large palm tightened around my waist, his deep black eyes instantly churning with terrifying killing intent.

"No matter which rat hole in Europe he's hiding in," Vincent's voice was ruthless, carrying undeniable bloodlust, "I'll dig him out, crush him completely, and never give him another chance to rise again."

My father looked at Vincent, a glimmer of approval flashing in his eyes.

To the Colonna family, the mafia's methods were indeed unsavory, but when it came to protecting family, Vincent's viciousness was exactly what they needed right now.