Chapter 105 105

Chapter 105 105

Kade sat on the edge of his bed, phone pressed to his ear. He had been explaining everything that has happened to his parents for the past few minutes.

“What? Yuki’s parents are alive? How is that even possible? Why weren’t we informed sooner?” Lydia’s voice came through first, full of shock.

Kade rubbed his forehead with his free hand. “We all just found out. Even Yuki herself just found out about her parents. Right now she’s on her way to Italy. I just wanted to let you two know.”

“This is a lot to take in, son. Are you sure this Stefano person is telling the truth? And you let her go with him?” Scott asked worriedly.

“I didn’t really have much of a choice.” Kade replied quietly. “She made her decision. She wants to meet them and I respect that if it's what she wants.”

There was a long, heavy pause on the line.

“How are you doing, Kade? This must be really hard for you.” Lydia spoke again, gentler this time.

Kade swallowed hard. He stared at the floor, trying to keep his voice even.

“I’m doing alright,” He said. “I’m worried about her, obviously. Really worried. But I’m trying not to assume the worse. Besides, she promised she'll be back so I'm holding on to that.”

Scott sighed. “Keep us updated. And take care of yourself too, okay?”

“I will. I’m busy right now, so I have to go. Talk to you later.”

Kade hung up the call and dropped the phone onto the bed beside him.

The weight of everything pressed down on his chest — the fear, the helplessness, the love he still felt so strongly for Yuki. He felt like he was losing her all over again, and there was nothing he could do to stop it.

He picked up his phone again and tried calling Yuki. The line went straight to an automated message.

Kade frowned and tried again. Same result.

“Isn’t she there yet?” he muttered to himself, worry creeping deeper into his voice. “She should have landed by now… or at least be close.”

He stared at the phone screen, thumb hovering over her contact. The silence in his room felt suffocating. He felt useless, broken, and scared.

The thought of Yuki being so far away, in a world he couldn’t reach, made his chest ache.

He didn’t know what to do with himself.

_____
(Italy)

The black car rolled to a smooth stop in front of the grand entrance of the Sanzone estate. The massive property stretched out endlessly, a building that looked more like a palace than a home, with towering columns and golden lights glowing from every window.

Armed men in dark suits stood at attention along the driveway and steps, their presence heavy and watchful.

Yuki had been silent the entire ride from the airport. She hadn’t spoken since she woke up, her mind too full, too overwhelmed.

Stefano turned to her in the back seat.

“We’re here. Let’s go inside now, princess.”

The chauffeur opened the door. Stefano stepped out first, then extended his hand. Yuki ignored it and got out on her own, her legs still unsteady.

She looked up at the estate, feeling the overwhelming presence of it all — the power, the wealth, the danger.

“Is this where you live?” she asked quietly.

Stefano shook his head. “If it was up to me, I would take you straight to my place and keep you there for tonight. But other things must come first. I brought you here to meet your parents. I wasn’t lying when I said my real reason for going after you was because I promised them I would find you.”

Yuki didn’t reply. She simply nodded.

Stefano led the way up the wide marble steps. The men greeted him in Italian, bowing their heads deeply.

“Buonasera, Don Stefano.”

As Yuki passed, they all bowed their heads toward her as well, murmuring respectful greetings. The gesture sent a chill down her spine. This place felt cold and powerful, like stepping into another world entirely.

They entered the grand foyer and were led into a large living room. The space was luxurious but not overly flashy — dark wood, expensive rugs, crystal chandeliers, and large paintings on the walls.

Footsteps echoed from the grand staircase.

Yuki turned.

A man and a woman were descending. The man — tall, distinguished, with salt-and-pepper hair and sharp features, walked with quiet authority. The woman beside him was elegant, with long dark hair and striking eyes that looked eerily familiar.

Stefano stepped forward and greeted them respectfully in Italian.

“Don e Donna.” He said.

The woman, Miranda, stopped at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes locking onto Yuki. Her hand flew to her mouth, tears already forming.

“Is this my Alessandra?” She whispered.

Stefano nodded. “Yes. This is Yuki, as she’s called.”

Miranda didn’t hesitate. She rushed forward and pulled Yuki into a tight, trembling hug. Her arms wrapped around her daughter like she was afraid she might vanish.

Yuki stood stiff at first, but the warmth of the embrace, the way Miranda’s shoulders shook with quiet sobs, cracked something inside her.

“Oh my baby… my sweet girl,” Miranda whispered, voice breaking. “You’re really here.”

Yuki’s gaze drifted over Miranda’s shoulder to Stefano, who watched them with a calm, satisfied expression. She didn’t know what to feel. Her mind was a storm — shock, longing, fear, confusion, all crashing together at once.

Miranda finally pulled back, cupping Yuki’s face with both hands, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Honey, look at her,” Miranda said to her husband, voice full of wonder. “She looks just like me when I was younger.”

Luciano stepped closer, his eyes glistening with emotion. “You’re right. I knew our baby was alive. We’ve waited so long for this day.”

Yuki could see it now. The resemblance was undeniable. The eyes, the shape of the face, the slight curve of the nose — it was all there. Stefano hadn’t been lying.

Thousands of emotions flooded through her at once. Hope. Anger. Grief. Longing. Fear. She had spent her whole life believing she had no parents, that no one wanted her at the orphanage. Now here were these people, her real parents looking at her like she was a miracle.

“You’re really… my parents?” Yuki whispered, voice barely holding together.

“Yes, sweetheart. We are.” Luciano said in a deep voice.

“But…what happened? It you are really my parents, how did I end up in the orphanage?”Yuki asked, confused, tears running down her cheeks.

Miranda gently wiped tears from Yuki’s cheeks. “That’s a story for another day, my dear. I’ve prepared lunch for you. We have so much catching up to do.”

Yuki let Miranda take her hand. The touch felt strange — warm, but foreign. She glanced back at Stefano as they started walking toward a hall.

“See you later, princess,” Stefano said quietly, a small smile on his lips, before turning and walking away.

Yuki didn’t reply. She allowed Miranda to guide her, her heart pounding with a thousand unanswered questions as they entered the grand dining hall.