Chapter 181: The Man Who Came Back
Lila POV
I didn’t sleep.
Not even a second.
Every time I closed my eyes, I heard his voice again.
Don’t trust him.
And every time I opened them, I saw that photo.
Me.
Standing on the balcony.
Watched.
Observed.
Like I wasn’t alone in my own life anymore.
By morning, my head hurt. My body felt heavy, but my mind refused to slow down.
Enzo was alive.
I didn’t need proof anymore.
I had his voice.
I had his warning.
And now—
I had a target.
Dante.
My fingers tightened around my phone as I sat on the edge of my bed.
Why Dante?
What was he hiding?
Before I could sink deeper into that question, my phone buzzed again.
This time—
It wasn’t an unknown number.
It was Luca.
I picked up immediately.
“Luca.”
“You sound terrible,” he said right away.
“I didn’t sleep.”
“Yeah, I figured. Marco’s already here. We’re coming to you.”
“No,” I said quickly.
There was a pause.
“What do you mean no?”
“I’m not staying here.”
“Lila—”
“I’m going to the mansion.”
Silence.
Then Luca’s voice dropped.
“Why?”
I stood up, grabbing my jacket.
“Because Dante is back.”
Another pause.
“How do you know?”
“I just do.”
It wasn’t a guess.
It was a feeling.
The kind that settled deep in your bones and refused to leave.
Luca exhaled slowly.
“Fine. We’ll meet you there.”
“No.”
This time, my voice was firm.
“I’m going alone.”
“That’s not happening.”
“I’m not asking.”
“Lila—”
“I need to talk to him without anyone interrupting.”
Luca went quiet again.
Then, softer this time, he said, “At least let me send someone with you.”
“No.”
“Why are you being like this?”
“Because if I’m right… then this doesn’t involve just me anymore.”
“What does that even mean?”
I closed my eyes for a second.
“It means I need to hear him lie to my face.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
“Lila…” Luca started.
But I ended the call.
Because I didn’t want anyone stopping me.
Not this time.
Not when everything was finally starting to make sense.
I left the apartment quickly.
The hallway felt different now.
Like every corner held secrets.
Like every shadow could move if I wasn’t careful.
I didn’t look back.
I didn’t hesitate.
I just walked.
By the time I reached the mansion, my heart was steady.
Not calm.
But focused.
The guards at the gate looked surprised to see me.
They didn’t stop me.
No one ever really did.
The doors opened.
And just like that—
I was back.
The place that used to feel like a cage.
The place that took everything from me.
The place where everything started.
I stepped inside.
The air felt colder than I remembered.
Or maybe that was just me.
A maid passed by and froze when she saw me.
“Miss Lila…”
“Where is he?” I asked.
She hesitated.
Then answered quietly, “In the library.”
Of course.
I didn’t wait.
I walked straight there.
Every step felt heavier than the last.
Every memory hitting me at once.
The lies.
The games.
The promises.
And Enzo.
Always Enzo.
I stopped in front of the door.
My hand hovered over the handle.
Then I pushed it open.
Slowly.
The room was quiet.
Dim.
And there he was.
Dante.
Standing by the window.
His back facing me.
Still.
Unmoving.
Like he already knew I was coming.
“You came.”
His voice was calm.
Too calm.
I stepped inside, closing the door behind me.
“You’re back.”
He didn’t turn around.
“I never left.”
I almost laughed.
“Really? Because everyone seems to think you disappeared.”
“I had things to handle.”
“More important than your family?”
Silence.
That was my answer.
I took a few steps closer.
“Look at me.”
He didn’t move.
“Dante.”
Still nothing.
My chest tightened.
“Turn around.”
Slowly—
He did.
And for a second—
I almost didn’t recognize him.
He looked the same.
Same sharp features.
Same cold eyes.
But something about him felt different.
Harder.
Darker.
Like whatever he went through while he was gone—
Changed him.
“You shouldn’t be here,” he said.
I let out a quiet breath.
“Funny. I was thinking the same about you.”
His jaw tightened slightly.
“What do you want, Lila?”
I stepped closer.
Until there was barely any distance between us.
“I want the truth.”
“You already have it.”
“No,” I said. “I have your version of it.”
“That’s the only version that matters.”
I shook my head.
“No. Not anymore.”
Something flickered in his eyes.
But it disappeared just as fast.
“I don’t have time for this.”
“Then make time.”
His gaze hardened.
“You don’t get to demand things from me.”
“And you don’t get to control my life anymore.”
Silence.
Heavy.
Sharp.
He looked at me like he was trying to read something I wasn’t showing.
“Who have you been talking to?” he asked suddenly.
I didn’t answer.
“Lila.”
“Why does that matter?”
“Because you’re not acting like yourself.”
I let out a small, humorless laugh.
“And what exactly is ‘myself’ to you?”
He didn’t answer.
“Someone who listens?” I continued. “Someone who follows your rules? Someone who believes everything you say?”
“That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what did you mean?”
Silence again.
I took another step closer.
“Tell me something, Dante.”
His eyes stayed on mine.
Cold.
Unreadable.
“Did you see Enzo’s body?”
That did it.
A reaction.
Small.
But real.
His fingers twitched slightly at his side.
“Why are you asking that?”
“Just answer me.”
“Yes.”
The answer came too fast.
Too clean.
“Where?”
“At the hospital.”
“With who?”
“Doctors.”
“Which doctors?”
His jaw tightened.
“That’s not your concern.”
“It is if you’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
I held his gaze.
“You expect me to believe that?”
“Yes.”
“Then you don’t know me at all.”
Something in his expression darkened.
“Be careful, Lila.”
“Or what?”
“Or you’ll start digging into things you shouldn’t.”
My heart pounded.
“Like what?”
“Like things that will only hurt you.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“You mean like the truth?”
His silence was enough.
“Why won’t you talk about him?” I asked softly.
His eyes hardened again.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“He died saving me.”
“Yes.”
“He loved me.”
“That’s irrelevant.”
My chest tightened.
“Say that again.”
He didn’t hesitate.
“It’s irrelevant.”
Before I could stop myself—
My hand moved.
The sound echoed in the room.
Sharp.
Loud.
My palm stung.
Dante’s head turned slightly from the impact.
But he didn’t react.
Didn’t move.
Didn’t even blink.
Slowly—
He looked back at me.
His eyes darker than before.
“Are you done?”
My breath was uneven.
“You don’t get to talk about him like that.”
“I talk about him however I want.”
“No,” I said. “You don’t.”
Silence.
Then—
Quietly—
I said it.
“He’s alive.”
That finally broke something.
Not fully.
But enough.
Dante froze.
Just for a second.
But I saw it.
“You’re wrong.”
“No.”
“He’s dead.”
“No.”
His voice turned colder.
“Who told you that?”
I didn’t answer.
“Lila.”
“Why are you so sure he’s dead?” I asked instead.
“Because I saw him.”
“Or because you needed him to be?”
Silence.
His eyes locked onto mine.
Dangerous.
Sharp.
“You’re crossing a line.”
“Then stop me.”
A long pause.
Then—
He stepped closer.
So close I could feel his breath.
“Listen to me carefully,” he said, voice low. “Whatever you think you know—forget it.”
“Make me.”
“You don’t understand what you’re dealing with.”
“Then explain it to me.”
“I can’t.”
“Or you won’t?”
His silence answered for him.
I swallowed.
“Enzo contacted me.”
That did it.
Something snapped.
Not loudly.
But deep.
His entire body went still.
“What did you say?”
“He called me.”
“You’re lying.”
“I heard his voice.”
“No.”
“He told me not to trust you.”
The room went completely silent.
Dante stared at me.
Not angry.
Not cold.
Something else.
Something I couldn’t read.
Then—
Very slowly—
He said,
“Then you’re already in danger.”
My breath caught.
“From who?”
He didn’t answer.
“Dante.”
Nothing.
“Who?”
He stepped back.
Putting distance between us again.
“This conversation is over.”
“No, it’s not.”
“Yes, it is.”
“You don’t get to walk away.”
“I just did.”
I moved in front of him.
Blocking his path.
“You’re not leaving until you tell me what’s going on.”
His eyes dropped to me.
Cold again.
Controlled.
“Move.”
“No.”
“Lila—”
“Tell me the truth.”
Silence.
Then—
Softly—
Almost like a warning—
He said,
“If he really contacted you…”
My heart pounded.
“Then he’s not the same man you think he is.”
I froze.
“What does that mean?”
He didn’t answer.
“Dante.”
Nothing.
“Say it.”
His gaze held mine.
Unmoving.
Unbreakable.
Then—
He spoke.
And his words hit harder than anything else.
“If Enzo is alive…”
A pause.
Cold.
Sharp.
“Then he’s not coming back for you.”
My breath stopped.
“What?”
But Dante was already walking past me.
And this time—
I didn’t stop him.
Because something in his voice—
Made me afraid to ask more.
The door opened.
Then closed.
Leaving me alone in the library.
With one thought echoing in my head.
If Enzo is alive…
Then why would Dante say he won’t come back for me?
And what does he know—
That I don’t?