Chapter 1
🌹AURORA’S POV🌹
The smell of roses and wet soil clung to my hair.
I sighed, wiping sweat off my forehead and stretching my arms like a tired cat. My body hurt. My eyelids felt like sandpaper. I just wanted to shower and collapse into something soft and completely forget how chaotic today had been.
But no. As usual
The kitchen in our tiny apartment would be filled, and the minute I walk in, someone would ask me a billion questions.
I cycled home anyway, slow and sluggish, like I was dragging what was left of my soul on two wheels.
The sun had started to set, casting that golden glow that made Rome look like a painting. I should’ve felt grateful. I should’ve smiled.
But I didn’t.
Because just hours ago, I accidentally spilled hot cappuccino on a scary man wearing a suit that probably costs more than our entire flower shop.
That was after I broke a glass bouquet, almost sliced my finger, AND got scolded twice for zoning out during deliveries.
Lovely.
I reached our apartment building and parked my rusty little bicycle behind the mango tree, rubbing my aching calves.
My feet shuffled into the compound and up the stairs, each step sounding louder than the last.
Our apartment wasn’t fancy; it was small, loud, and filled with more chaos than peace. But it was home.
I opened the door…
“Auroraaa! Welcome !” my mum shouted before I even crossed the threshold.
And just like that I forgot exhaustion and remembered I had a family full of loud personalities.
“You’re just coming back?” my aunt yelled from the sofa, munching on chips like it was gold.
“I’m hungry!” my little cousin screamed from the floor where he was rolling like a tired crocodile.
My dad? He was on the floor mat, one hand holding his cup of wine like a soft king. “Let the child breathe, ah-ah.”
I dropped my bag and flopped on the edge of the floor mat, grabbing a handful of rice straight from the big bowl in the center.
“Hottt!!” I screamed.
My mum chuckled. “You don’t listen. You see hot rice and your mouth just entered.”
I blew air into my cheeks and laughed anyway with rice still stuffed in my mouth.
Then, like always, I began talking… fast.
'This customer,! Super rich man, walked in wearing black everything—black suit, black shirt, black sunglasses inside the shop, under the light oh. I think his face was carved by angels that got tired halfway.
'Yimu,' my auntie hissed, snatching a piece of fish before I could grab it.
'No, I’m serious!' I slammed the floor for emphasis. 'Right when I turned to carry his bouquet, bam—coffee hit his shoe. My coffee. Then I looked up… and his eyes—guys, his eyes…”
Everyone leaned in.
“…Looked like hell. Like green, dangerous hell. Daddy I swear I thought I peed myself.”
My dad cackled like it was a comedy. “You? Pee? Better clean the shop tomorrow before they fire you!”
“I said sorry!' I defended. 'And he didn’t even shout… he just stared at me like he wanted to bite my soul.”
Everyone paused.
Even my cousin stopped rolling on the floor.
“Ehn?” my mum blinked.
I scratched my head awkwardly. “Anyway… I ran away. But his shoes were designer.”
“Designer, danger,” my dad muttered.
We all burst into laughter.
That night, we ate, joked, and I finally shared my rice in peace.
[đź’€HIDDEN POV]đź’€
I stood by the glass window, overlooking the Tiber River flowing quietly beneath the moonlight.
My suit jacket was off.
Tie loosened.
Cigar lit between my fingers.
“Luca,” I called calmly, sitting in my black leather chair.
'Yes, boss,' my right hand stepped closer.
I tipped ash into the silver tray. “You picked up the girl’s name?”
“Yes, sir.”
He handed me the profile.
“Aurora Estelle Romano.”
Age: twenty-three.
Flower shop assistant. Lives in Testaccio district. Family of five.
I glanced at the picture pinned to the file.
Her eyes were too soft to exist in my kind of world.
Yet something about her
I couldn’t stop looking.
Her cheeks were flushed, her apron stained red with crushed dahlias. She looked like someone who still believed in kindness.
And I didn’t like that.
Because it made me want to steal it from her.
'Track her movements,' I said without looking up again. 'Quietly.'
“Yes boss,” Luca replied.
I closed the file.
Snuffed out the cigar.
And for the first time in months… I smiled.
Twisted. Slow. Possessive.
“That girl has no idea…
She just stumbled into the palm of the Devil’s hand.”
🌹AURORA POV🌹
The next morning…
Machines were firing up in the shop, and I was already sweating after dragging a shipment of lilies up three wooden stairs.
“Ehn! Careful with that! Those are expensive!” Maria, my boss and the world’s grumpiest flower lady, barked.
“I know, I know!” I yelled back, balancing pots on both arms.
My phone vibrated in my pocket.
One message.
Unknown Number: “Pretty girls shouldn’t spill coffee. They should own cafes.”
Wait… what?
I paused.
Looked left.
Looked right.
What kind of creepy message.
Another buzz.
Unknown Number: “Don’t look around. Just smile and say yes.”
“Eh?” I blinked, heart pounding in my chest.
Maria looked at me. “What are you doing standing like a log?!”
“Bathroom!” I screamed and ran into the florist's tiny backroom.
Breathing hard.
Hands shaking.
I messaged back.
Aurora: Who is this?
Seen.
No reply.
Five seconds later…
My phone buzzed again.
Image.
It was… a shot of me in the flower shop.
Taken just seconds ago.
“What in God’s holy favor—!!!”
TO BE CONTINUED IN EPISODE 2…
