As they entered Callum's room, his fingers tightened around her wrist with a firm grip, manifested the rage he was holding within. The intensity of his anger seemed to seep through every pore, causing his touch to be harsh and unyielding for Serena.

"Callum, could you please let go? It's hurting," Serena mumbled under her breath, the words barely audible, a fragile plea lost in the air.

Seeing no immediate response to her desperate request, Serena found herself caught in a silent struggle. She had no choice but to fight back tears, her teeth sinking into her bottom lip to stifle the intensifying pain coursing through her.

The room hung heavy with the weight of their unspoken emotions, creating an atmosphere fraught with uncertainty. Callum, however, remained silent, his mind seemingly troubled by something beyond the immediate physicality of the moment.

His clenched jaw and narrowed eyes further emphasized the turmoil he was experiencing. It was as if his grip on her was an attempt to control the raging tempest within him.

A wave of sadness wash over Serena as she considered the possibility that she might be the cause of his concern and rage. Her heart ached with worry, fearing that their bond might be strained by the unspoken turmoil between them.

"Are you mad at me?" Serena mumured softly a bit clearer and louder this time, as soon as her gentle voice reached Callum's ears he instantly realized the gravity of his actions and loosened the firm grip around her wrist.

Without responding to Serena's inquiry. Callum turned towards Serena and gently lifted her into his arms, her familiar childish giggles filling the empty room as he carefully placed her on a wide table, as if she were the most delicate thing in the whole world.

The gentle way he cared for her made Serena realize that she wasn't the source of his anger. Instead, she sensed there might be something else troubling him, hidden beneath the surface of his actions.

As she settled onto the table, a shy smile gently curved her pouty lips, reflecting his utmost care for her.

Serena lifted her head, observing the concern glistening on his handsome face. It served as a constant reminder that his love for her ran deep. In that moment, their eyes met; hers could conceal the love within, but her heartbeats spoke volumes in the silent language of love.

Serena blushed deeply and instantly dipped her head down, embarrassed by the audible drumming of her heartbeats that seemed to echo her excitement, painting her cheeks a rosy hue.

Under the soft glow of moonlight seeping through the windows of Callum's slightly dark room, Serena winced as Callum silently proceeded to examine the scrape on her arm.

Callum buried the pain in the pit of his stomach when he saw the scrape on her arm. She had done this for him—protected him without hesitation, shielding him from the harm meant for him.

Lost in the tender memories of Serena shielding him from harm, Callum's mind wandered into a realm of gratitude. The fragility of the moment was shattered by Serena's pained moan, "Ouch," abruptly pulling him back to reality. The sound echoed in his ears, stirring a mix of regret and concern.

In that fleeting instant, the weight of his daydreaming hit him as he saw Serena wincing. Her pain became a poignant reminder of his momentary neglect. Guilt swept through him like a cold breeze. With a newfound urgency, Callum shifted his focus back to Serena.

He gently picked up the first aid kit sitting beside her and very carefully took her soft hand in his, his touch tender and caring. With outmost care, he cleaned the wound, his fingers tracing the lines of her skin on her arm like a delicate dance. Which send waves of shivers down her spine.

Serena watched him, captivated by his focus and the way he handled her injury with such gentleness. In that moment she was sure of her feelings towards Callum that her love towards him become more stronger and irresistible.

"I'm sorry you got hurt," Callum murmured an apology, his voice a soft caress.

"I wish I could've been quick enough to avoid this from happening." Callum said regretfully with few lines of concern appearing in his forehead slightly covered with his disheleved hair strands.

A warm smile graced Serena's lips, her heart swelling with a tender affection that transcended words. "It's just a scratch," she responded softly, her voice carrying a soothing cadence. Behind that reassuring statement, however, lay a depth of emotion—she sought to downplay the pain, not wanting him to bear the weight of unnecessary worry.

Serena's attempt to mask the discomfort was a testament to the lengths she would go to shield him, a fragile expression of love hidden beneath her brave facade.

Gazing at the tender side of Callum that he reserved for her, Serena felt a profound yearning to express, to let him know that "Having you here makes all the pain worth enduring." Yet, these words remained trapped in the confines of her heart. She swallowed them down, a bittersweet ache lingering in her chest.

The unspoken confession hung heavy in the air, a poignant reminder of the silent love she harbored. Serena's eyes held a mixture of adoration and longing as she continued to cherish the soft moments shared with Callum.

She did not want Callum to know how much she loves him. They were merely friends. She was afraid that the beautiful friendship they had between them would be ruined and will not be same anymore.

Serena watched Callum as he carefully tended to her wound, his hands moving with practiced gentleness. Her gaze softened with affection, the love she felt for him shining through her eyes.

As usual, Callum remained oblivious to the unmistakable love reflected in her eyes. To him, she has always been his little friend, someone he cared for deeply and wished to shield from life's myriad dangers.

"In the future, don't do something stupid like this," Callum warned, his gaze piercing but not with anger. Instead, it emanated from a place of immense concern and protective instincts he harbored towards her.

His words carried the weight of genuine worry, a plea for her well-being. The intensity in Callum's eyes betrayed the depth of his care, a silent acknowledgment of the fear that gripped him at the thought of her endangering herself. In that moment, the sternness of his warning was softened by the undercurrent of affection that fueled his desire to keep her safe.

"Are you asking me not to protect someone I lo— I mean... someone I care about?" Serena stared into Callum's eyes, expressing genuine love and concern. She cursed herself for her glib tongue, almost uttering the word "love" as she pouted with her head down.

Callum delicately placed his index finger under Serena's chin, gently lifting her head to meet her doe-like eyes. Innocence glistened in her face, resembling that of a porcelain doll. She was almost unimaginably beautiful, a vision of ethereal grace with a touch of adorable cuteness.

"I don't want to see you hurt ever again. Do you understand that clearly?" Callum said firmly, refusing to accept her refusal. It was as if he made an internal promise to himself, vowing to protect her from all the dangers that lurked around.

"Okay," Serena quietly agreed, her voice carrying a mix of gratitude and acceptance. Yet, inwardly, she made her own unspoken vow. "I won't promise, Callum. If I see you in danger, I'll help you again and again without hesitation," Serena affirmed to herself. Her smile, tender and reassuring, conveyed a silent commitment to stand by him through whatever challenges lay ahead.

A promise she held close, a secret known only within the chambers of her heart, encapsulated a love that defied explanation.

"You need to stay away from him," Callum's voice sliced through Serena's daydream, jolting her back to reality with a sudden, sharp clarity. Her sweet smile fading as she remembered what they were about to face.

Serena shot a confused "who" look at Callum, her innocence evident in her doe eyes. Callum sighed inwardly and rose from his seat, moving gracefully toward the expansive windows.

The moonlight draped over his commanding shoulders, accentuating the formidable contours of his physique. It cast a mystic glow, turning Callum into an intimidating yet dreamy presence, captivating Serena's heart as always, with its romantic allure.

"The Romanos, they are dangerous people. I want you to be extremely cautious and vigilant around them," Callum warned Serena, although she wasn't able to see his expression but the concern was evident in his voice.

Callum's eyes secretly narrowed at the thought of Romanos and their evil intentions. He knew they will be plotting something evil. There is no doubt in that

Callum could sense the impending storm, but his foremost worry was not for himself, but for his beloved friend Serena. He feared she might get into trouble because of the Romanos, and his protective instincts kicked in, urging him to caution her.

Serena nodded, understanding that callum would only wish the best for her and he would know if something wrong was about to happen.

However, curiousity took the best of her and she wanted to know the reality of the Romanos and what would they be expecting from these people? Serena have seen how violent they are and their demeanor is ugly to watch but how far can someone stoop to avenge their rivals?

Just as Serena parted her lips to interrogate about the Romanos to Callum, a gentle knock on the door interrupted her, diverting their attention toward its source. Callum softly mumbled, "Come in." Granting permission to whoever was wanting to enter.

As the door creaked open, An elderly woman stepped into the room, her eyes naturally drawn to the two figures before her.

There stood the young master Callum, regal and poised, his eyes alight with a spark of youthful exuberance. Beside him was the pretty naive girl, Serena, a vision of grace and innocence, her eyes reflecting the same enchantment that had captivated the entire ballroom earlier that night.

To the elderly woman, they were more than just two individuals; they were a couple, of that, there was no doubt. The memory of their magical dance at the ball lingered in her mind, like scenes from a fairytale movie.

She could almost see it when they were dancing at the ball - a rich prince, in search of a bride, whirling around the grand ballroom with an unknown stranger, just like in the Cinderella.

The elegance of their movements, the way they held each other, and looked at each other, there is no denying that there was an unknown spark of love between the two.

The elderly woman snapped out of her reverie as soon as Callum cleared his throat to grab her attention. She shook in embarrassment, regaining her composure instantly. The weight of Callum's gaze made her acutely aware of her mistake, prompting her to stand taller and focus on the task at hand.

"Young master," the elderly woman said, her head respectfully lowered in a gesture of deference, "Old Master requests your presence in the study." Her words were delivered with utmost respect and conveyed the message with a sense of formality, echoing through the halls of Callum's room

"Hmm," Callum hummed, indicating his acceptance of the command.

Upon hearing the response. The elderly woman cast a final glance at the pair before quietly leaving the room. The air was thick with an unspoken seriousness, as Callum prepared to meet the Old Master in the study, his thoughts racing with anticipation.

"Why do you think the Old Master wants to talk to you for?" Serena voiced her concern as soon as the housemaid left the room. Her eyes searched Callum's face for answers, curiosity and worry mingling in her gaze.

Callum turned towards Serena, a sly smile gracing his handsome face, a smile that never failed to make her heart skip a beat. "I guess we won't find out if we don't go there," he said, his voice confident yet soothing.

As he intertwined his hand with hers. Serena's heart jumped in excitement at his gesture, her cheeks flushing with warmth. The anticipation of the unknown hung in the air as they shared a moment, ready to face whatever awaited them in the Old Master's study together.

{ A while ago }

David, the butler entered upon Old Master Crawford quietly seated behind the massive granite table, his fingers cradling his face as he delved into profound contemplation. A dense, dark aura enveloped him.

In his three decades of service, David had never witnessed Old Master Crawford in such a somber state. It felt as though an ominous cloud hung over, foreshadowing a storm capable of wreaking havoc.

The entanglement of his daughter, Serena in this situation, troubled David the most, knowing all too well how Old Master Crawford frowned upon Callum, prioritizing anyone over his business, especially a lady.

"I can't believe my grandson would do a crime as a heinous as this," Old Master Crawford's voice tore through the silent room, the weight of disappointment palpable in his voice.

It's not just a momentary lapse; it's an enduring embarrassment to the old master to have a grandson whose actions tarnish the family's reputation. The disgraceful act, engaging in a brawl like a thug rather than comporting himself as a man of true repute, adds another layer of anguish to the old man's already wounded pride.

The anger and hurt resonated in his hoarse voice, echoing the shattered expectations for the legacy he had hoped his grandson would carry forward. David wasn't aware of the  surge of memories flooding into old master's mind – a dark past he preferred to keep buried from everyone.

The ugly truth of the past haunted Old master crawford, serving as a relentless reminder of the path he had sought to shield Callum from lamentably had taken place right in front of him. It was one of the reasons he kept his grandson away from that perilous life, aspiring for Callum to be the embodiment of virtue, the last hope to carry the legacy of the Crawford family's name in a reputable manner.

"Have you forgotten whose son he is Mr crawford."

In the silent room, a voice suddenly broke the stillness, announcing the arrival of a mysterious figure. Accompanied by imposing bodyguards, he entered, exuding an aura of wealth and power accentuated by his impeccably tailored suit.

Old Master Crawford lifted his gaze, only to be met with a shocking revelation. Standing proudly before him was the one person he deeply despised, like the demons he feared in his nightmares have come to life.

"What are you doing here? Get out!" The old master erupted in anger, abruptly rising from his seat and shaking with intense fury at the sight of the unwelcome visitor. He wasn't merely a visitor of that he was the last person on the earth the old master crawford wanted to see.

The man in the impeccably tailored suit remained unfazed, pride etched on his face as he stood face to face with the embodiment of the legacy Old Master Crawford had desperately tried to protect from the shadows of the family's unsavory past.

With a smug smirk, the mysterious man in his mid-40s addressed old master crawford, "Ever heard the saying, Mr. Crawford? The apple doesn't fall far from the tree." His tone dripped with arrogance as he confidently claimed a seat, subtly mocking Old Master Crawford.

The pride never wavered from his face. Intrigued, he couldn't resist the opportunity to witness the old man's reaction to the evening's unfolding events. How could he miss observing the impact of what had occurred earlier on the venerable figure before him?

The room seemed to tighten as the enigmatic man settled into the chair, his words hanging in the air with a hint of mockery.

The mocking words coming out of the man in front of Old Master Crawford was least of his worries, he was concerned about how he is face to face with a stark reminder of a blood tie he had long sought to distance himself from, felt the weight of ancestral connections bearing down on him.

"You shouldn't be here. You must leave." Old Master Crawford didn't want to waste any more time but to bury the truth he had kept in the dark for far too long, wishing it to remain hidden until the very end of the Crawford family's lineage.

"Hah, you're too afraid for Callum to find out the truth of his existence, aren't you, Mr. Crawford?" The man spoke bitterly, the hurt buried deep within him, a pain he struggled to conceal every time he recalled the consequences of his actions.

"Don't you dare take his name from your filthy mouth! You have no rights over him. You should never have!" Old Master Crawford shouted in fury. The man before him held no claim over Callum, and he needed him to vanish from their lives, erased entirely from the Crawford lineage.

"I have more rights on him than you do because he is my—" The man halted, suppressing his anger. He couldn't muster the strength to utter the word. What connection did he share with Callum? None, except a tie of blood.

Old Master Crawford's words held a bitter truth as he spoke. "You chose this life. Don't come back to us. The past is long forgotten, and you are not welcomed." The old master uttered these cutting words as a stark reminder that the mysterious man had no place or shared relation with any of the Crawford family. It was like a curse, each truth revealed piercing deeper into the man's heart.

A heart that was once infamous for its coldness, void of remorse and love, now found itself grappling with the weight of the past. Each uttered sentence chipped away at the layers of stoicism, unraveling a vulnerability that had long been concealed. Who was to be blamed for what he lost but himself? Old Master Crawford's judgment rang true, leaving the mysterious man with no room to deny that the calamities in his life were of his own making. Whatever he had lost over the years, the fault rested squarely on his shoulders.

As the saying goes, "You can't fill a gap by carving it more." The man, burdened by guilt, couldn't bear to live with the weight of remorse any longer. He returned, determined to reclaim what was rightfully his, even if it meant shedding the blood of his own people. A fierce resolve ignited within him as he vowed to fight for what belonged to him.

Despite the prideful smile etched on the mysterious man's arrogant face, there was a tumult of emotions beneath the surface—a complex mixture of determination, regret, and an unspoken yearning for reconciliation.

With confidence, he rose from his chair, the room seemingly echoing with the weight of his silent declaration. As he strode out, the proud smile remained, but it was juxtaposed with the shadow of the unresolved past. Old Master Crawford and the butler were left in the room, grappling with the profound emotions. The butler was the only one who was clueless as to what occurred in the study with the mysterious man storming in.

"Behind the curtain of Old Master Crawford's stoic facade, what truths lay concealed?" The butler wondered as he looked at the old master crawford he served for decades but had no idea that he had huge secrets hidden far away from reality.

{ Outside old master's study }

A reminiscent echo of the past resounded within the man as he left the old master crawford's study. He was a man who had once loved someone dearly, going to great lengths to shield his loved ones, yet he failed. He failed the most important things in his life.

"Isn't that Young Master Crawford?" the bodyguard pointed as Callum emerged from his room, a pretty innocently girl following behind him. The man immediately halted, lifting his head to follow the direction indicated by the bodyguard.

He felt a pinch in his heart when his gaze first landed at the sight of the grown version of Callum, who now bore a striking resemblance to him. It was almost as if he were gazing at a younger reflection of himself in the mirror.

His gaze then shifted to the young lady in his arms. She appeared too innocent and naive, much like the woman he once loved so dearly. The pain intensified as memories of the past began recurring in his mind, like a video tape on repeat.

The echoes of the past played vividly in his thoughts, each frame capturing the innocence and naivety that had once defined the woman he loved. The pain in his heart deepened as he observed the striking similarities between the past and the present, a poignant reminder of what he had lost.

As the man observed Callum, he recognized the familiar flicker of determination in his face that he once had for his beloved one. The only distinction was that Callum wasn't crafted for the love he yearned to cherish; since he was raised by old master crawford filling his head and preparing him to a man who was ready to take over the world without any fear or weakness.

Callum was created and destined for something else. The realization weighed heavily on the man as he acknowledged that soon, as the heir, he must take over and claim what was rightfully his.

"Boss, shall we go?" the bodyguard alerted as Callum approached, teetering on the edge of noticing the man harboring the secret Old Master Crawford desperately wanted to conceal. Inwardly sighing, the man found himself with no choice but to leave but with  determination to return, firmly lingering in his mind.

Leisurely donning dark sunglasses, the mysterious man gracefully disappeared from sight before Callum could discern his departure, leaving behind a trail of mystery and secrets yearning to be unraveled.

Callum, unaware of the recent events, remained in the dark about the secrets that had knocked on his door after all these years. The only witnesses were two figures clandestinely positioned behind a wall, privy to everything and hearing enough to cast doubt.

"Dad, who was that man, and why did he bear such a close resemblance to Callum?" Luca asked, fear and astonishment evident in his voice. Valentina, his father, was left speechless, lacking answers.

Did there really exist a hidden facet of the Crawford family's secrets that he himself was unaware of? What kind of secrets was Old Master Crawford hiding? The air was thick with questions, and the answers remained elusive.

{ End of Chapter 6 }

So amid all the chaos a secret was revealed. To make matters worse. Romano's found out! What's going to happen now ?