Chapter Seven: Unsettling Connections

The ballroom was alive with the low hum of conversation, the clinking of glasses, and the soft rustle of silk and velvet as men and women mingled in their finest attire. The air was thick with the promise of business deals, power plays, and silent negotiations. Antonio stood by the grand window, his back straight, his expression as cold and unreadable as ever. He was at the event for one reason and one reason only: business. He had no interest in the social niceties, the meaningless chatter, or the pretenses of high society. His eyes scanned the room with a practiced intensity, assessing every person in his line of sight, calculating the potential risks and rewards of each interaction.

But then, as if drawn by some invisible force, his gaze landed on her.

Isabella Carlos was standing by the punch bowl, laughing lightly at something one of the men was saying. Her smile was genuine, her eyes bright with the warmth and sincerity that Antonio had never fully understood. She had a way about her that seemed to draw people in, an effortless grace that made her the center of attention without her even trying. She was everything he despised and everything he couldn’t seem to stop thinking about.

Isabella had always been like that—naive, open-hearted, and utterly unaware of the dangers lurking just beneath the surface of the world she inhabited. Antonio had watched her from afar in the past, at other events, at other parties, always keeping his distance. He couldn’t afford to let himself get close to her. But today, something felt different. There was an unsettling pull, a magnetic force that seemed to draw him toward her, against his will.

And then he saw Luca.

Luca, his son, was standing by Antonio’s side, his small hand clutching his father’s fingers as they moved through the crowd. The little boy’s eyes were wide with fascination, taking in everything around him with the kind of innocent wonder that only children could possess. Antonio could feel the warmth of his son’s small hand in his own, the familiar comfort of having him by his side. But as Luca’s gaze landed on Isabella, the look in his eyes shifted. There was a curiosity there, an unspoken question, as if Luca was trying to make sense of the woman who had captured his attention.

Luca had always been naturally curious, charming even at his young age. He was friendly, always willing to strike up conversations with people, never afraid of making connections. Antonio had raised him to be cautious, to trust no one easily, but it seemed that Luca hadn’t quite learned that lesson yet. And now, as Luca began to inch closer to Isabella, Antonio’s stomach tightened in a way he couldn’t quite explain.

“Daddy?” Luca’s small voice broke through Antonio’s thoughts, and he looked down to find his son staring up at him, a questioning look on his face. “Who is that lady?”

Antonio’s gaze hardened, though he tried not to show it. He could see that Luca was mesmerized by Isabella, drawn to her warmth and lightness. She was everything Antonio’s world wasn’t—free, unburdened, and kind. He hated the way Luca’s eyes softened as he looked at her, the way the little boy was drawn to her without any of the cynicism that Antonio had learned to carry with him through life.

“That’s Isabella,” Antonio said, his voice neutral, his grip on Luca’s hand tightening slightly. He didn’t want Luca to get too close, didn’t want him to form any attachments to her. She wasn’t someone they needed in their lives—not now, not ever.

Luca’s eyes brightened at the name. “She’s pretty!” he said, his voice full of innocent admiration.

Antonio’s jaw clenched. He wanted to say something, to correct Luca, to tell him that beauty wasn’t everything, that appearances could be deceiving. But the words stuck in his throat. He knew that it wasn’t the right moment, that Luca didn’t yet understand the complexities of the world they lived in. But even so, a dark feeling stirred inside him. A feeling he couldn’t quite shake.

Before he could respond, Luca tugged on his hand, his small face full of excitement. “Can I go talk to her, Daddy?” he asked innocently, his eyes shining with that same genuine curiosity.

“No,” Antonio said, his voice firm, the word slipping out before he had a chance to think it through. He wasn’t ready for Luca to get close to Isabella, to form any kind of bond with her. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Isabella—it was the fact that he didn’t trust himself, didn’t trust what his feelings toward her were becoming.

Luca’s face fell slightly at the rejection, his little eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “But why?” he asked, his voice quieter now, the curiosity still lingering in his eyes. “She’s nice. She smiled at me.”

Antonio’s chest tightened as he saw the disappointment on his son’s face. Luca didn’t understand. He couldn’t. But Antonio knew better. He knew that allowing Luca to get too close to someone like Isabella could only bring heartache. She didn’t belong in their world. She was a distraction, a complication—a risk. Antonio had already lost too much to allow himself to be vulnerable again, to allow anyone else into his carefully constructed walls.

“I said no, Luca,” Antonio repeated, his tone sharper now, the edge of command in his voice. “You stay here with me.”

Luca blinked, taken aback by his father’s sudden change in tone, but he didn’t argue. He just nodded quietly, retreating into himself as he grasped his father’s hand once again. Antonio’s heart ached as he watched his son’s face fall. He hated doing this, hated shutting Luca down, but he couldn’t risk it.

As they stood there in silence, Antonio’s gaze flickered back to Isabella. She hadn’t noticed their interaction, still laughing softly with the man beside her. Antonio felt a strange mix of irritation and something else—something darker—simmering inside him. He didn’t want to feel this way. He didn’t want to feel protective over Luca, as if she could take him from him, but it was impossible to deny the possessiveness that was growing in him.

For the first time in years, Antonio questioned his own actions. He had been careful, detached, cold for so long. He had built walls around his heart, convinced that he could never let anyone in. But Isabella had slipped through those walls, somehow breaking down his carefully guarded defenses with nothing more than a smile and a laugh.

And now, with Luca in the equation, the situation was even more complicated. Antonio’s son was innocent, untouched by the world’s darker realities. Luca was still so young, so full of love and trust. And that trust, Antonio knew, was something that could easily be shattered if he allowed himself to let anyone in—least of all Isabella.

“Let’s go,” Antonio muttered under his breath, turning sharply on his heel and guiding Luca toward the exit. He could feel Isabella’s eyes on him, could sense the curiosity in the way she looked at him. But he wouldn’t acknowledge it. He couldn’t.

He wasn’t going to allow her—or anyone—to come between him and his son. No matter how strong the pull, no matter how much she seemed to belong in his life, Antonio wasn’t going to let that happen. He had learned his lesson the hard way. The world of love and connections was a dangerous one, a world that had only ever caused him pain. And he wasn’t about to let it take Luca from him too.

But as they walked away, a part of him couldn’t help but feel that this was just the beginning. Isabella’s presence, her light, her innocence—it would only make things harder.

And deep down, Antonio feared it was already too late to stop what had already started.