The night after the ball felt heavier than the chandeliers that had once sparkled above them. The news of what happened between Luca and Bianca spread faster than wildfire. Every whisper, every rumor seemed to twist the story a little more, until the truth was buried beneath waves of gossip and speculation.
By morning, both the Moretti and Bellemy names were on every tongue in the city's elite circles. But the Dantes — the family with more influence, more wealth, and more power — were the ones everyone feared.
Bianca had gone home in tears, her mascara streaked and her heart burning with fury. She didn't just cry; she screamed. Her parents listened in stunned silence as she replayed every moment of humiliation. The spilled drink, the stares, Luca's cold anger, and the slap that echoed across the ballroom like a curse.
Mrs. Dante had to hold her daughter as she sobbed uncontrollably. "He humiliated you in front of everyone," she whispered, her voice shaking with restrained rage. "Everyone saw it. Everyone."
Mr. Dante didn't speak at first. He simply poured himself a drink, staring out of the window at the city lights below. When he finally turned, his voice was quiet, but it carried a weight that filled the room.
"This will not go unpunished."
Within hours, the Dantes' wrath reached the Moretti estate. It wasn't with shouting or scandal; it was with influence. Calls were made. Meetings were canceled. Promises were withdrawn. Within twenty-four hours, several of the Morettis' biggest investors were reconsidering their partnerships.
Mrs. Moretti was the first to realize what was happening. "They're cutting ties," she said, clutching the report in her trembling hands. "The Dantes are pulling their strings."
Mr. Moretti slammed his palm on the desk. "All because of that boy's temper! Do you understand what this means for us? For the company? For everything we've built?"
Luca stood in silence, jaw clenched, guilt warring with pride. He wanted to defend himself — to say Bianca had crossed the line, to say she had humiliated Aria first — but none of that mattered now. His parents' faces said it all.
Mrs. Moretti's voice broke. "You don't understand, Luca. The Dantes can destroy us. The only way out of this is to make peace."
He knew what she meant before she said it.
Apologize.
The word tasted like ash in his mouth.
At first, he refused. "No. I won't do it. You expect me to apologize to her after everything she did?"
His father's voice cut through the air, low and final. "You will."
Silence stretched between them.
"You will go to the Dantes' home," Mr. Moretti continued, "and you will apologize. You will repair this. If that means giving her what she wants, so be it."
Luca's eyes darkened. "And what if what she wants is me?"
His mother looked away, her silence saying more than any words could.
That was the moment he realized there was no choice.
The next evening, Luca stood outside the Dante mansion. The building loomed over the city, cold and magnificent, its walls whispering of power and pride. He had faced business rivals, board meetings, and threats to his company — but nothing compared to the dread that settled in his chest now.
When Bianca appeared, she looked fragile but smug, like a rose with hidden thorns. She let him wait in silence for several minutes before speaking.
"So," she said softly, tilting her head. "You've come to apologize?"
Luca swallowed his pride. "I shouldn't have done what I did that night," he said, his voice even. "You didn't deserve that. I'm sorry."
Bianca's lips curved into a small, victorious smile. "You're right. I didn't."
Her parents joined them a moment later, satisfied with his words but not yet appeased. Mr. Dante leaned forward. "An apology isn't enough, Luca. The Morettis owe us more than that."
Luca met his gaze, saying nothing.
Mrs. Dante smiled — a smile that didn't reach her eyes. "You will announce your engagement to Bianca by next week. That will restore both families' names."
It felt like a trap. A deal disguised as peace. Luca's heart sank, but he could see what was at stake. His family's empire, their reputation, their legacy — all of it hung by a thread.
He nodded slowly. "If that's what it takes."
Bianca's eyes sparkled, tears glistening like diamonds. "You mean it?"
He forced a smile. "Yes."
When he left the Dante mansion, the night air felt suffocating. Every step toward his car felt like walking deeper into a cage.
But across the city, in the quiet Bellemy estate, Aria was also staring out of her window, unaware of what had just been decided. Her father's phone had not stopped ringing all day — business partners warning him, friends whispering that the Dantes were planning to isolate both families.
Mrs. Bellemy turned to her husband, worry etched across her face. "They're targeting us too. This all started with that ball. With that girl."
Aria closed her eyes, feeling the weight of their words. The guilt pressed against her chest like a secret she couldn't speak.
Somewhere in the city, a promise had been made — one that would soon entangle them all even deeper.
And for Luca Moretti, the real punishment had only just begun.