Shadows of Naples: Code Lightning.

The days in Milan passed quietly. Sofia and Lorenzo tried not to draw attention to themselves. She rarely ventured beyond the estate, mostly staying in her room or spending time in the garden. Lorenzo was always nearby — sometimes silently, sometimes engaging her in long conversations, as if trying to restore her sense of real life. But one morning, this fragile silence was broken by a knock at the door. “Marta!” Isabella exclaimed as she saw her eldest daughter on the doorstep. “What a surprise!” “Hi, Mom!” Marta smiled, hugging her mother tightly. “Diego and I were passing by. He has a race in Mugello, so we decided to drop in.” “I’m so glad to see you,” Isabella said warmly. “Come in, come in!” Diego Fernandez, a tall, lightly tanned man with a confident gaze, greeted Albert, shook Lorenzo’s hand — though with a slight pause, as if trying to recall where he had seen him before. “And where’s Sofia?” Marta asked, looking around. “In the garden,” Isabella replied. “She’ll be happy to see you.” Sofia was sitting on a bench with a cup of coffee when she heard a familiar voice. “Sis!” She lifted her eyes — and a genuine smile appeared on her face. “Marta…” They embraced tightly. For a moment, Sofia closed her eyes, as if seeking in her sister’s hug the calm she had so desperately missed lately. “I didn’t even know you were in Italy,” she said when they stepped back slightly. “It was spontaneous. But…” Marta leaned a little closer. “Mom said you arrived with Lorenzo. Sofia, what’s going on?” Sofia gripped her cup. She would have to tell her everything. But not now. Not immediately. “Long story, Marta,” she whispered. “But I’m alive. And that’s what matters.” Marta leaned closer, her voice softer and more serious: “And where is Javier, Sofia?” she asked, scrutinizing her sister’s face. “You were seeing him, right?” Sofia faltered, lowering her gaze to the cup she still held in her hands. “Marta, please…” she whispered. “Not now.” “But you loved him. What happened?” Marta sat down beside her, keeping her eyes on her. “Did he do something?” Sofia sighed, cautiously looking around as if afraid someone might overhear, and whispered: “No one in our family knows… that I was seeing the son of our enemy. And I’m asking you, don’t tell them. They won’t understand. Especially Dad.” Marta remained silent for a few seconds, then nodded. “Alright. But you know this won’t stay a secret forever. They’ll find out sooner or later.” “I know,” Sofia whispered. “But… I’m not ready yet.” Marta exhaled and gently squeezed her sister’s hand. “You look tired, Sofia. I don’t know what happened, but I’m with you. Always.” Sofia offered a weak but sincere smile. “Thank you, Marta. I really needed that right now.” “And why is Lorenzo here?” Marta asked, shifting her gaze to Sofia. “Wasn’t he… a traitor?” Sofia held her breath. She didn’t answer immediately, then carefully said: “He had orders from Alicia… to kill me.” Marta’s eyes widened. “What?” “Yes,” Sofia nodded. “But he didn’t obey. He faked my death, deceived Alicia, and brought me here. He saved my life.” “My God,” Marta whispered, covering her mouth with her hand. “And Javier?.. The Order?.. They think you’re dead?” Sofia nodded again, her voice quiet and slightly broken: “Yes. And for now… let them think that. It gives me a chance to breathe. To think. To hide. And then decide what to do next.” Marta thought for a moment, then pressed her lips together and nodded. “Understood. Well, you’re lucky Lorenzo isn’t like the others. But… Sofia, be careful. This is all very dangerous.” Sofia smiled sadly. “I’ve been in this game for a long time, Marta. But thank you. For your support too.” The table in the large dining room was set elegantly and tastefully — porcelain dishes, candles, Italian wine, light Mediterranean dishes. The atmosphere during dinner was almost familial. Albert kept up a conversation about politics, Diego humorously recalled details from the race, and Marta smiled, sipping her wine. Isabella kept an eye on everything — making sure the dishes weren’t untouched and watching Sofia’s mood. Lorenzo remained mostly silent throughout the evening, occasionally nodding or replying briefly and politely. He kept a distance, though his gaze frequently sought Sofia. She appeared composed, but worry glimmered in her eyes. Finally, she placed her glass on the table, straightened up, and spoke calmly, though tension lingered in her voice: “There’s something I need to tell you.” Silence fell in the room. Albert set down his knife and fork. Isabella looked at her daughter with concern, Marta almost exhaled upward, as if she already knew what was coming. Diego turned to Sofia, waiting for her to continue. Sofia inhaled. “I was seeing Javier Rodriguez.” Albert leaned back in his chair, his eyebrows shooting up sharply. “Who?” he asked coldly. “The son of Rafael,” she repeated calmly but firmly. “We were together. Not for just one day. Not one random night. It was a relationship.” Isabella pressed her hand to her chest, shocked into silence. Diego glanced at Marta — she avoided eye contact but clearly wasn’t surprised. Lorenzo tensed but said nothing. Albert slowly rose from his chair. “Sofia… you’re joking?” “No,” she replied calmly. “I knew who he was. But that didn’t change what I felt.” “He’s the son of the man who wanted to destroy our family!” Albert thundered. “Do you realize what you’re saying?” “I realize everything.” “Did he love you?” Isabella asked quietly. Sofia lowered her eyes but nodded. “Yes.” Albert said nothing more — he simply left the table and exited the room, slamming the door behind him. After a few seconds of silence, Isabella sighed, looking at her daughter: “You always choose the hard path, Sofia…” Sofia stood in the hall, motionless, for a few seconds after the dining room door slammed behind her father. Then she took a deep breath, lifted her head, and followed him. She knew where to find him — in the office on the second floor. That was where Albert hid when the world felt too loud, too alien. The office door was ajar. Sofia knocked quietly and entered. Albert stood by the window, his back to her. In his hand was a glass of whiskey, which he slowly rotated while gazing at the night sky over Milan. “I didn’t come to argue,” Sofia said softly. “Then why did you come?” he grumbled without turning. “To make you listen.” Albert remained silent but didn’t chase her away. Sofia stepped closer, stopping a few paces behind him. “I didn’t plan to fall in love with him. It just… happened. Javier wasn’t my enemy. I saw a human being in him. Hurt, honest. And I trusted him.” “Rafael Rodriguez is our enemy,” Albert said, turning around. His gaze was heavy. “And his son couldn’t be anyone else.” “I didn’t ask you to accept him. I just want you to know the truth. I loved him. And I still do.” Albert watched her silently. Only the whiskey in his glass trembled slightly from the tension in his fingers. “He thinks I’m dead,” Sofia added quietly. “And maybe that’s better. But I couldn’t continue living a lie in front of you.” Albert lowered his gaze. Then he sat wearily in the chair by the window. “You’re just like your mother,” he muttered. “Stubborn, unpredictable. And always with your heart ahead of your mind.” Sofia gave a faint smile. “You love her.” “And that’s exactly why I’m so afraid of losing you,” Albert replied. “Because the heart sometimes betrays us too easily.” Sofia was silent for a moment, then sat beside her father, her gaze serious and slightly anxious. “Dad… did you know Rafael Rodriguez is dead?” Albert slowly lifted his eyes to his daughter, his eyebrows knitting together. “What?” “He’s dead. Heart attack,” Sofia said quietly. “A few days after the deal with the Red Diamonds.” Albert leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His face froze. It was clear the news had stunned him. “No… I didn’t know…” he whispered. “And you want to say that…” “…that I’m partly responsible,” Sofia interrupted, clenching her fingers. “I ordered the purchase of those diamonds, knowing Rafael wanted them. I didn’t think it would lead him to… that.” “You couldn’t have known, Sofia,” Albert said, looking at her with a shadow of pain in his eyes. “We all make moves that seem right to us. It was a game. Business. And he lost.” “But because of my move, Javier’s father died,” she whispered. “Do you think about what he felt? He lost everything… and I was there, as if I had nothing to do with it. And he didn’t even know that…” “Sofia,” Albert interrupted firmly, “it’s not your fault. It was his choice. He was an old wolf, and he knew the game he was in. If his heart couldn’t handle defeat — then he was already too tired for this game.” Sofia lowered her eyes. But the feeling of guilt had long settled in her heart. No words could fully erase it. “Maybe… but from that moment everything began. His death, Javier’s thirst for revenge, Alicia… Maybe if I had made a different choice then — everything would have been different.” Albert r emained silent for a long time, then added quietly: “Or maybe everything happened as it was meant to. But you’re still alive, Sofia. And as long as you’re alive — the game isn’t over yet.”