Veronica left before she could change her mind.
She didn't tell anyone except Leon.
She didn't overthink it.
If she had… she might not have gone.
The sky was already dark when she got into the car. Her hands were steady on the wheel, but her heart… not so much.
She drove on autopilot.
Not really paying attention to the road.
Her mind was too busy.
Daniel.
Everything they had been.
Everything they hadn't.
And everything that now felt… impossible to get back.
The place he chose was simple.
An almost empty parking lot near an old commercial building. Dim lights. Barely any movement.
Not exactly the kind of place that made you feel safe.
Veronica parked.
Turned off the engine.
And sat there for a few seconds.
Breathing.
Thinking.
Feeling.
"Okay…" she murmured. "Just a conversation."
But even she didn't believe that.
When she stepped out of the car, the cold wind hit her face. The silence around her was almost complete.
And then she saw him.
Daniel.
Leaning against his car.
Just like always.
But he wasn't the same.
His eyes were heavier.
More tired.
More… distant.
"You came," he said.
Veronica walked toward him.
"You said it was important."
"It is."
She stopped a few steps away.
Not getting too close.
"Then talk."
Daniel watched her for a few seconds.
As if trying to recognize something.
"You've changed."
"Everyone has."
"Not like this."
She ignored it.
"Daniel."
He took a breath.
"Alright."
Silence fell for a moment.
"I dug into that fund," he began. "Deeper than I probably should have."
Veronica crossed her arms.
"And?"
"It's not just an old group."
"I already know that."
"No…" he shook his head. "You don't."
His tone shifted.
More serious.
More direct.
"They never stopped."
Her heart started to race.
"What do you mean?"
Daniel took a step closer.
"I mean what happened to your family now… wasn't the beginning."
"I know."
"It was a continuation."
The silence grew heavier.
"That fund…" he continued, "still decides who rises and who falls."
A chill ran through her.
"And who's behind it?"
Daniel hesitated.
"It's not just one name."
"Then give me one."
He ran a hand over his face.
Frustrated.
"There are powerful people involved, Veronica."
"I figured."
"People who don't show up."
"I figured that too."
"And people you won't want to believe."
She went quiet.
Because that… she was already starting to accept.
"My father is involved," she said, directly.
Daniel froze for a second.
"You know that?"
"I found out today."
He exhaled slowly.
"Then you're deeper in this than I thought."
"Keep going."
Silence returned.
But this time… more tense.
Daniel looked straight at her.
"The Alighieri family is involved too."
The words hit hard.
"I know," she replied.
Now it was his turn to be surprised.
"You know?"
"Leon told me."
Daniel let out a short laugh.
"Of course he did."
"Don't start."
"I'm not starting anything."
"Then don't complicate it."
He went quiet for a moment.
"Do you trust him?"
The question came directly.
No hesitation.
Veronica paused.
But answered:
"I'm starting to."
Daniel lowered his gaze for a second.
And that… hurt more than he expected.
"That's a mistake."
"Or maybe not."
"He's part of this."
"And so are you."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
"I'm not anymore," Daniel said.
"But you were."
He didn't answer.
Because he couldn't deny it.
"The difference," Veronica continued, "is that you want to control everything."
"And he doesn't?"
She didn't answer.
Because deep down…
She didn't know.
"I tried to stop this," Daniel said, his voice lower now.
"How?"
"By pressuring his contracts."
"I know."
"But it got out of control."
Veronica frowned.
"That I know too."
"No… you don't understand."
He stepped closer.
Now closer than before.
"I started something small."
"And someone took it and made it bigger."
"Exactly."
Her stomach tightened.
"So you opened the door."
Daniel closed his eyes for a second.
"Yes."
Silence turned heavy.
"Great," she muttered. "So we're in this because of you too."
"I didn't know it would go this far."
"But it did."
"I know!"
His voice rose for the first time.
Then dropped again.
"And I'm trying to fix it."
"How?"
"By getting you out of this."
She laughed.
No humor at all.
"You still don't get it, do you?"
"What?"
"I'm already in this."
"Then get out."
"That's not how it works."
"I'll make it work."
"No, Daniel."
Her voice grew firmer.
Stronger.
"You don't control this anymore."
Silence followed.
And stayed.
For a few seconds.
"I can still protect you," he said quietly.
"You can't."
"I can."
"No."
She held his gaze.
"Because I'm not the same person anymore."
That hit.
Hard.
Daniel went silent.
Watching her.
As if seeing someone new.
"You're pulling away from me."
"I already did."
The answer was direct.
Final.
No way back.
The air felt heavy.
Tight.
"I did all of this for you," he said.
"No."
She shook her head.
"You did it for yourself."
"That's not true."
"It is."
Silence fell again.
And this time…
It broke something.
"Then why did you come?" Daniel asked.
His voice lower now.
More honest.
Veronica took a moment to answer.
But didn't look away.
"Because I needed to hear it from you."
"Hear what?"
She took a breath.
"If there was still something real between us."
His chest tightened.
"There is."
"No."
Her answer was soft.
But final.
"What we had… stayed in the past."
The silence that followed…
Was different.
Longer.
More painful.
Daniel looked away.
For the first time.
"So that's it?"
"It is."
She hesitated.
But added:
"Now… we're on opposite sides."
He let out a quiet laugh.
Without humor.
"Funny."
"What?"
"I fought against him…"
He looked up again.
"And still lost you."
Veronica didn't answer.
Because there was no good answer for that.
A car passed in the distance.
The sound echoed through the empty lot.
The moment… broke.
"Be careful with him," Daniel said at last.
"I will."
"You don't know everything."
"Neither do you."
He nodded.
"Fair enough."
Silence returned.
Lighter now.
But still heavy.
"If I find out anything else…" he said.
"Let me know."
"I will."
Veronica nodded.
And then…
She turned away.
Without looking back.
Because she knew…
If she did…
She might hesitate.
And she couldn't afford that anymore.
Inside the car, her hands trembled slightly.
But she didn't let that stop her.
She started the engine.
Took a deep breath.
And drove away.
Not knowing that…
Just a few meters away…
Another car was parked.
And someone was watching.
Leon.
Silent.
Expressionless.
But with one clear certainty in his mind:
This was far from over.