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Vittoria’s eyes narrowed. “You’re asking me to develop nuclear weapons, Leonardo. Do you know what you’re really asking for?”

“I’m asking for survival,” he snapped, his polished mask slipping for a brief second. “For both of us. I’m out of time, Vittoria. Either you help me finish what we started, or we both face ruin.”

The room seemed to tighten around them, the low hum of diners oblivious to the storm brewing between the two. Vittoria’s mind raced—her peaceful life was unraveling fast, and old ghosts were clawing their way back to the surface.

Without another word, she turned sharply and left the restaurant. The cool evening air hit her as she stepped outside, her resolve hardening. She walked swiftly toward the car waiting at the curb, her thoughts a whirlwind of confusion and resolve.

“Enzo,” she said firmly as she slid into the backseat. “Take me home.”

Enzo, ever the silent companion, nodded without question and started the engine. The car began to move, the sound of the tires humming against the road, but just as they were about to pull away from the curb, a sharp knock echoed against the window.

Vittoria turned, her eyes narrowing as Leonardo appeared, standing by the door with a look of determined urgency. He was no longer the polished, composed man she had seen moments ago; now, his frustration was clear in his stance, his eyes intense and pleading.

“Vittoria,” he said, his voice low but insistent. “You can’t walk away from this. You don’t understand the consequences. I’ve already put everything on the line for you.”

Vittoria rolled down the window, her gaze steady but unyielding. “I told you my answer, Leonardo. There’s nothing more to discuss.”

Leonardo leaned in slightly, lowering his voice further, his words edged with desperation. “You don’t know what you’re asking. I’ve invested millions—millions, Vittoria. If you don’t do this, everything I’ve built, everyone I’ve worked with, it all crumbles. I’ll be destroyed.”