Abduction

Placid mansion

Mel's eyes remained locked on Miles as he approached her, his strides confident and determined. "Mel, what's going on?" Miles asked, his voice low and urgent. "What are you wearing?"

Mel glanced down at the silk nightgown, feeling a flush rise to her cheeks. "I...I don't know," she stammered. "I woke up here."

Miles's eyes narrowed, his gaze scanning the area. "Why are you here, Melly?" he pressed.

Mel shook her head, feeling a sense of desperation. "I don't know. I don't remember anything."

Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Lucas's study door opening. He emerged, his expression unreadable, his eyes fixed on Miles.

"Ah, Miles," Lucas said, his voice smooth. "I see you've found Mel."

Miles turned to face Lucas, his eyes flashing with anger. "What's going on, Lucas?" he demanded. "Why is Mel here?"

Lucas shrugged, his expression unchanging. "Mel is my guest," he said. "She's been...ah...indisposed. But I assure you, she's being well taken care of."

Miles's eyes narrowed, his gaze locked on Lucas. "I want to take her home," he said.

Lucas raised an eyebrow, his expression still unreadable. "I'm afraid that's not possible," he said. "Mel is...under my protection now."

The air was thick with tension as the two men faced off, their eyes locked in a silent challenge. Mel watched, feeling a sense of unease, unsure of what would happen next.

Mel sat in the living room, her eyes fixed on the floor as the argument between Miles and Lucas escalated. She tried to avoid Lucas's gaze, feeling a shiver run down her spine whenever he looked at her.

"I'm telling you, Miles, you should have informed me that the girl you were looking for was Mel," Lucas said, his voice rising.

Miles's face reddened with anger. "You have no right to dictate what I do or don't tell you, Lucas."

Mel's eyes darted to Miles, her mind racing with questions. She took a deep breath and asked, "Miles, what happened five years ago?"

The room fell silent, with both Miles and Lucas turning to stare at her. Mel's heart pounded in her chest as she continued, "Why won't anyone tell me what happened? I've asked so many times, but no one will give me a straight answer."

Miles's expression softened, and he took a step closer to Mel. "It's complicated, Mel," he said gently. "But I promise you, it's not safe for you to know the truth right now."

Mel's frustration boiled over. "That's not fair! I deserve to know what happened to me."

Lucas's voice cut in, his tone dripping with malice. "Ah, but Mel, you don't remember anything, do you? It's quite...convenient."

Mel's eyes flashed to Lucas, her anger and fear mingling together. She knew that Lucas was involved in whatever had happened to her, but she had no idea how or why.

As the tension in the room continued to build, Mel realized that she was caught in a web of secrets and lies, with Lucas at the center. And she was determined to uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

After the heated conversation, Lucas's expression changed, and he smiled, his eyes glinting with amusement. "I think we've discussed this enough," he said. "Mel, you're free to go."

Mel's eyes widened in surprise, and she felt a wave of relief wash over her. She stood up, her legs shaking slightly, and looked at Miles. "Let's go," she said.

Miles nodded, his eyes never leaving Lucas's face. "We'll leave now," he said.

As they turned to leave, Lucas's voice stopped them. "Miles, a word," he said.

Miles turned back, his eyes narrowing. "What is it, Lucas?" he asked.

Lucas's smile grew wider. "Just a reminder, Miles. You know what's at stake. Don't think that this is over."

Miles's expression darkened, and he nodded curtly. "I understand," he said.

As they left the mansion, Mel felt a sense of unease. She had thought that she was finally free, but Miles's reaction told her that something was off.

"What's wrong, Miles?" she asked as they walked to the car.

Miles's eyes scanned the surrounding area before he turned to her. "Lucas didn't give up that easily," he said quietly. "He's planning something, Melly. We need to be careful."

"Maybe I should hire a private bodyguard"Miles suggested

"I don't think that's necessary because am always with the Mariano's" Melody said

Mel's heart sank, and she felt a chill run down her spine. She knew that she wasn't safe yet, and that Lucas's game was far from over.

A Temporary Reprieve

Mel's weekend was consumed by thoughts of the incident with Lucas. She couldn't shake off the feeling that she was still in danger, that Lucas's game was far from over. Despite her fears, she tried to focus on her daily routine, hoping that the familiarity of school would provide a sense of comfort.

As she walked to school on Monday morning, Mel felt a sense of relief wash over her. She didn't see Lucas's car stalking her, and for a moment, she felt like she could breathe again.

Throughout the day, Mel tried to concentrate on her classes, but her mind kept wandering back to Lucas. What did he want from her? Why was he so determined to keep her captive?

As the day drew to a close, Mel felt a sense of exhaustion wash over her. She knew she had to stay vigilant, that Lucas could strike at any moment.

A Meeting of Mafia Lords

In a luxurious villa in Italy, a group of mafia lords gathered for a secret meeting. Andre, Lucas's father, stood at the head of the table, his eyes scanning the room.

"Gentlemen," Andre began, "we have received news that Lucas has found the girl he's been searching for."

The room erupted into a chorus of congratulations, but one mafia lord, Hulio, spoke up.

"I'm not sure this is a cause for celebration," Hulio said, his voice dripping with skepticism. "If the girl finds out what Lucas did, she'll never forgive him."

Andre's expression turned cold. "That's not our concern," he said. "What matters is that Lucas has achieved his goal. Now, let's discuss the next phase of our plan."

Andre suggested, "I think we should pay Lucas a visit. See how he's handling the situation."

But Paulo, another mafia lord, disagreed. "Be happy he kept you alive after everything," Paulo said, his voice laced with warning. "And you know he wouldn't want you anywhere near her."

The room fell silent, the tension palpable. Mel, still reeling from her encounter with Lucas, had no idea that she was just a pawn in a much larger game. And Lucas, unaware of the danger lurking in the shadows, was about to face a reckoning from his own family.

Later that week, Mel's life took a dramatic turn. She had just finished a game with her school's basketball team, Ivy High School, at Mariano's gym. As she walked out of the gym, she was looking forward to a relaxing ride home with her friend Blake.

Mel reached for the car keys to unlock Blake's car, but before she could even touch the door handle, a napkin was suddenly pressed against her nose. She felt a sweet, chemical smell and tried to struggle, but it was too late. Everything went black, and Mel passed out.

When Mel came to, she was disoriented and groggy. She was lying in an unfamiliar room, with no sign of Blake or Mariano's gym. Panic set in as she scrambled to remember what had happened.

But the question on everyone's mind was: who had ordered the abduction? Was it Lucas, seeking revenge for Mel's escape? Or was it someone else entirely, pulling the strings from behind the scenes? One thing was certain: Mel's life was about to take a drastic turn, and she would have to fight to survive.