The entire hall fell silent.
No one moved and n one even dared whisper.
Every eye was fixed on Luciano and Aciel.
Xylia could feel her own heartbeat pounding inside her chest.
This was it. The moment everyone had been waiting for. The moment that would decide the future of the De Silva Clan.
Luciano opened the black velvet box.
Inside rested a silver ring engraved with the De Silva crest.
Its surface reflected the light from the grand chandelier above.
The ring itself looked simple. But everyone in the room understood its significance.
It represented authority.
Power.
Loyalty.
And the right to lead.
Luciano removed the ring from the box. Then he faced Aciel.
"Do you know what this means?"
Aciel nodded. "Yes."
The older man studied his son carefully.
For a brief moment, the room disappeared around them.
They were no longer the Mafia Boss and his successor.
They were simply a father and son.
"You never wanted this."
