Chapter 56

• The knot in my throat tightened, and the feeling of horror was suddenly replaced by a simmering anger within me. Dante's audacity exceeded all limits, and an incandescent determination burned in my gaze. I would not allow this heinous act to intimidate me.
• I decided to take action, facing the situation with the resolve of someone who does not bend to terror. Likewise, I quickly dressed, choosing an outfit that conveyed confidence and strength, while the macabre ear remained there, a grotesque presence that could not be ignored. I took the box with me to the next room, and knocked a few times, but no one answered.
• I descended the stairs toward the mansion's dining room, where I found some members of the Mancuso family gathered. Tension hung in the air as they noticed my determined expression and the box in my hands. However, Dante was not present. I left quickly before anyone could ask me questions and went to the office, where I opened the door without a second thought. Dante was there, with a cynical smile, as if expecting my reaction.