The Dominant Heir

Sole Heir

“Marchese De Luca,” the older man began carefully, his polite smile never slipping, “if I may ask… why are you dressed in such ordinary attire?”

His eyes moved discreetly over Enzo’s plain black shirt, faded jeans, and cheap backpack before returning to his face.

“It is clearly unbefitting of your status,” he continued diplomatically. “And you know your father will be displeased if he sees you looking like this.”

Enzo resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

His outfit was his outfit. He should be able to wear whatever he wants.

But of course, that freedom didn’t actually exist for him.

As the sole heir of the De Luca dynasty, nothing about his life had ever truly belonged to him. Not his education, not his schedule, not his future. Everything had been planned years in advance, long before he was even born.

The moment doctors confirmed that the child in his mother’s womb was male, his fate had already been decided.

Every step afterward had simply been preparation.

Enzo exhaled quietly before casually resting an arm over the shoulder of the nearest bodyguard. The man instantly straightened further, holding himself completely still so he could serve as a stable support without complaint.

“How did you find me?” Enzo asked lazily.

The butler’s expression remained perfectly composed.

“I’m afraid I cannot allow you to show up at the estate looking like this, sire,” he said smoothly, intentionally sidestepping the question. “Your grandfather would have my neck.”

A small smile tugged at Enzo’s lips.

Pedro was avoiding the topic on purpose.

Typical.

“So what?” Enzo asked lightly. “You brought ten bodyguards to kidnap me?”

A few of the men shifted almost imperceptibly at the accusation, but Pedro only gave a respectful bow of his head.

“Of course not,” he replied calmly. “I am fully aware that even these men combined would not be enough to stop you.”

The acknowledgement wasn’t exaggerated flattery.

It was simply a fact.

Enzo’s smile widened slightly.

“Instead,” Pedro continued, reaching slowly into the inner pocket of his coat, “I brought this.”

He pulled out a sleek black card and held it carefully between two gloved fingers.

Enzo took it curiously.

At first glance, it resembled a credit card. But only barely.

The material was heavier. Smoother. Almost metallic. The entire surface was pitch black except for a golden lion head engraved in the center —the unmistakable crest of the De Luca family.

The carving shimmered subtly under the hallway lights.

Enzo turned it over between his fingers.

“Shiny,” he commented casually. “What is it?”

Pedro smiled faintly.

“With this card, sire, you can gain access to virtually anywhere within the city. Clubs, hotels, private companies, restricted properties… simply name the destination.”

His tone carried a quiet sense of pride as he continued.

“It can also be used for payments anywhere. All one has to do is scan the crest, and the transaction is completed immediately.”

Enzo raised an eyebrow.

“Your father likes to call it the free pass,” Pedro explained. “It is the first of its kind.”

Then he gently pushed the card fully into Enzo’s hand.

“And it belongs to you.”

Enzo stared at the card for another moment before looking back up.

“That’s very nice and all,” he said slowly, “but what’s it for?”

Because if there was one thing Enzo knew with absolute certainty, it was this:

His father never gave without wanting something in return.

Never.

Ever since childhood, the man had treated affection like a business transaction. Birthdays came and went without gifts. Achievements earned acknowledgment at best. Praise was rare. Generosity was suspicious.

Every single time his father offered him something, there was always a hidden price attached to it.

And the more expensive the gift…

…the worse the favor would be.

Pedro gave a soft chuckle, though it sounded more nervous than amused.

“Whatever do you mean, sire? This is merely a gift from your father to welcome you back to Italy after such a long absence—”

“Cut the crap, Pedro.”

The warmth vanished from Enzo’s voice instantly.

Pedro fell silent.

Enzo slipped the card into his pocket slowly, eyes fixed on the older man.

“What does the old man want this time?”

For the first time since arriving, Pedro’s polished composure cracked slightly.

Realizing there was no point continuing the act, he sighed softly.

“Your father wishes to speed things up regarding your marriage.”

The words hit like a weight dropping onto Enzo’s shoulders.

He had always known this day would come eventually.

A political marriage. A strategic alliance. Another carefully arranged step in the dynasty’s future.

But he had hoped he still had time.

At the very least, he thought he could delay it until after completing his mission.

His expression darkened slightly.

“How fast?” he asked.

Pedro hesitated.

That hesitation alone was enough to tell Enzo he wouldn’t like the answer.

“He wants you to go there today.”

Silence.

Then—

BANG.

Enzo’s fist slammed violently into the nearby wall.

Concrete cracked instantly beneath the impact, leaving behind a deep dent spiderwebbed with fractures. Dust scattered onto the floor.

Several bodyguards stiffened immediately, but none dared react further.

Enzo stared at the damage breathing slowly through his nose, anger simmering beneath the surface.

Why now?

His father never moved without reason.

Never.

If he was rushing the marriage this suddenly, then there was definitely something bigger behind it. Some political gain. Some business leverage. Some advantages hidden beneath the surface.

“I know the news must be shocking,” Pedro began cautiously. “Even I was quite taken aback when—”

“Don’t patronize me, Pedro.”

Enzo’s voice dropped dangerously low.

The older man immediately fell silent.

Enzo closed his eyes briefly before exhaling.

He knew Pedro wasn’t the problem. The man was only carrying out orders. Getting angry at him would solve nothing.

After a long moment, Enzo finally straightened.

“Fine,” he muttered. “I’ll go.”

Pedro visibly relaxed.

“But only on one condition.”

The relief immediately vanished again.

“I go dressed like this,” Enzo continued, tugging lightly at his cheap shirt. “And none of the bodyguards follow me.”

Pedro looked horrified.

“Sire, at the very least you should change first—”

“No.”

His refusal was immediate.

“They’re already expecting me. There’s no point making a production out of it.”

Pedro still looked deeply uncomfortable, but Enzo continued before he could argue further.

“I’m also going to need a simple car.”

Then he smirked slightly.

“But for now, I’m taking a taxi.”

The old butler stared at him for several seconds before finally sighing in defeat.

“Very well,” he said reluctantly. “As you wish, Marchese.”

Satisfied with his small victory, Enzo took the address Pedro handed him along with five thousand dollars in cash for “urgent necessities.”

The amount made him snort internally.

To his family, five thousand dollars probably counted as pocket change.

A while later, the taxi finally arrived at the outskirts of the Conti family territory.

Even from the entrance alone, wealth radiated everywhere.

Tall iron gates. Armed guards. Immaculate landscaping. The entire district felt less like a neighborhood and more like a private kingdom hidden within the city.

The security officers immediately stopped the cab.

One approached cautiously. “State your business.”

Not wanting his identity revealed too early, Enzo lowered his gaze slightly and answered casually, “I’m an errand boy from the De Luca dynasty. I’m here to deliver a message to the First Master.”

The mention of the De Luca name changed everything instantly.

The guards exchanged quick glances before allowing the taxi through without further questioning.

As the vehicle drove deeper into the territory, Enzo watched the scenery through the window silently.

Luxury homes lined the roads one after another, each massive enough to qualify as mansions on their own. Expensive boutiques, private gardens, fountains, restaurants— everything screamed money.

But even among all that extravagance, one property stood above the rest.

The Conti estate.

It dominated the center of the territory like a palace.

The mansion itself was enormous, built with white stone and towering glass windows that reflected the afternoon sunlight beautifully. Multiple fountains decorated the entrance while luxury cars lined the circular driveway.

Even the air around the place felt expensive.

The taxi finally came to a stop at the entrance gates.

One of the guards approached the driver’s window apologetically.

“Commercial vehicles are not allowed beyond this point,” he explained. Then his tone softened slightly. “But we’ll make an exception since you’re delivering a message from the De Luca family.”

Enzo almost laughed at how much power a surname carried.

After paying the driver, he stepped out and adjusted the strap of his backpack before walking toward the mansion entrance.

The guards at the door immediately allowed him inside after confirming the message from the estate entrance.

Servants moved quietly throughout the massive interior while polished marble floors reflected the golden chandeliers overhead.

Everything inside was grand. Excessively grand.

A servant led him through several hallways before finally stopping in front of large double doors.

“The First Master is inside,” the servant announced respectfully.

Enzo nodded once.

Then the doors opened.

The moment he stepped inside, his eyes landed on a familiar figure.

And for the first time that day, his calm expression completely shattered.

“You?!”