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**Title: "Shadows of the Heart"**

**Chapter 1: The First Encounter**

Taeyung was the cold, ruthless leader of one of the most powerful mafia families in the city. His reputation was untouchable, his heart as hard as steel. No one dared to cross him, and his plans were always executed with deadly precision.

Maria, on the other hand, was the heiress to a rival mafia family. Brilliant, fierce, and with a deep understanding of power, she was both feared and respected. Her family was in a constant power struggle with Taeyung's, yet despite the animosity between them, Maria's eyes often lingered on the man who had a reputation for being merciless.

Their first meeting wasn't by chance. It was at a high-stakes negotiation, both families trying to claim dominance over an influential drug trade route. When Maria stepped into the room, her presence immediately shifted the atmosphere. She was not only there to negotiate - she was there to fight. But Taeyung couldn't help but notice the strength in her eyes, a fire that mirrored his own.

By the end of the meeting, Maria's family had gained control of the route, but Taeyung had gained something more valuable - an interest in her. That night, as the shadows grew long, they locked eyes across the room, a spark igniting that neither of them could explain.

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