CHAPTER 21
Ariana's POV
Just as the words were about to tumble out of my mouth, Alessandro pulled away sharply and growled.
“When you’re ready to talk, the boys will see you.”
“Why?”I blurted, my throat tightening.“Why them?Why can’t I speak to you?”
The last words came out barely above a whisper.I wasn’t even sure I wanted to ask — because speaking to him alone terrified me more than I’d ever admit.
For a brief moment, Alessandro’s glare wavered.Confusion flickered across his face — something like fear, maybe even guilt — but it vanished before I could make sense of it.My mind was spinning too fast to hold onto the thought anyway.
A shadow seemed to fall over my heart as he turned away.Without another word, Alessandro straightened, his movements sharp and cold, and left the room.
I watched his back as it grew smaller and smaller, the distance between us stretching like years.My chest tightened painfully.That was it — the confirmation I didn’t want but had always expected.
They weren’t going to let me go.
And Alessandro wanted nothing to do with me.
I closed my eyes as tears slipped down my cheeks, my head pounding with exhaustion and heartbreak.Every time I thought life was finally giving me a chance, it always dragged me back to square one.
Why did I have to meet Alessandro again?
Getting over him had been one of the hardest things I’d ever done — the kind of wound that healed slowly and left scars.For years, I fought to forget him, to convince myself that people move on, that time erases love.And it worked — at least I thought it did.Until now.
Now, all I could see were his eyes — the way he looked at me like I was the one who ruined everything.Like he hated me.
That thought alone broke something deep inside me.
The door creaked open again, and both Bruno and Salvatore stepped in.I sat on the bed, devastated, trying to pull myself together, though the ache in my chest was unbearable.My gaze dropped to my hands as I fidgeted with my fingers.
“Hey,” Bruno said gently, his tone lighter than I expected.“Why don’t you come inside the mansion with us?You could have dinner with us.I promise — no more questions tonight.”
I looked up at him, surprised.He gave me a small, kind smile, and when I glanced at Salvatore, he nodded once — a silent reassurance.
I didn’t know what to think anymore.First, they’d kidnapped me.Now, they were offering dinner like we were family.The confusion was overwhelming.
“Come on,” Bruno coaxed, stretching out his hand.“Alessandro won’t be there.I’ll make sure of it.”
My hand trembled as I reached out to him.When his warm fingers closed around mine, I let him pull me up.
It was strange, but leaving that small house — even if it meant going deeper into their world — felt like relief.The place had become suffocating, heavy with everything I didn’t want to feel.
We made our way toward the mansion, and as soon as we stepped inside, I spotted faces I didn’t recognize.Mia was there, of course, always the calm in the chaos, but there were also two men I hadn’t seen before.
“Hey,” Mia greeted with a bright smile.“How are you feeling?”
“I’m fine...”I murmured, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear.
