“Okay, I’m coming,” Bruno sighed.“Wait for me outside, yeah?”
Luca raised a brow but nodded and walked off.When the door shut, Bruno turned back to me.
“Ariana,” he said seriously, “no matter what happens, I’ll always be here for you.Even if it means standing up to Alessandro.Do you understand?”
My stomach twisted.That can’t happen.
“Just go, Bruno,” I whispered.
“I’ll call Mia—”
“No,” I shook my head quickly.“I want to be alone, please.”
He hesitated for a moment, his eyes soft with concern.Then he nodded, quietly stepping away.
As the door clicked shut behind him, silence flooded the room again — the kind that made your thoughts louder, heavier.
I sank onto the bed, staring blankly at the wall as tears blurred my vision once more.
“When is this going to stop?”I whispered to no one.
***
AS USUAL, MIA AND Iwere walking around the garden.It had become our evening ritual, something we did just before the sun began to set.I’d grown to like it — the routine, the calm air, the brief moments when the world felt peaceful again.It was the one thing that seemed to refresh my mind.
But today felt different.
Normally after our walk, I’d return to the small house, shower, and get ready for bed.But this evening, Mia suggested we stop by the mansion for a while — Leyla was there too, and she thought it’d be good for me to spend time with her, to get to know her better.
As always, my first instinct was to refuse.But Mia wasn’t taking no for an answer.
It had been a few days since Alessandro was shot.I hadn’t seen him since — or any of them, really.I assumed they were busy, but the silence weighed on me.
When we entered the mansion, Mia and I settled onto the couch.Leyla was already there, bright and full of life.I’d learned a bit about her — that she was Bruno’s younger sister, around the same age as Mia, and treated like the family’s little sister by all the men.She visited often, bringing warmth to a place that otherwise felt cold and tense.
While Mia and Leyla chatted easily, I found myself mostly listening, my eyes wandering across the grand hall.I joined in their laughter occasionally, but my mind wasn’t really there.
“Hey, we’re going to grab some food from the kitchen.Want to come?”Mia offered, standing up.
I shook my head.“No, you go ahead.I’ll wait here.”
“Okay,” she smiled, giving my hand a squeeze.“We’ll be right back.”
Their laughter echoed down the hallway as they disappeared, leaving me alone in the large, silent lounge.I watched them until they were gone, and my smile faded.
I couldn’t remember the last time I laughed like that — freely, without thinking.The truth was, I didn’t have it in me anymore.All I wanted was to go home.To see my mom.To tell her I couldn’t do this anymore.
I regretted not opening up to her that day when she’d asked if I was okay.It had been over a week since I’d seen her.I missed her so much it hurt.
The mansion was eerily quiet now.My eyes drifted toward the grand staircase.For a moment, I hesitated.I shouldn’t wander off.But curiosity pulled at me — a dangerous kind of curiosity.
I wanted to see if Alessandro had built this estate the way he once dreamed it with me.
Slowly, I got up and began climbing the stairs.My footsteps were soft against the marble, and as I reached the top, I took in every detail — the carved railings, the wallpaper’s faint gold patterns, the polished tiles, and the subtle luxury of the décor.It was exactly my taste: simple, elegant, timeless.
He had remembered.
But my silent inspection was cut short by a raised voice coming from down the hallway.The sharp, angry tone made me freeze mid-step.I knew that voice.
