lutching the folds of her red dress. Dante, as always, was composed, his gaze fixed out the window, the city's lights ca

hat role was she expected to play? More importantly, why did she feel this strange, unshakable

nything-that might give her a clue as to what he was thinking. But

he finally asked, her voice cutting th

eyes meeting hers. "In my world, silence is a

ing. "And what about me? Am I just

unreadable flickering in his eyes before he looked away again

wed to a stop in front of a towering building, its architecture grand and imposing. The driv

The city felt alive-vibrant and pulsing with a dangerous undertone she couldn't quite pla

was a

deliers. People were gathered in groups, their conversations quiet but pointed, their eyes sharp as they moved around the room. Me

silent reminder that she was here with him, that she belonged to him. Elena tried to keep her composure, to not let the weight

out, smooth and low, cutting

eyes sharp and calculating. He smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes

d, his tone polite but dis

s smile widened just enough to make her unco

htened on her waist, pulling her slightly closer to him. "This is Elena," Dant

ment as he glanced between them. "With you, hmm? I didn't

radiating off him in waves. She knew she had to play her part, to not make things worse,

ding, "this is Alessandro Vitale. He handles

e extended her hand. Alessandro took it, his grip firm but not t

ly, his gaze sliding back to Dante. "You've certainly

object to be admired, not a person standing in front of him. But before she could

id, his voice cold and dangerou

in mock surrender. "Relax, Dante. I'm only tea

be traded or controlled. But there was more to this exchange, something unspoken that pa

aid, his tone dismissive as he led Elena

, scrutinized by every pair of eyes they passed. It wasn't just about her being with Dante-

her, his expression unreadable as he turned to face her. "You're doing

holding. "Is this how it's going to be? Me standi

returned. "You're not here to be judged, Elena. You're he

, that she could never be owned by anyone. But the reality was staring her in the f

nce seemed to command every inch of space around him. And even now, as much as she hated it, p

s time, tall and elegant, with dark hair swept back into a sleek bun. She moved wit

ne warm but layered with something Elena couldn

though there was a flicker of somethi

curiosity before she smiled, though it didn't q

ied, feeling the weig

ed her attention back to Dante, her voice dropping t

Sofia's tone, and she felt Dante's hand briefly b

his gaze steady on Sofia's. "I

eyes flickering toward Elena before she whispered something in Dante's ear. Whatever she sa

d and walked away, her departure

tions. She didn't know what game Sofia was playing, but it was clear s

a asked, her voice

l fixed on where Sofia had disappeared into

re too many secrets swirling around her, too many things s

om on her, she realized something else-this wasn't just about survival anymore. If s

remained in it, she wou