im like walking through a maze of thorns. It felt impossible to navigate without being cut, and yet there was something about him that seemed almost... fractured. She could sense it in the wa

al enough to almost be believable. She exuded confidence, every gesture purposeful and poised. Emilia's gaze lingered on her, trying to d

f touch, but the intimacy of it made Emilia's heart sink. Alessandro didn't pull away. If anything, his stance softened, a faint smi

l. She'd never agreed to feel this way-never consented to a heart that would betray her with such pain. But seeing the ease wit

allroom, a voice called out

ng so

an expression that was both shrewd and bemused. His dark eyes glimmered with a curiosit

ed, forcing a polite smile.

is gaze never leaving her face. "A wise choice, I suppose. This room can fe

and she forced herself to maintain her calm

pression calculating. "And h

r feel as though he was testing her, waiting to see if she would break under pressure. But something in her re

ally, her voice steady. "But I didn't c

approval and something darker. "You have a strong will,

ing her, but she held his gaze with as much confidence a

ttling. "Do. You'll need that strength if

ng more than an outsider in this world, a pawn in a game she barely u

is my role," she replied cal

layers and see the truth of her intentions. After a long, te

"We shall see if your re

r of the ballroom. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself, but the encounter had shaken her. Luca's w

darkness, illuminated by soft lights that cast a warm glow over the neatly trimmed hedges and delicate flowers. Emilia walked down a

he silence to wrap around her. For a brief, stolen moment, she felt a sen

ace was sh

ing there, his expression inscrutable. He watched her in silence f

he said finally, his t

a quiet defiance. "I needed air. I wasn't a

s, but he quickly masked it. "This is a family event, Em

ugh. "Since when do you

ning. "Since it reflects on me. T

ing over. "It's always about you, isn't it? You parade me around like some prize t

darkened, his jaw clen

"What will you do, Alessandro? Lock me away again? Contr

nsity that made her heart pound. She could feel the tension crackli

quences of your actions," he sa

ely more than a plea. "Tell me why you're so afraid to

almost thought she'd imagined it. But then he s

said coldly. "You're here because you agr

ng deeper than she wanted to admit. She took a shaky breat

r. "I did choose this. But I didn't choose to be humiliated

int of vulnerability that made her heart ache. But it vanished as quickly as

way, leaving her alone in the garden, her he

ud. Whatever she'd hoped for in this marriage-whatever small, fragile dream of love

was