Unwritten

ent, settling into the cracks of your life until one day, y

e the moving trucks. Before my world was packed into suitca

e air is thick with the scent of citrus and old stone, and the language drip

beside me. There's an excitement in h

tyled, wearing one of those effortless dresses that rich Europe

"Great," I murmur, not both

f her talks. The ones where she tells me to try, to be op

. Smile." I force a tight-lipped

her head. "That's not w

both kn

gates, rolling up a long driveway lined with towering

many windows, too much stone, too much space for a family of thre

or the door handle, a uniformed man steps forward and opens it for me. Right.

than I expected, carrying the sce

I hear

alme

see him. L

pted with the kind of effortless strength that hinted at years of dedication, his broad shoulders tapering to a

bony strands brushing over his forehead and curling slightly at the nape of his neck. The

d a slight, perpetual smirk that teased at his full lips. His nose was straight and

k lashes. They held a quiet intensity that could freeze you in place with a single glance, equal parts captivating and intimi

cool gray of his eyes even more striking. A few faint freckles dusted his nose,

d dark jeans that clung just right, Luca looked like he belonged on the co

smooth and purposeful. There was something almost letha

cked into the pockets of his dark jeans. He

t me? Like I'm nothing mor

with a smile. "Luca! It's

sy playing house with her new husband,

nglish. When he spoke, his voice was deep, and controlled, like he never has to raise it to get what he wants. At the same time

e. He doesn't extend a hand.

na," Georgia

adable. Then, just as quic

politeness. Just sure, like my

noyed or relieved by that, an

le

ecause he's tall and sharply dressed, but because he carries himself with the effortless auth

to finally meet you," h

. Not the forced kind of p

surprise, he pulls me int

f in his arms, caught off guard by how easy, ho

belong

ful in his expression. "Georgia has told me so mu

t the unexpected tightne

ft slightly. Not a big movement, but enou

ething tells me this isn'

lessandro wa

Lu

eady h

_____

the estate-was

ights, walls stretched high, adorned with intricate moldings, and chandeliers hung like frozen constell

aze of corridors until they stopped in front of a door. One of

Branson. If you need anyt

side and barely

plush bedding pristine and inviting. A vanity with an ornate mirror sat near the window, reflec

just stood there

is my

e was supposed to be

e bathroom. The warm water helped wash away some of the exhaustion clin

ling to check on her, teasing her about how

he w

r would

to breathe. She couldn't let herself unravel-not her

ntable. Black jeans, a fitted sweater, hair brushed out. Sh

nn

oulders and steppe

of silverware and muffled conversation. The dining room was just as extravagant as

as she saw her. "The

a chair for her. "Elena, I hop

in his tone, so effortlessly wa

she said, sitting

eased. "Good. You sho

unsure how

picked up her fork

ph

pped. She had l

y excused herself. "I just forgot some

steps. When she reached her hallway, sh

raight into t

. Dimmer, cooler, with a fai

n she s

u

one hand in his pocket, th

omach

that made the air feel heavier. Luca t

. Just looked at her with tha

he said

something about the way he said her

aighten

noted, tilting

heeks. "I forgot my

nvenience. Then, his gaze flicked over her-quick, unreadable, like h

d something

a pause. "You found so

ifferent, but something abou

, neither of

owled. "Not

gged at the corner of his mouth. But

word. She turned on her heel

e hell

e grabbed her phone from her actual room

no one had noticed ho

okay?" Geo

"Yeah. Just couldn't r

as she was pick

tst

unhu

happened. His expression was blank, his posture re

look at he

n her plate, pretending her pul

e nothing happened,

bite felt mechanical. Across from her, Luca sat with t

ing how good

d warmly. "Elena, I know everything must feel new and ov

ass of wine. "Italy has a way of growin

t too heavy. Italy growing on me isn't the proble

eze. "And school will be great. I already spoke to the headmistress-sh

e nod, but deep down,

for herself, friendships that took years t

esitation, leaned forward

glan

Something simple. Just an opportunity for you to meet

inked. "

n't have to be anything extravagant, just a gathering so

talk with strangers, made her stomach twist. But Alessandro looked so genuinely e

then glanced at

bout the way he twirled his fork through his pasta-slower, more d

kly look

ould be nice,"

inned. "Then

but beneath the surface, h

ole new life that she was

her, Luca fina

or a s

wonder whether he had been

already talking about potential decorations. But as she tried to settle back

busy making arrangements, I think it would be best if Luca took you shoppin

und the tab

oss from her, Luca's

ven looking up,

ediate, flat, and en

y, but the sharp rej

ooked expectant, like he had anticipated the resistanc

change, but there was a hardness in his eyes that hadn't b

ent. "I'll be busy helpin

uddenly felt like a problem to be solved-somet

e time," he

leaning back in hi

le

should intervene. This was an ongoing ba

ned slightly, but

. "You'll take her," he sai

at p

his fork down and leaned back, his

in

d felt anythin

satisfied, r

till reeling from the tension t

er reassuringly. "You'll have fun. Milan h

ld think about was how unfun it was going to be spending th

fork again, resuming his meal like

did th

suddenly tast

__

lena excused herself first, murmuring something about needing rest. Georgia sm

she expec

hallway. This house was beautiful, and grand in ways sh

eps sounded behind her. She kne

u

ked past with the same cool indifference, bu

le

e whether to brace h

rned.

unreadable. "Don't expect

n the doorknob. "I w

usement. Just something she couldn't place. Then, without another w

a ex

ing the door as she leaned agai

ction in the vanity mir

ity. Just strangers wi

e ceiling, knowing sleep wo

everythi