rutinizing gaze of everyone. At the vineyard estate, the dining room felt like a sanctuary where luxury and tradition intertwined, and I, the newco

hted his light eyes, the same ones that could sparkle with charm while also radiating absolute coldness. I gl

tilting his head. "I hope y

else. There was something about him that irritated me, lik

whispers. The conversation revolved around trivial topics: the weather, the last harvest, the

n his eyes rested on me, I felt a confusing mix of attraction and frustration. His gaze was as cold as a glass of

ed it: a slight tremor in his hands, a fleeting shadow on his face, a moment when his lips p

neck and that uncomfortable knot in my stomach. Something

e me a knowing glance, as if she

his gestures became stiffer each time someone mentioned his past. There

the cousins, but just as I managed to glimpse the image, someone quickly took it away. I

e hallway. His presence, strong and silent, filled the space.

in a low voice. "We all carry wounds here that we do

intoxicating. But I also felt that uncomfortable fear, like approachi

blurred images, words that now carried a different meaning. I knew I was entering a labyrinth,

retreat. Not when money

med to have stuck to the walls of the estate. I closed the door behind me and sank into the chair by the window. Outside, the

d? What secrets was he so desperate to hide? I wanted to scream, demand answers; but instead, I bit m

orway, with that smile tha

ked, her tone mixing c

lied, not con

was still trapped in the image I had barely seen: a childhood photo, hidden and hurriedly taken away.

re was an invisible wall between us. And then there was Nicolo, the older brother, with that da

he walls seemed to whisper secrets, and I was determine

ut I also knew that with every lie, every glance, every hid

othing was as it seemed.

take advantage of i