Chapter 81
Flora's POV
The villa was far too quiet. The silence pressed down on me like a suffocating blanket, broken only by the rhythmic tick of the antique clock that stood in the corner. Each tick reminded me of Nicolas's absence, each second louder than the last, hammering into my skull.
I paced the length of the living room, silk slippers brushing against the marble floors. My nails dug into my palms as I muttered to myself, replaying every word Nicolas had spoken to me two days ago.
"I don't believe it."
"Someone set her up."
"Viona would never do such a thing."
Each sentence had been like a blade, cutting deeper than the last. It wasn't just disbelief-it was conviction. Nicolas hadn't even entertained the possibility of Viona's guilt. And worse, he had gone to investigate hi
