Chapter 18: Breakfast and Breaking (Elena's POV)
Morning light comes through the curtains soft and gold. I wake up slow body heavy from crying all night. The bed feels too big too empty. No Matteo behind me no Luca's arm over my waist no Nico's quiet breathing. Just me and the quiet house and the ache between my legs that won't go away.
I sit up rub my eyes. My cheek still hurts a little from the slap but the cut on my lip already scabs over. I touch it careful feel the rough spot. It stings but the pain reminds me I'm here. Really here. Locked in again.
A soft knock on the door.
"Come in," I say voice hoarse from screaming yesterday.
The door opens slow. A young maid steps in maybe twenty head down eyes on the floor. She carries a tray with coffee juice toast.
"Your father is waitin
