**Stefano’s POV**
The silence between us was so heavy that the only sound was the clinking of our forks against our plates.
Elena sat across the table, her shoulders tightly curved as if she wanted to disappear. She hadn't said a word since we sat down, fiddling with her eggs, moving them around in circles without taking a bite.
I set my fork down, leaned back in my chair, and broke the silence. “You’re quiet this morning.”
She shrugged, eyes glued to her plate. "Just tired."
"Tired from what?"
Her fork hovered in midair, hesitating, then she set it down slowly. "I didn't sleep well."
Liar!
The word burned in my throat, but I bit it back.
We kept eating in silence after that — or I did. She just stared at her food, scraping the plate louder than necessary. When she grew tired of i
