Illyana's POV
The rain beat against the windows, a relentless drumming that echoed the frantic rhythm of my heart. The wind howled outside, a mournful cry that seemed to isolate the villa, transforming its luxurious expanse into a lonely, echoing prison. I tried to distract myself, flipping through the pages of a dog-eared copy of "The Count of Monte Cristo," but the words blurred before my eyes, meaningless symbols on a page. I switched on the radio, hoping the familiar strains of pop music would soothe my frayed nerves, but even the upbeat melodies couldn't penetrate the growing unease that coiled in my stomach.
Alessandro’s rushed departure, the news of the attack on his casino, the cryptic details he’d shared, the unsettling quiet of the villa…it all fuelled a growing anxiety that I
