Illyana's POV
My heart hammered a frantic rhythm against my ribs as I waited in Alessandro’s study. The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the room, each tick of the antique clock on the mantle a painful reminder of the passing time, of the weight of the decision hanging over me. I watched from the window as his car pulled up the drive, the crunch of gravel on the driveway amplifying my anxiety. I touched the bare skin of my ring finger, the absence of the engagement ring a constant, nagging reminder of the chasm that had opened between us.
He stepped out of the car, his movements stiff and weary, and my heart ached for him. He looked so tired, the weight of his responsibilities, the darkness of his past, a visible burden on his broad shoulders. He paused before entering the villa, t
