Alessia’s Pov
The moment I stepped into my apartment, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease, if only slightly. The space, small and familiar, offered a semblance of comfort I desperately needed. The events of the night weighed on me like a heavy cloak, and as I slipped out of my heels, I headed straight for the bathroom.
Steam filled the room as I turned on the hot water, the sound of the shower, a soothing white noise in the background. Stripping off the dress—the red dress that now felt like a costume—I stepped under the spray, letting the warmth wash over me.
I closed my eyes, trying to drown out the images swirling in my mind. You’re disgusted by him, Alessia, I told myself. That’s all this is. Disgust.
But even as the thought crossed my mind, another image surfaced—Luca’s dark e
