Christine’s POV
I woke up sneezing. The harsh sunlight filtering through the curtains burned my eyes, making me wince as my head throbbed. My entire body felt heavy, as though the weight of the world had settled on me overnight.
The first thought that came to mind was Luca. I needed to see him. After everything that had happened, his presence, as infuriating as it often was, had become my anchor in this chaos.
I struggled out of bed, my feet dragging against the plush carpet as I made my way to the door. Before I could reach for the handle, Mario walked in, his face unreadable.
“Where’s Luca?” I asked, my voice breaking.
Mario hesitated. “He’s... left for an important meeting.”
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. I felt my chest tighten, a knot forming in my throat.
