*ADELINE*
I wiped my eyes one final time, feeling the remnants of the tears stick to my lashes like glue. My emotions were a tempest—swirling, crashing, and absolutely unruly. Admitting that I felt the urge to punch a wall was an understatement; it was an outright declaration of war against the universe that conspired to keep me cooped up in this gilded cage.
When I heard that gentle knock on the door, my stomach dropped. I froze for a moment, my breath hitching. It felt like a scene from a suspense movie, and I was determined to keep the audience hanging on until the final act. I didn't open it, though—I couldn't bear to face Vincenzo, not after everything that had just transpired. But when I heard Marcus's familiar voice on the other side, laced with concern, I knew I could let my gua
