Elizabeth POV
“Are you…going to go inside?” Matteo asked, his voice soft, but Elizabeth could feel his worry. She stared at the entrance to her parents' luxurious villa, where guests in tuxedos and elegant gowns floated by, laughter drifting in from the open doors. The scene looked like something out of a magazine spread—perfect, polished, and miles away from the messy emotions roiling inside her. Her fingers tightened around her clutch, her breath catching in her throat.
“Elizabeth,” Matteo pressed gently. “You don’t have to go. I can turn the car around and—”
“No! I—I want to go.” She forced the words out, though they wobbled slightly. She glanced at Matteo, trying to muster a reassuring smile. But her heart thudded wildly in her chest, and her hands were clammy despite the cold night
