The weight of the encounter with Ryan lingered in Alina’s mind as she walked back to the villa. The city seemed to blur around her, its usual charm eclipsed by the unease swirling within her. She hadn’t wanted to defy Adrian, but something about Ryan’s warnings, as manipulative as they might have been, refused to leave her alone.
As the villa came into view, her steps faltered. Adrian’s car was already parked in the driveway. A lump formed in her throat. Had he come home early? Did he already know?
Pushing open the grand doors, Alina stepped inside and was greeted by a tense silence. The usual warmth of the villa felt cold, almost suffocating.
“Alina,” Adrian’s voice cut through the stillness, sharp and commanding.
She turned to find him standing by the fireplace, his hands clenched in
