The atmosphere inside the mansion shifted the moment Vincenzo stepped into the sitting room. All the guards and maids dropped their heads and bowed immediately. Silence filled the room, only broken by the soft clicking of his polished shoes against the marble floor.
Anna was still frozen near the doorway, her breath shallow, her knees shaking beneath her. She didn’t know what to expect, but it wasn’t this. Not Vincenzo walking toward her with that cold fire in his eyes.
Vincenzo got close to Anna, too close. Anna backed up a step, her heel catching the edge of the rug. She stumbled and fell to the floor.
Vincenzo didn’t flinch. He crouched in front of her and grabbed her chin hard, forcing her to look straight into his eyes.
“How dare you try to escape?” he growled.
“I—I’m…” Anna’s vo
