Serena's heart pounded as she stood in the sterile hospital hallway, the sounds of beeping machines and hushed voices swirling around her. She had just seen Leo safely through the blood transfusion. The worst of it was over—he was stable now—but the calm after the storm was brief.
Alessio stormed into the room like a hurricane, the door slamming against the wall as he entered. His eyes locked onto Serena with a burning fury that made her spine stiffen, even after everything she'd been through.
“You think you can hide from me forever?” Alessio's voice was low, dangerous, vibrating with barely controlled rage.
Serena didn’t flinch. She was used to his anger, to the threats and manipulation. She was no longer the frightened girl he had broken years ago. She had grown stronger, hardened by
