Luca’s POV
I stand in the doorway long after their taillights disappear into the darkness, the ghost of Lia's embrace still lingering on my skin. The mansion feels different already – emptier, colder without her presence. Without the sound of her family's voices echoing through its halls.
Closing the door, I lean my forehead against the cool wood, allowing myself one moment of weakness. Just one moment to feel the weight of watching her leave, of seeing the hurt in her eyes when I pushed her away. Then I straighten, locking away the ache in my chest. There's no place for it now.
My footsteps echo as I walk to my study, the sound emphasizing the sudden solitude. Passing the kitchen, I catch the lingering scent of the pasta she brought me earlier. Was that really just hours ago? It feels
