The silence didn’t break.
It stretched—tight, fragile, and waiting for something to shatter it.
Giulia wished it would.
Because standing there, with Alessandro’s eyes fixed on her like the truth wasn’t enough to push him away, made everything harder to hold together.
“That doesn’t change what I feel.”
His words still echoed.
Not loud.
Not dramatic.
Just… certain.
And that was the problem.
“You should leave,” Giulia said finally, her voice controlled.
Alessandro didn’t move. “That’s not happening.”
“It needs to.”
“Why?” he asked. “So you can pretend this is simple again?”
Her jaw tightened slightly. “It is simple.”
A faint, disbelieving laugh slipped from him. “You’re carrying my brother’s child and telling me this is simple?”
“It is,” she insisted. “I made my choice.”
“No,
