INICIAR SESIÓN(Sofia's POV)Breakfast stretched longer than either of us planned.Somehow, mornings with Alessandro always did.The conversation stayed light, moving between small teasing comments and quiet moments that felt too normal for the kind of lives we lived. Every now and then, I caught myself watching him without realizing it—healthy again, sitting across from me, looking more like himself than he had in weeks.It still felt unreal sometimes.Especially after everything that had happened.But this time, when I looked up, I realized I wasn't the only one staring.Alessandro was watching me.Not casually.Not absentmindedly.Actually watching me.His coffee had gone untouched for the past few minutes, his attention completely fixed on me like there was nowhere else he would rather be.I tilted my head slightly."What?" I asked, trying not to smile.He didn't answer immediately.Just leaned back in his chair a little, still looking at me with that calm expression that always made me feel see
Sofia's (POV)The morning was quiet inside Alessandro’s mansion, softened by the warm sunlight slipping through the curtains. I was still lying beside Alessandro when my phone vibrated against the bedside table.I glanced at the screen.Mateo Cortez.For a second, I just stared at it.My father rarely called me first.Alessandro noticed the shift in my expression immediately. “Who is it?”I picked up the phone slowly. “My father.”One of his brows lifted slightly, but he said nothing as I answered the call.“Hello?”“Sofia.”His voice sounded calmer than usual, almost careful, like he had spent time thinking about what he wanted to say before calling.“Good morning,” I replied quietly.There was a brief pause before he spoke again.“I was hoping you and your husband could come over today.”That caught me off guard.I sat up slightly against the bed. “Today?”“Yes,” he answered. “It’s been a while, and… I’d like to see you.”The hesitation in his voice was subtle, but I noticed it imme
(Sofia's POV)"I will have you all to myself tonight," he said to me.I held his gaze for a second, feeling the weight behind those words."You sound very sure," I replied."I am," Alessandro said calmly.There was no hesitation in his voice, no room for doubt. Just certainty.I exhaled lightly and stepped back, picking up the empty containers from the desk."Then you should finish your work," I said. "I'll be waiting."His eyes followed me. "I won't be late.""You better not."A small smile crossed his face.He walked me out of the office himself.The staff stepped aside as we passed."Good afternoon, Mrs. Alessandro."I nodded in response, barely paying attention. My focus was on him — the way he moved, the way he carried himself like nothing had ever happened.At the elevator, I turned to him."Call me when you're done.""I will.""And don't stress yourself."He smirked slightly. "You've said that already.""I'll keep saying it."He stepped closer, closing the space between us, the
Sofia's POV)Morning came slowly that day.Not the kind of morning that rushed people out of bed or filled the house with noise and movement. This one felt gentle… patient… like the world itself had decided to move carefully around us after everything we had survived.Soft sunlight slipped quietly through the curtains, stretching across the room in thin golden lines. It touched the edge of the bed first, then slowly climbed toward my face, warm but not harsh, almost like a hand brushing gently against my skin.I stirred slightly.Not fully awake yet.Just floating somewhere between sleep and awareness.For a moment, I stayed still, listening to the quiet. The house felt calm in a way that made my chest feel lighter than usual. No sudden sounds. No panic. No fear waiting at the door.Just silence.Peaceful silence.And that alone felt strange.Slowly, I shifted under the blanket, turning my body slightly toward the space beside me, reaching out without opening my eyes, following the ha
(Sofia’s POV)Alessandro’s recovery didn’t happen in a straight line. It came slowly, almost quietly, in ways that were easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. But I was. I noticed everything.At first, it was small progress. Sitting up without help. Standing for a few seconds before his strength pulled him back down. Holding a glass of water without his hand trembling. Simple things that should have been ordinary, but after everything, they felt like victories we couldn’t afford to take lightly.And then he started walking again.Not far. Not confidently. But enough.The first time he stood without support, I froze without realizing it. I didn’t even breathe properly until he took another step. Then another.He stopped after a few seconds and turned back to look at me.There was something different in his eyes now. Not weakness. Not confusion. Just quiet determination, like he was learning how to belong to his own body again.“I’m fine,” he said, like it was something obvious.
The interrogation room was silent except for the man's uneven breathing. He sat tied to the chair, sweat gathering at his temple, his eyes fixed on the floor as if avoiding reality could somehow protect him from it.Mr. Romano stood in front of him, quiet for a moment, studying him carefully before speaking."You said you are protecting your family," he said calmly.The man hesitated, then nodded slightly. His voice was weak when he finally spoke. "If I talk… they will kill my family."That answer made Mr. Romano pause, but not in sympathy. In assessment.He stepped closer slowly."And you believe that is your only threat?" he asked.The man didn't respond.A faint, almost unreadable expression crossed Mr. Romano's face before it disappeared again. His voice remained steady, controlled, almost conversational."Let me correct that for you," he said quietly.The man finally looked up.Mr. Romano continued without raising his voice. "The person you are afraid of… I can reach your family







