Sandra’s Strings

Alessandro’s POV

The city looked quiet from the top floor, but inside my chest, it was chaos.

I had not gone back to the Romano mansion after yesterday. I just could not. My father’s voice was already ringing in my ears even from a distance, and if I had seen him last night, I might have broken. So, I came here. My penthouse.

Clean lines. Glass walls. Leather couch. Everything in its place, almost too neat, because I never really lived here. A second home, a cage with a better view.

I stood in front of the mirror, my tie loose, my hair a mess. My reflection mocked me. Tired eyes. Lips still remembering Micah’s kiss. My phone still carrying the shadow of that message.

“Control yourself,” I whispered. But the mirror did not believe me. Well, neither did I.

The buzzer rang.

I froze. Nobody came here. Nobody knew… except… Nicole.

When I opened the door, I almost slammed it shut again.

Sandra.

She was dressed in pale pink, flawless as always, makeup sharp enough to cut. She smiled, wide an