Author's Note:
Ciao, amore! đ
I truly hope youâre enjoying the journey so far. Your votes and comments mean the world to meâthey encourage me, inspire me, and help me understand what you love most about the story and what you'd like to see next. So please donât be shyâdrop your thoughts below!
With love,
â Your Author đ
Siena rose from her chair the moment she saw her husband entering the mansion. Though Cristianoâs steps were steady and controlled, she could tell he was drunk from his appearance. Before coming home, Cristiano had parked his car on a deserted street and drank until he couldnât feel a thing. Even when his bodyguards offered to drive him home, he stubbornly refused, insisting on driving himself, as if he had no fear of deathâas if he were daring it to take him and end the misery this life had given him.When he finally arrived home, he expected the house to be quiet, everyone asleep, since it was already past one in the morning. He could have sprawled onto the sofa and spent the night in peace, but the moment his eyes fell on his wife, frustration surged through him, tangled with the confusion clouding his mind.As Siena hurried toward him, she reached for the jacket in his hand. His grip wasnât firm, and it slipped away from his grasp before he could resist.âHave you had dinner?â she
Siena had been troubled after seeing Fabio. Why had he come now? Why now, when she had finally begun to move on, to forget him? Everything had changedâeverything they had once planned together lay in ruins. And yet, here he was, claiming he still loved her, even though she was now married to another man.But what about his engagement to another woman? He was the one who had broken up with her. He had shattered her heart so brutally that she hadnât believed she would ever find the courage to love againâuntil Cristiano came into her life.Cristiano. The very thought of him was enough to bring a smile to her face. He had made her believe in true love again and shown her how love could heal.But then Fabioâs words echoed in her mind: âYour husband is not what you think.âWhat had he meant by that? Was he trying to play with her mind and heart again? Why should she trust a man who had once betrayed her so deeply, humiliating her before the entire college and even her own family by announcin
Cristianoâs mood was black when he returned to his office. But another surprise was waiting for him. His father was waiting for him in his office.âCome with me,â Vittorio said the moment Cristiano stepped in. Cristianoâs jaw tightened. âWhere?ââYouâll see,â Vittorio replied smoothly, rising from the chair. He didnât explain further and led his son to his car. As the car pulled near Hunterâs club, Cristianoâs jaw tightened. He understood. His glare cut toward his father, but Vittorio only chuckled.âI know youâve been wound up,â Vittorio said, gesturing to the neon-drenched entrance. âThe marriage, the new weight of leadership⌠it must be exhausting. So I brought you here.âInside, the air was heavyâdim lights flickered over leather booths, the musk of sex and powdery bite of cocaine laced every breath. Hunter emerged from the shadows, tall and grinning, his hand extended. âBoss.âCristiano clasped it, eyes unreadable.Vittorio smirked, his voice dipped with sly amusement. âTake c
Siena didnât know how to react at first and froze at the sight of Fabio before her. But within seconds, she recovered, lifted her chin, and strode forward.âSiena, baby,â Fabio jogged after her, grabbing her elbow to stop her.âDonât fucking touch me!â Siena snapped, yanking her elbow free as she spun on her heel to face him. Her eyes blazed with fury as she glared at him. âI know youâre upset, but pleaseâlisten to me,â he pleaded.âDonât waste your time, because you donât even exist for me,â Siena replied coldly.His lips curved into a pained smile, his eyes full of remorse. âI love you,â he whispered, his voice trembling with raw emotion. âI never stopped.âSiena frowned, confusion flickering before her expression hardened. âStop this bullshit. Iâm no longer that naive girl blinded by your love. Iâm a married woman now, and I love my husband.â Her calm, steady voice carried more weight than a scream.Fabio stared at her in disbelief, utterly speechless.âSo donât ever follow me agai
Cristiano woke up early and stared at Sienaâs sleeping face for a while. She was so different from what he had expected. When his grandmother had slapped her, he thought she would confront him for not standing up for her, but she hadnât even mentioned it. He had assumed she would be upset about their honeymoon being canceled, yet she surprised him again by saying she was ready to consummate their marriage regardless.All of this stirred something in his frozen heart, a strange feeling that left him unsettled. He detached himself from her, got up, and went to the bathroom without even going to the gym. After getting ready for the office, he left before she even woke up.When Siena woke up, she found the room empty, and the wet bathroom floor told her that Cristiano had already showered and left for the office. Perhaps he had some urgent work and needed to leave early, she thought, and began getting ready for the day. Yet, yesterday morningâs incidents kept coming back, bitter memories l
But he went to his side and sat down on the mattress, slipping off his slippers before lying back on the bed. âShould I turn off the light?â he asked in his deep, husky tone. Siena nodded, biting her lips. His arms stretched out to reach the switch, and then, lying on his back, he folded one arm over his eyes and closed them. Siena lay on her side, her gaze still fixed on him. He didnât make any intimate moves tonightânot even a touch or a kiss. Was it because she had said she wanted to wait for their honeymoon? Oh God, he was such a gentle man. Her heart sighed with admiration for the man she had married. They hadnât known each other before their marriage, yet he had told her he loved herâand now, every action of his showed just how deeply he cared. In this moment, she felt truly like Godâs favorite, as He had granted her the wish of finding true love. She felt like⌠like she had already been falling⌠for himâand who could blame her? He was perfect⌠in every way. Before she co