I stood frozen on the balcony, my hands gripping the railing until my knuckles whitened. My chest rose and fell in ragged breaths, my eyes locked on the figure below.It was him.My step-uncle. My ex.The last man I thought I’d ever see again, the last man I’d sworn to erase from my memories. But there he was, standing in the courtyard of Matteo’s villa as though he belonged here.His gaze lifted, sharp and deliberate, finding me through the shadows of the balcony. For a heartbeat, the world held its breath. And then… he smirked.That arrogant, knowing, dangerous smirk that once made my knees weak and now made my stomach twist.I stumbled back, my pulse crashing in my ears. My hands fumbled for the balcony doors, slamming them shut with trembling fingers. The glass rattled, but I didn’t care. I leaned against the door, pressing my back to the cold surface, as though the barrier could keep his presence out.“What the hell is he doing here?” I whispered, my voice a strangled hiss.I cam
Last Updated : 2025-09-12 Read more