POV: AriaAfter Luca left to coordinate security measures, I sat on my bed feeling like a prisoner again. The brief moments of honesty we'd shared over breakfast felt like they'd happened years ago instead of hours. Now the mansion was on full lockdown, guards stationed everywhere, and Isabella was out there somewhere planning to kill me.I pulled my knees to my chest, trying to calm my racing heart. The collar felt heavy around my neck. I touched it absently, remembering what Luca had said. Not just a prison, but his way of knowing I was alive.A soft scraping sound at the door made me freeze. I waited, barely breathing, but no knock came. No one entered. After a long moment, I stood and moved cautiously toward the door. When I opened it, the hallway was empty except for two guards stationed at the end of the corridor. They hadn't seen anything.But there, on the floor just inside my room, was a photograph. I picked it up with trembling hands. It was old, the edges yellowed and worn.
Last Updated : 2025-12-19 Read more