EMILYDaylight had a way of restoring reason, of stripping away the reckless honesty of the night before. As I sat there in the quiet morning, my midnight confession felt foolish—melodramatic, even. All I had truly done was hand Alessandro power over me, and I knew him well enough to understand that he would not hesitate to use it.Today, I resolved firmly, I would not dwell on him.And yet… I could not help but wonder if he would attempt to rescue the rebel prisoner.I realized then, almost with surprise, how deeply I believed in him. I did not doubt, no matter the odds, that if he chose to act, he would succeed.The world I had inhabited since arriving here had been a carefully curated one—diplomatic dinners, lavish luncheons hosted by elegant ladies, afternoons spent browsing the finest imported goods, evenings returned to the safety and refinement of my villa. It was a polished existence, controlled and insulated.But it had to be more than that.I decided, quite suddenly, that I
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