جميع فصول : الفصل -الفصل 25

(Sofia’s POV)Alessandro’s recovery didn’t happen in a straight line. It came slowly, almost quietly, in ways that were easy to miss if you weren’t paying attention. But I was. I noticed everything.At first, it was small progress. Sitting up without help. Standing for a few seconds before his strength pulled him back down. Holding a glass of water without his hand trembling. Simple things that should have been ordinary, but after everything, they felt like victories we couldn’t afford to take lightly.And then he started walking again.Not far. Not confidently. But enough.The first time he stood without support, I froze without realizing it. I didn’t even breathe properly until he took another step. Then another.He stopped after a few seconds and turned back to look at me.There was something different in his eyes now. Not weakness. Not confusion. Just quiet determination, like he was learning how to belong to his own body again.“I’m fine,” he said, like it was something obvious.

(Sofia's POV)"I will have you all to myself tonight," he said to me.I held his gaze for a second, feeling the weight behind those words."You sound very sure," I replied."I am," Alessandro said calmly.There was no hesitation in his voice, no room for doubt. Just certainty.I exhaled lightly and stepped back, picking up the empty containers from the desk."Then you should finish your work," I said. "I'll be waiting."His eyes followed me. "I won't be late.""You better not."A small smile crossed his face.He walked me out of the office himself.The staff stepped aside as we passed."Good afternoon, Mrs. Alessandro."I nodded in response, barely paying attention. My focus was on him — the way he moved, the way he carried himself like nothing had ever happened.At the elevator, I turned to him."Call me when you're done.""I will.""And don't stress yourself."He smirked slightly. "You've said that already.""I'll keep saying it."He stepped closer, closing the space between us, the

(Sofia's POV)Breakfast stretched longer than either of us planned.Somehow, mornings with Alessandro always did.The conversation stayed light, moving between small teasing comments and quiet moments that felt too normal for the kind of lives we lived. Every now and then, I caught myself watching him without realizing it—healthy again, sitting across from me, looking more like himself than he had in weeks.It still felt unreal sometimes.Especially after everything that had happened.But this time, when I looked up, I realized I wasn't the only one staring.Alessandro was watching me.Not casually.Not absentmindedly.Actually watching me.His coffee had gone untouched for the past few minutes, his attention completely fixed on me like there was nowhere else he would rather be.I tilted my head slightly."What?" I asked, trying not to smile.He didn't answer immediately.Just leaned back in his chair a little, still looking at me with that calm expression that always made me feel see