She leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath. Her father's call had tainted the magic of the evening. Eliot's words—telling her Alessandro would never truly care for her—echoed in her head like a poisonous feedback loop. Was it all a lie? Were the dinner, the laughter with the children, and Alessandro's gaze just a facade to reclaim family property?She looked in the mirror. The radiant woman from ten minutes ago had vanished, replaced by a pale shadow full of doubts. She forced herself to pull it together, smooth out her dress, and wipe the moisture from her eyes, but the spark was gone.When she returned to the table, Alessandro noticed the change instantly. Audrey didn't sit with her previous ease; she sat rigidly, avoiding his gaze. Matthew and Emma kept talking about the fish, but she barely nodded at their comments.Alessandro watched her with a slightly furrowed brow. His dark eyes, expert at reading micro-expressions, detected the tension in her shoulders and the sa
Last Updated : 2026-09-04 Read more