as he scrolled through the security footage on his tablet - all external surveillance around the Morano estate. A silent growl escaped

w it is, huh?

s a pawn in their twisted power game. But what irked Leo more was how effortlessly

he tablet on

glimpsed in her eyes - but because she had dared to look him in

and one of the tech guys he trusted knew about. A hidden audio tap buried in one of Sophia's

, footsteps, muffled voices... and then her

etheart. Let's see how long yo

aid. Sophia was his - even if he

rano Estate – L

ed dressing when Rico kn

"Alessandro has something urgent - a

hia blink

st dress sharp. Y

k skirt and a cream blouse - part of the wardrobe the Russos had provided.

out looking up from his desk. H

d inside and

s mostly a formality - just sitting through negotiations, serving coffee, and taking a fe

ded. "Y

essary - something unreadable flashing behind his c

t's

ffaro

lored suits sat around a long table, the city skyline casting sharp shadows b

o to the men at the table. She felt their eyes follow her, but she kept her

es. Port sche

the table like wine - an

an eyebrow and muttered to Alessandro,

the coldness that swept across his features

dn't need to respond. She wasn't here to be pret

-

That E

ut behind Alessandro. The stone path was quiet beneath her heels, and the

," Alessandro said as they reac

erst

e of her new life, but with the tiny victories she'd already started to claim - every word she'd me

he wasn't interested in dinner, so it gave her more time to herself. Her dinner - a warm plate of rice and vegetables - was bro

s the only sound in the study. Alessandro leaned back in his leat

ros - all false smiles and veiled threats - b

was

ia R

ut alert, graceful without trying. The way she handled hersel

not fear, not submission -

ered, running a ha

orked for him. She lived under his roof. There were lines. And he