dn't seen Katherine

lingered in ever

o longer clun

ps no longer echo

remained empty at

she didn

looking the heart of Castellane - smaller t

: Morning yoga. Afternoon teas. Late-nigh

, beside h

ng before the Romano name e

al. Brutal

Katherine's sofa, sippin

better than I would," Lila

? I'd be keyin

e smiled

e power in s

ry little mind ga

ove

re scrolling th

ooks fun and we can have the opportunity to ve

e lost i

n't w

gly upset that her best friend

ou coup up in th

ion Gala was the kind of even

nnections,

re the Roma

adn't plann

a had i

said firmly as she zipped Kath

u to disappea

herine did anyth

- polished, pois

the moment she stepped

d over one shoulder, her gown hug

eye

ade her entrance, Matt

, owner of Falcone Global Shipping, one of the largest logisti

black

littering w

essly p

ight, Katherine," Matteo greet

e replied softly, accepting

o watch the vultures

he only lioness here," Matteo murmu

, "flattery like that

atteo said, voice

already w

eed the

Sofia stood near the grand stai

burned wi

na's

Luciana his

man while she's sti

a sn

ng Alessio in fr

's lip

ily's name through the

es

oom, Alessio stoo

ssion

s in

chi

s wat

ed at his sid

quickly, doesn't

said n

ever left

ed, Luciana finally co

Katherine and Matteo mid-conversation,

see you've made... inte

omposed, his hand resting lightly at Kather

he greeted Lu

leas

s smile

you two were s

Luciana," Katheri

njoying na

ud enough for nea

shopping for your ne

ugh to draw the attention

e dropped, fi

l, Miss

urther than your family

pening to snap back - but Lucian

ed this family en

e a spectacle of yours

r voice soft but sha

about my dignity when you spent years t

cracked, eyes f

ver fit for

o longer part of it," Katheri

ll can't seem to st

ifted slightly - people subtly inchin

rs had alr

t his m

a sc

r? They're d

ate further, Alessio approached - calm

y, his voice cutting thr

ffened but

her arms but

lashing silently in the midd

he entire room

e the scene," Ale

ssio." Katherine's

fami

didn'

de - strong, steady - as if d

imply stared,

nced this w

e would come

from across the

ures were

he way sh

t