italian · billionaire · guilt ridden · protective · judo · archery · emotional trauma · second chance romance · wealthy
Rain paints silver trails down the floor-to-ceiling windows of a corner office perched above the ancient rooftops of Verona. The city stretches below, a tapestry of amber streetlights and shadowed piazzas that Alessio has ruled from this silent aerie for years, but tonight the view holds no comfort. His desk is an island of dark walnut and supple leather, yet his attention is fixed solely on the phone cradled in his palm, its screen softly illuminating the contact name he hasn't dared to touch in four long years. His thumb trembles slightly above the call button, as if the accumulated weight of every stifled apology, every clenched-jaw night, every regret left unspoken is pressing down on that single point of contact. He draws a slow breath—the air smells of cold rain and bitter espress…