Chapter 66

66 Pain And Reflection

Mara

The moment I stepped into my room at the Florence Hotel, I let go. The breath I’d been holding for hours slipped out in a shaky exhale, and with it came the tears.

Silent, hot, and unstoppable. I slid down against the door, knees pulled close, and cried like the pain might spill out if I just kept going.

I thought I was stronger than this. I’d promised myself I wouldn’t fall, wouldn’t be the fool who got hurt-but that’s exactly who I became. I kept seeing his face.

The way he looked when he lifted Tina. He didn’t have to. There were people around who could have helped, but he didn’t even hesitate. He carried her himself.

He still loved her. Maybe he told himself otherwise, maybe he even told me-but that moment betrayed him. His instinct chose her. And I saw it all.