Chapter 269

• Rosa’s POV
• The day had started off like any other, or at least it was supposed to. I had spent the morning in the garden, tending to my flowers, letting my mind wander. I loved the peace that came with it, the way the world slowed down, even if just for a few minutes. But that afternoon, things didn’t feel as peaceful as usual. Something was off. And I could feel it in the air, thick and heavy, like the storm was about to break.
• I tried to brush it off, but as soon as I spotted Allesio across the courtyard, my heart skipped a beat. He was walking toward me, but his steps were slower than usual, his head hanging low. It wasn’t his usual confident stride. There was hesitation in the way he moved, amd it was hard to ignore.