Page 16

Not yet.

She’s still innocent. Still wrapped in a version of herself that I refuse to stain.

I turn to leave, and for a second, I hate the part of me that hesitates. The part that looks back one last time and memorizes the way she lifts her face to the stars like they’ve never betrayed her.

But I do look back.

And I think—no, I know—that one day, she’ll belong to me.

Not because I’ll take her.

Because I’ll wait.

Because I’ll make sure the world doesn’t touch her until I can.

Because when the time comes, and she walks into a room with fire in her voice and silk on her skin, and she meets my gaze like she’s never once been afraid of the dark—I’ll be ready.

She’ll think it’s fate.

She won’t know it’s obsession.

I flick the cigarette into the gravel and disappear into the villa, her laughter still echoing behind me. But I carry a vow with me, silent and absolute:

One day, Emilia Renzi will wear my ring.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

And when shefinds out what I’ve done to make sure she ends up mine… she’ll either hate me forever—or fall even harder.