Lorenzo Castellani

Chapter — When the Silence Breaks

The mansion was silent. Lorenzo stood in his office, his suit still on, a glass of whiskey in his hand, and his eyes fixed on the clock on the wall. It was past two in the morning.

Her car hadn't arrived yet. The cell phone — several messages sent, all without response. Calls — ignored. His silence was beginning to turn into something darker: a mixture of worry and anger.

When he finally heard the sound of tires on the gravel of the driveway, he dropped his glass hard on the table. The crystal shattered into a thousand pieces.

Ana entered shortly after, tired, with a folder of documents in her hand. Her hair loose, her shoulders tense. When she saw him standing in the middle of the hallway, she knew it wouldn't be a peaceful night.

"Where have you been?" His voice came low, hoarse, filled with pent-up fury.

"Working," she replied without hesitation. "I texted you, but my phone's dead."

"That's a lie." He took a step forward. "I called you ten times. Ten, Ana! You're not a girl to disappear like that."

—I didn't disappear, Lorenzo. I work. I have responsibilities.

He let out a bitter, humorless laugh. — Responsibilities? You're 16, little one! You have a home, a caring husband, and yet you treat me like I'm nothing.

She huffed, walking past him, towards the stairs. — Because you behave like a jailer, not a husband.

He grabbed her arm before she climbed the first step. His touch was firm, but not violent. — I spend all day trying not to go crazy thinking about where you are, who you're with, if you're safe… — he breathed quickly, control slipping — and you just come back, act like nothing happened and expect me to keep quiet?

Ana looked at him, serious, unfazed. — You don't rule over me, Lorenzo. I'm not one of your properties.

That sentence was like a blow. He let go of her, took a step back, and murmured, almost voiceless:

• No…