CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVEN – A LOVER’S PROMISE

As she drove to the Jasmine Towers, Joan's emotions swirled within her - anger, hurt, fear, and something else she couldn't quite name. She made her way up to Alessandro's penthouse, her heart pounding. When he opened the door, his eyes widened in surprise. "Joan? What are you-" Before he could finish, Joan's hand connected with his face in a resounding slap. Alessandro didn't flinch, didn't even register the hit. He just stood there, his dark eyes unreadable. "How could you?" Joan began, her voice rising hysterically. "How could you do this to me? I should never have trusted you! I... I was a fool to believe we had something special!" Alessandro's voice was calm, steady. "Joan, I'm sorry. I never meant for this to happen." "Never meant for what to happen?" Joan ranted, pacing back and forth. "For me to lose my job? For my career to be ruined? For my life to fall apart?" "I'm sorry," Alessandro repeated, his voice still maddeningly calm. Joan whirled on him. "Sorry? Sorry doesn