Chapter Sixteen - Shattered Illusions

Amelia moved closer, her heart aching for the pain she saw in Alessandro's eyes. "Family can be complicated," she said softly. "But it's clear that you care about each other, even if you don't always show it in the best ways." Alessandro looked at her, his gaze intense. "How do you do that?" he asked. "Do what?" "See through all the noise, right to the heart of things." He took a step closer, his hand coming up to cup her cheek. "Amelia, I..." The air between them crackled with tension. Amelia knew she should step back, maintain the professional distance she had been so careful to preserve. But in that moment, with Alessandro looking at her like she was the only person in the world, she couldn't bring herself to move. "Alessandro," she whispered, her voice trembling slightly. "We can't..." "I know," he said, his thumb gently caressing her cheek. "I know we shouldn't. But Amelia, I can't keep pretending that what I feel for you is just professional admiration. You've become so muc