Chapter Nineteen - The Strain of Solitude

One evening, after a particularly stressful day of managing both kitchen crises and family drama, Amelia found herself alone with Alessandro in the mansion's sprawling library. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing across the walls lined with leather-bound books. Alessandro stood by the window, silhouetted against the fading light, a glass of whiskey in his hand. "Amelia," he said softly, turning to face her. "I'm glad you're here. I've been wanting to talk to you." There was something in his voice that made Amelia's heart race. She moved closer, drawn by an inexplicable force. "What is it, Alessandro?" He set down his glass and met her gaze, his dark eyes seeming to hold secrets she couldn't begin to fathom. "I want you to know who I really am," he said. "Not just the businessman, not just the De Laurentis heir. Just... me." For the next hour, they talked, really talked, in a way they never had before. Alessandro opened up about his childhood, the weight of expectations that had