Chapter Twenty-Five - Breaking the Silence

Amelia set the tray down and moved closer, her hand hovering over the bruise. "Are you sure you don't need to go to the hospital?" He caught her hand in his, bringing it to rest over his heart. "I'm fine, truly. The doctor checked me out thoroughly." The warmth of his skin under her palm made Amelia's breath catch. "What happened?" she asked softly. Alessandro's expression darkened. "I was distracted. Thinking about everything we discussed earlier. I took a turn too fast and..." he trailed off, shrugging. Amelia felt a pang of guilt. "I'm so sorry. If I hadn't told you about those documents-" "No," Alessandro cut her off firmly. "This isn't your fault. If anything, you've given me the push I needed to confront what's been happening in my family." They sat in silence for a moment, the air heavy with unspoken words. Finally, Amelia pulled her hand away reluctantly. "You should get some rest. I'll let you drink your tea in peace." As she turned to leave, Alessandro caught her wrist