Chapter 215

　　Giovanni's Perspective 　　I sat on the couch in the living room, a cigarette dangling from my fingers, my eyes staring blankly out the window. Through the floor-to-ceiling glass, the fading light of the setting sun bathed the courtyard, and a faint serenity lingered in the air. But I knew this calm was merely a brief pause before the storm. Today, I had made a decision—a decision that could change the dynamic between Fern and me, or perhaps alter everything completely. I exhaled slowly, watching the smoke curl and dissipate, my mind a tangle of conflicting thoughts. 　　Daniel stood before me, his eyes burning with hatred and disdain. Despite his youth, there was a sharpness to him, an unyielding resolve that belied his age. I wasn't surprised; I had known for some time that Daniel possessed a resilience much like his mother's—a strength that never wavered, even in the face of danger. 　　"You can take me away," he said, his voice cold, "but you'll never be forgiven by her." 　　I didn't re