Chapter 219

　　Fern's Perspective 　　Late at night, I sat by the window, watching the city grow quieter and quieter. My heart was a whirl of emotions. There wasn't even a whisper of wind outside; the air was so still you could almost hear your own heartbeat. I felt tired, weighed down by worries about the future and endless thoughts of the union between Giovanni and Elena. 　　Suddenly, there was a soft knock at the door. I froze for a moment, not expecting anyone. I set the book I'd been holding down and walked to the door, opening it gently. A shuffling figure stood on the other side, and my heart skipped a beat. 　　"Giovanni?" I whispered. 　　Giovanni stood in the doorway, clearly drunk. His eyes were glassy, his face a mixture of pain and exhaustion. He shook his head slightly and tried to force a smile, though it looked painfully strained. "Can I... come in?" His voice was hoarse, with an unmistakable hint of suppressed pain. 　　I hesitated, a swirl of emotions flooding my mind. Part of me wanted to