Valeria

That night, the house felt different. The air was heavy, not from tension but from something new. Everyone moved quietly, afraid to cross Dante’s path. After what happened with Elena, no one dared to speak her name again. The guards kept their eyes down, and the workers stayed out of sight.

I was in my room going through the latest reports when I heard the sound of his wheelchair outside the door. I stood immediately. The knock that followed was sharp but calm.

“Come in,” I ...