**Stefano’s POV**

I stepped into the house long after the sun had set and the moon had taken over. The house felt dark and cold; it no longer felt like home.

The silence was so heavy it made my ears ring. Usually, I’d hear the soft hum of the TV or Elena’s laughter from the kitchen. Now, there was nothing but the sound of my own shoes thudding against the floor, like a heartbeat.

I hadn't even reached the stairs when Martina emerged from the hallway. She looked as if she hadn't slept in a ...