Isabella's POV:

The air was warm that evening, the streets of Naples bathed in the soft glow of twilight. I sat in the back of the car as it wound its way toward the grand gala hall, my heart pounding in my chest. This wasn't just another night—it was a decision. A chance to reclaim a part of myself I thought I had lost.

The past six months had been a whirlwind of pain and growth. I had built walls around my heart, trying to heal the wounds Antonio had left behind. But in the quiet moments, when the world fell away, his face still lingered in my mind. I could no longer deny it: I missed him. The warmth of his touch, the intensity of his gaze, the way he could make me feel safe in a world full of chaos.

And so, I made my decision.

I was going to forgive him.

The choice hadn't come easily. Forgiveness wasn't something I had ever been taught to give freely, especially in the world I came from. But this wasn't about weakness or letting him off the hook. It was about freedom—freedom from the pain, the anger, the endless cycle of questions that kept me tied to the past. I needed to let it go, and I needed to know if there was still something between us worth saving.

The car pulled to a stop in front of the gala, the grand building illuminated by strings of lights that wrapped around its towering columns. The scene was breathtaking, opulent, and overwhelming. It was the kind of event Antonio thrived in, the kind of place where he belonged. And for so long, I had belonged there too, by his side.

Tonight, I would see him again.

The room was alive with energy, the soft hum of conversation mingling with the strains of classical music from a live quartet. Men in tailored suits and women in dazzling gowns moved through the space like pieces on a chessboard, their every step calculated, their every word deliberate.

I moved through the crowd, my dress—a deep emerald green—flowing around me like water. I felt exposed, vulnerable, yet strangely powerful. Heads turned as I walked, whispers trailing in my wake. They hadn't expected me to come, not after everything. But I was here, and I wasn't going to hide anymore.

And then, I saw him.

Antonio stood near the edge of the room, his dark suit tailored to perfection, his posture commanding as he spoke with a small group of men. His presence was magnetic, as it always was, and I felt my breath catch in my throat. He hadn't seen me yet, but I could feel the pull of him, as though the air itself had shifted to draw us together.

I took a step closer, my heart pounding, when the crowd parted slightly, and my gaze landed on her.

Sofia.

She was standing beside him, her hand resting lightly on his arm, her smile coy and confident. She was dressed in black, her gown sleek and tailored, a stark contrast to the warmth and light I had always associated with Antonio.

The sight of her sent a cold wave of anger and hurt crashing over me. I had come here to forgive him, to start over, but seeing her so close to him, so comfortable by his side, made me second-guess everything.

Had anything really changed?

I hesitated, my steps faltering as I watched them. Antonio turned slightly, and for a brief moment, his eyes met mine. The recognition was instant, a flicker of surprise and something deeper passing over his face. He said something to the men he had been speaking with, then began making his way toward me.

I stayed rooted in place, my emotions a whirlwind.

"Isabella," he said, his voice low and filled with something that almost sounded like relief. "You came."

I nodded, unable to speak for a moment. Seeing him up close after all this time was like a punch to the chest. He was just as I remembered—intense, commanding, and devastatingly handsome.

"I wasn't sure if I should," I admitted, my voice trembling slightly. "But I needed to see you."

His gaze softened, the tension in his shoulders easing as he took a step closer. "I'm glad you're here. There's so much I need to say—"

Before he could finish, Sofia appeared at his side, her presence as sharp and unwelcome as a blade.

"Antonio," she said, her voice smooth and possessive, as though she had every right to interrupt. Her eyes flicked to me, a glimmer of something dark lurking behind her polished façade. "I didn't realize you were expecting someone."

Her words were polite, but the undercurrent was clear. She wanted me to know she was there, that she had a place by his side.

I straightened, meeting her gaze with a steeliness I hadn't felt in months. "Sofia," I said, my tone cool. "I wasn't expecting to see you here."

Her smile widened, a hint of triumph in her eyes. "Antonio and I have been working closely lately. I thought it was important to show a united front tonight."

I turned to Antonio, my heart sinking. "Is that true?"

He hesitated, and in that moment, I felt the fragile foundation of my resolve begin to crack.

"It's complicated," he said finally, his voice measured. "Sofia and I—"

"Have nothing to do with each other outside of business," I interrupted, my voice sharper than I intended.

Antonio's jaw tightened, a flicker of frustration passing over his face. "Isabella, you don't understand—"

"I understand perfectly," I said, cutting him off again. "You've moved on. Clearly."

"That's not true," he insisted, his voice rising slightly. "Sofia doesn't mean anything to me. You're the one I want, the one I've always wanted."

The sincerity in his voice made my chest ache, but I couldn't ignore the way Sofia stood there, silent but ever-present, a reminder of everything that had gone wrong between us.

"I don't know if I can do this," I said finally, my voice breaking. "I thought I could, but seeing her here, seeing the way things haven't changed..." I shook my head, tears stinging my eyes. "I need more than words, Antonio. I need actions. And right now, all I see is the same pattern, the same chaos."

His expression shifted, a mixture of anger and desperation. "I've done everything I can to prove myself to you. What else do you want from me, Isabella?"

"I want to trust you," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "But I don't know if I can anymore."

The room around us seemed to fade as I turned and walked away, leaving Antonio and Sofia standing together in the center of it all. My heart felt heavy, but there was also a strange sense of clarity.

I had wanted to forgive him. I had wanted to start over. 

But maybe some wounds ran too deep to heal.

And as I stepped out into the cool night air, I realized that maybe it wasn't just about Antonio anymore. It was about me. About what I deserved. 

And maybe, just maybe, I deserved more than this.

Things will go crazy in the next chapters ! Be ready.