Chapter 23 Say Her Name

Were Fabio's words really an accident? A man trusted by Alessandro and involved with Julia wouldn't be careless or foolish. Or this was Julia's doing? The elegant woman who seemed detached from everything could be reminding Lucia who truly mattered in this estate. Lucia tightened her grip on her wineglass until it nearly cracked. She forced herself to calm down and looked back into the hall. Alessandro was speaking with an elderly man with white hair, fully absorbed in his conversation and unaware of the tension on the terrace. She inhaled the cold night air, put her perfect smile back on, and walked over to him. Alessandro offered his arm naturally, and she took it. His warmth reached her through the thin fabric of his suit, yet her limbs remained cold. "That's Duke Vincenzo," he murmured. "His family dominates shipping in the south." Lucia nodded. She played her role well, smiling at every raised glass, memorizing complicated names. Then an unwelcome voice cut in. "Well, if