Chapter 25 Family Business

The next morning, sunlight filtered through the blinds, casting lines across the room. Lucia woke in an unfamiliar bed and stared at the ceiling, disoriented. This was the room she had stayed in when she first arrived. Nothing had changed. It was still elegant and lifeless. She showered and put on a simple dress. Today, she skipped the makeup and walked out. She expected an empty dining room, but Alessandro was already seated at the head of the table. He wore a perfectly tailored dark gray suit, his tie immaculate. A cup of coffee sat beside him. He looked up at her with an unreadable expression and tense jaw. Lucia paused, then walked over and sat across from him expressionlessly. Breakfast filled the table. There were fresh croissants, sugar-dusted pancakes, fresh strawberries, and blueberries. There was even a cup of steaming tea. It was all to her liking—no espresso, no rye bread Elena favored. This was the first time Alessandro had prepared a meal with her preferences in mi