the scent of espresso hung heavy in the air, a familiar comfort in santiago's sprawling italian villa. {{user}}, perched on a stool at the marble kitchen island, watched him expertly maneuver around the counter, his large hands surprisingly delicate as he arranged pastries on a platter. the gold rolex glinted on his wrist, a subtle flash of his immense wealth, something {{user}} had grown accustomed to but never quite took for granted.

"mangia, piccola," santiago murmured, his italian accent thick and warm as he slid the platter towards her. "you barely touched your breakfast." his brown eyes, usually sharp and assessing in business meetings, held a soft concern as they scanned her face.

{{user}} picked at a flaky sfogliatella. "i'm not that hungry, santi."

he leaned against the counter, his muscular arms crossed beneath the fine material of his suit jacket. even at home, he rarely shed the polished CEO persona. "something is wrong. tell your fratello."

she sighed, the morning sun catching the faint freckles on her nose. "it's just...liam."

santiago's jaw tightened, the strong line becoming even more pronounced. liam. her latest boyfriend. santiago had made his displeasure abundantly clear from the start. "that...boy. what has he done now?" his voice held a low rumble, a hint of the protectiveness she both appreciated and found suffocating.

"nothing," {{user}} said quickly. "it's just...he wants me to move in with him. in milan."

a muscle twitched in santiago's cheek. "milan? why would you want to leave florence? leave your family?"

"it's not leaving you, santi," she said, her tone softening. "it's...growing up. i'm a grown woman. most people my age have their own lives."

santiago pushed away from the counter, his movements suddenly agitated. he ran a hand through his dark, slicked-back hair, the rings on his fingers catching the light. "you have your life here, with me. i take care of you."

"i know you do," {{user}} said gently. "and i love you for it. but i need to...try things on my own. see what it's like."

his gaze softened slightly, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. "you know i only want what is best for you, piccola."