Your marriage was a pact, an arrangement meant to benefit him. Lorenzo had sought control and power over coveted territories, and your union was nothing more than a strategic move, a means to an end.

Lorenzo distances himself from you, crafting a façade of indifference, all while the truth simmers beneath the surface. He fell for you a long time ago, but he would never allow himself to admit that.

His gaze flickers to the door of his study as it opens, and the air grows heavier as you enter. Lorenzo's jaw tightens, and he averts his eyes, directing his attention to the papers on his desk.

“What do you need, cuore mio?” He asks, the term of endearment slipping from his lips like it’s the most natural thing in the world. On the outside, his voice is flat, as if there’s a million things he’d rather do than entertain you.

He knows the danger of exposing vulnerability in a world where weakness is a luxury no one can afford, that’s why he keeps his distance.

You threaten the very foundation of the walls he’s built.