119

119
Allesio’s POV
I’d finally decided to stop running away from Rosa and spend more time with her instead. Staying away from her wouldn’t change what I felt about her. It wouldn’t make Alaric think otherwise. So why torture myself with trying to make it look like I didn’t feel shit for her? Because that was exactly what it was. Torture and nothing else. We were seated on the balcony of her room, a bottle of wine between us and the city lights sprawling out below. It was a rare moment of calm, one I hadn’t planned for but wasn’t about to waste.
She leaned back in her chair, a distant look in her eyes. Her hair was loose, spilling over her shoulders, and there was a tension in her posture that hadn’t been there earlier. Something was weighing on her, but I knew better than to push too soon. Rosa was like a safe with a complicated lock-push too hard, and she’d shut tighter.
I poured her another glass of wine, sliding it across the small table between us. “You’re quiet tonight,” I said casually, taking a sip of my own.
She didn’t answer right away, her gaze fixed somewhere beyond the skyline. “Just thinking,” she finally said, her voice softer than usual.
“Dangerous habit,” I teased lightly, hoping to coax a smile out of her.
It worked, just barely. The corner of her mouth tugged up, but it didn’t reach her eyes.
“You ever feel like you’re playing a part in a story you didn’t write?” she asked suddenly, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass.
Her question caught me off guard, though I didn’t show it. Instead, I leaned back in my chair, studying her. “Sometimes. Why?”
She sighed, the sound carrying more weight than I expected. “Being a Smith… it’s not just a name. It’s an identity, a responsibility. From the moment I could walk, I’ve been expected to act a certain way, say the right things, make the right moves. There’s no room for mistakes. No room to just… be.”
Her words were laced with something raw, something I hadn’t heard from her before. I knew Rosa didn’t let people see her vulnerable side-she kept it locked up behind walls of confidence and sharp wit. Hearing her like this felt like stepping into uncharted territory, and I knew I had to tread carefully.
“Sounds like a lot to carry,” I said, keeping my tone even.
“It is,” she admitted, swirling the wine in her glass. “But it’s not like I have a choice. My father… he built this empire from the ground up. He’s proud of it, of what we’ve accomplished. And I get it-I do. But sometimes, I wonder if I’ll ever be more than just his daughter. The heir to the Smith legacy.”
Her eyes met mine then, and I saw something in them I hadn’t expected: doubt.
“Does he see you that way?” I asked.
She hesitated, her gaze dropping back to her glass. “I don’t know. Maybe. My father loves me-I don’t doubt that. But love and expectations… they’re not the same thing.”
I nodded slowly, letting her words sink in. This was a side of Rosa I hadn’t seen before, and I found myself wanting to know more. Not for Alaric, not for the job-just for me.
“What about you?” I asked. “What do you want?”
She blinked, like the question surprised her. “What do I want?”
“Yeah. Forget the family, the legacy, all of it. What would you do if none of that mattered?”
For a moment, she didn’t say anything. Then she let out a soft laugh, shaking her head. “I don’t even know. I’ve never thought about it. Isn’t that pathetic?”
“Not pathetic,” I said. “Just human.”
Her gaze flicked to mine again, searching my face like she was trying to figure me out. “You’re good at this, you know,” she said after a moment.
“At what?”
“Listening. Making me feel… I don’t know, heard.”
I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips. “Maybe because I’m actually listening.”
That earned me a real smile, and for a second, the tension in her shoulders eased.
She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “You know, you’re different from anyone else I’ve met in this world.”
“How so?”
“You’re… genuine. Or at least, you seem that way.”
The words hit harder than they should have, guilt twisting in my gut. If only she knew the truth. But I pushed the thought aside, focusing on her instead.
“I’ll take that as a compliment,” I said, my tone light.
“You should.” She paused, her fingers drumming lightly on the table. “I don’t let many people in, Allesio. It’s safer that way.”
“I get that,” I said. And I did. In her world, trust was a luxury most couldn’t afford.
“But with you…” She hesitated, her eyes meeting mine again. “I feel like I can let my guard down, even if it’s just a little. And that scares me.”
Her honesty caught me off guard, and for a moment, I didn’t know what to say. All I could do was hold her gaze, hoping she didn’t see the conflict brewing inside me.
“It doesn’t have to,” I said finally, my voice low. “You’re stronger than you think, Rosa. And whatever you’re carrying, you don’t have to carry it alone.”
She studied me for a long moment, her expression unreadable. Then she reached across the table, her fingers brushing against mine.
“Thank you,” she said softly.
“For what?”
“For being here. For listening. For not judging me.”
Her words settled over me, and for the first time in a long time, I felt like I didn’t deserve them.
But I didn’t say that. Instead, I squeezed her hand gently, offering her a small smile.
“Anytime,” I said.
And I meant it. Even if I didn’t deserve her trust, even if I was lying to her in ways she couldn’t imagine, I couldn’t bring myself to pull away. Not yet.