220

Damien

As I stepped into Emilio Montenegro's house, I couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over me like a heavy cloak. The air was thick with tension, the atmosphere charged with the silent battle of wills between Emilio and myself.

I had never been particularly fond of Emilio, and the feeling was mutual. Our relationship had always been strained, marked by a deep-seated resentment that simmered just beneath the surface. But as I glanced around the lavish surroundings of his home, I knew that I had no choice but to put aside my personal feelings for the sake of Isabella's safety.

Emilio greeted me with a curt nod as I entered, his expression guarded and aloof. I returned the gesture with a tight-lipped smile, doing my best to conceal the simmering anger that churned inside me. But even as we exchanged pleasantries, I could sense the underlying tension that lingered between us, a silent acknowledgment of the unspoken animosity that existed between us.

As the days passed, I