CHAPTER 21 - WHAT WAS HAPPENING?

ALESSANDRO'S POV

After my conversation with Bianca, I decided to talk to Leo to see if he could open up to me. I had a good idea of what was causing his behavior, but I felt I needed to understand more. I went looking for him, knowing he might be in the mansion’s sleek, modern lounge with its floor-to-ceiling windows and minimalist décor, a space he often retreated to when he visited.

I took a seat beside Leo on the sofa, trying to encourage him to talk. "Hey, Leo, what’s going on?" I asked, placing a hand on his shoulder.

Leo paused and looked away. "There’s nothing, Alessandro. Just drop it."

I exhaled, realizing Leo wasn’t going to make it easy. "I can tell when something's bothering you."

"You don’t get it, Alessandro. You have no idea what it's like."

I nodded, trying to stay calm. "Maybe not, but you can't shut me out now. We've been friends for fifteen years."

"Do you really want to know? How about being hunted every night by your fucked-up childhood? Do you want to unde