All Chapters of A love forged in Darkness and Desire : Chapter 81 - Chapter 90

Alessia’s PovA sharp, mocking laugh that cut through the tension like a blade.“Really?” she scoffed, crossing her arms. “The killer conveniently leaves my cufflink by the body? Are you all actually entertaining this?”Andrea narrowed his eyes. “Then explain why it’s here.”“Because someone wants to frame me, obviously,” she snapped. “I may be many things, but a careless murderer? Please.”Her arrogance grated on my nerves. But she wasn’t wrong.It was too obvious. Too easy.A planted clue.Yet, the whispers had already started.“She’s covering for herself.”“She’s acting like this is a joke.”“What if she really did it?”I glanced around, noticing how the room’s atmosphere had shifted. Even Marco, loyal and professional, seemed to hesitate.Madam Claudia’s amusement faded. Her blue eyes sharpened, scanning the faces around her.“Oh, I see what’s happening,” she murmured, voice dripping with amusement. “You’re all looking at me like I have something to hide.”Andrea tensed beside me.

Alessia's Pov (Eva's friend)Whispers followed me like a shadow.I could feel them. Hear them.“She’s the last person who saw Eva alive.”“She was arguing with her at the festival.”“Her invitation was found on the body.”I turned sharply, my gaze sweeping the crowd of guests gathered in the grand hall. Their eyes flitted away, but the damage was done. The accusations hung in the air, thick as smoke, suffocating me.A wave of nausea curled in my stomach.This wasn’t happening.I wasn’t a murderer.I took a step forward, my voice sharp with desperation. “I didn’t do this!”Silence.Their expressions ranged from skeptical to outright hostile. Some guests muttered to each other, their gazes flickering back to me like I was some kind of caged animal—dangerous, unpredictable.But what broke me wasn’t the whispers.It was Andrea.He stood a few feet away, silent, watching.His blue eyes, usually so confident, so certain, held something else now.Doubt.Not full belief that I was guilty. No, he wasn’

Alessia's Pov I felt a chill crawl up my spine. Andrea looked at me. "Both of us? “The servant nodded. "Yes, sir.” Andrea exhaled through his nose, then turned back to me. "We don’t have a choice.” I swallowed hard. The weight of everything that had happened—the murders, the suspicions, Sophia’s sudden appearance—settled heavily on my shoulders. “Fine," I said, my voice steady despite the unease twisting in my gut. "Let’s go."The hallway leading to Madam Claudia’s quarters was eerily silent. Most of the guests had retreated for the night, but I could still feel the weight of their whispers in the walls. “She’s the last person who saw Eva alive.”"Her invitation was found on the body. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. I wanted to scream that I didn’t do this, that someone was setting me up, but I knew it wouldn’t matter. Perception was more powerful than truth. Andrea walked beside me, his posture tense. “Do you think this is about the murders?" I asked in a hushe

Alessia's POV “Did she know this would happen?”“She must have.”The tension in the room thickened, suffocating in its intensity. Suspicion swirled like smoke, curling around every name, every connection, every missing piece of this puzzle.Andrea exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair in frustration. “This wasn’t random,” he muttered under his breath, though I was close enough to catch it.I turned toward him, my throat dry. “You think someone warned her?”His jaw tensed. “Or she knew all along.”The words lingered between us, their implication twisting something deep in my gut. If Madam Claudia had truly known about this, then she had either abandoned her allies to die… or she had orchestrated it herself.Andrea’s focus suddenly shifted, his sharp eyes locking onto Vincent’s suit jacket. With careful precision, he reached out, slipping his fingers into the inner pocket. The moment he pulled out a small, folded piece of paper, the murmur of voices around us ceased,

Alessia's Pov The bartender gave me a look—one of those patient, knowing looks that bartenders are probably trained to give. He didn’t say anything, just poured me another drink.I exhaled sharply. “But this isn’t about Luca. No, no, no, it’s about this island and how nothing makes sense. Do you know how many people have died since I got here?” I squinted, trying to count, but the numbers blurred in my head. “It’s a lot. And it’s all connected. Madam Claudia, the missing boats, the whispers in the dark—” I paused, leaning in dramatically. “And now people are leaving threats under doors. Under doors! Can you believe that?”The bartender’s lips twitched like he was trying not to smile. “Not funny,” I grumbled. He nodded, as if agreeing, though I doubted he was even fully listening. I sighed, rubbing my temple. “Andrea’s hiding something, too. “That made me pause.Andrea.I shook my head, downing the rest of my drink. “He acts like he’s protecting me, and maybe he is, but he knows s