Shadows of Affection (GxG)

Chapter 47: Ruptured Fate

Alessia moved through the spacious bedroom of the temporary mansion in France, the opulent surroundings feeling cold and empty compared to what awaited her back home. Her suitcase lay open on the bed, half-packed, with clothes neatly folded but still scattered as she hurried to get everything in order. Her fingers fumbled slightly as she tucked away a few shirts and slacks, betraying the restless energy coursing through her veins. Each fold, each zip, was a step closer to seeing Lily, but also a reminder of how strained things had become.

It had been three long days since she last spoke to Lily, and the memory of that phone call haunted her. The harsh words, the way she had snapped, her frustration boiling over and landing on the person she loved most—it all played back in her mind in painful detail. Alessia bit her lip, her jaw tensing as she tried to shake off the guilt, but the emotion clung to her, heavy and relentless.

She exhaled, pausing for a moment to collect herself. The anticipation of seeing Lily again filled her chest with a tight, desperate yearning, but it was tinged with a fear she couldn't quite banish. What if she's too hurt to forgive me? The thought made her heart squeeze, but she pushed it aside, telling herself that she would do whatever it took to mend the cracks she had allowed to form.

Her phone lay on the bedside table, and she picked it up, checking it for any messages. Nothing. The silence was a punishment in itself, but she knew she deserved it. Lily had every right to be hurt, to feel distant. Still, Alessia wished she could reach out, to say something, anything, to bridge the emotional gap that had grown between them. But she had made her choice to leave the negotiations early and go home, hoping her presence could do what her words couldn't.

Luciano appeared at the doorway, his usual confident demeanor softened with concern as he watched her. "You're packing like someone with a mission, capo" he said, crossing his arms with a smile that tried to be encouraging. "You look ready to sprint out of here."

Alessia let out a small, humorless laugh. "I feel ready to," she admitted, her voice strained. She closed her suitcase with a firm snap, then sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing her hands over her face. "I can't stand being away any longer, Luciano. I need to see her."

He came over and sat beside her, his presence warm and reassuring. "Lily will understand," he said, giving her a comforting pat on the back. "She knows how much you love her. And seeing you will mean more than anything else. You're doing the right thing."

Alessia looked at him, her expression a mix of gratitude and weariness. "I just hope it's not too late," she whispered, her voice cracking. The last few weeks, nay...months, had been brutal, and she had spent so much time wrapped up in mafia politics and dangerous negotiations. The constant pressure had worn her down, making her more irritable, more distant. And she knew, with aching clarity, that Lily had felt the brunt of that.

She stood and walked over to the desk, where a handwritten letter lay. Carefully, she folded the paper one last time, the words etched into it a desperate outpouring of her heart. She had written apologies, confessions of how much she missed every part of Lily—her touch, her laughter, her soft kisses. She had written about how she couldn't wait to be home, to make things right, and to show Lily just how much she meant to her. She tucked the letter into her carry-on bag, a promise waiting to be delivered.

Luciano watched her, a knowing look in his eyes. "She'll love that," he said. "Trust me."

Alessia's lips twitched into a small smile. "I hope so," she said. Her voice wavered, betraying how fragile her hope felt.

As she finished packing, Luciano walked her out to the front of the mansion, where a car waited to take her to the airport. The air was crisp, and Alessia pulled her coat tighter around herself, feeling the weight of the past weeks pressing down on her. Francesca and Marco would handle the rest of the negotiations, staying behind to finish up the final details. Alessia had left them with careful instructions, but even the lingering worry about unfinished business couldn't outweigh her need to go home.