I froze, staring at the screen in disbelief. There he was, standing with Anya while fireworks burst in the sky above them, and he was telling me he was working. My chest tightened, the air in the room suddenly too thick. I swallowed, trying to keep my voice steady.
“Are you sure about that?” I asked, feeling the words stick in my throat.
There was a pause on the other end of the line. “Of course. Why?”
I couldn’t breathe. My mind raced, a whirlwind of confusion and betrayal. Was this why he’d been distant? Was this why he’d been so secretive? Not because he was planning something for me, but because he was with her?
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to stay calm. "I saw the news."
There was silence on the other end. Then, he cleared his throat. “What do you mean?”
“I saw you,” I whispered, tears welling in my eyes. “You’re not working, Giovanni. You’re with Anya.”
The silence that followed was deafening. For a moment, I thought maybe I’d imagined it all. Maybe I’d misread the situation. But no. The truth was right in front of me.
“I can explain,” Giovanni finally said, but his words sounded empty, like a hollow promise.