“Stop.” I raised my hand. “Don’t hide behind titles and responsibilities. This isn’t about business. You made your decision through your actions.”
I took a step back, the firelight flickering between us.
“And now,” I continued quietly, “I’m making mine.”
Anastasia’s POV
The ashes still smoldered faintly at my feet as Leonardo’s anger slowly ebbed into something that looked dangerously like regret. His expression—familiar yet distant—dimmed under the pale moonlight spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows. He straightened his shirt collar, trying to summon the calm, controlled presence he always wore like armor, but I wasn’t deceived. His pulse raced visibly at his neck and temples, betraying the storm he couldn’t hide.
I brushed the lingering soot from my hands and lifted my chin, holding his gaze without a flicker of warmth. “It’s fine,” I said evenly. “I noticed a few insects crawling in the album—cockroaches, maybe—so I decided it was best to burn it.”