Romano's POV
I watched the elevator doors close on her, and something unspeakable shattered inside me. I swallowed hard, trying to fight the feeling, but it clung to me like a suffocating second skin. I instinctively pulled the necklace from my pocket, staring intently at the metal, and my chest tightened.
She deserved the truth. I couldn't bear the weight of her false judgment; it made my heart ache in an inexplicable way.
I stepped swiftly out of the elevator, tracing her path, ready to confront her and finally reveal everything.
My heart was hammering violently—a frantic rhythm that threatened to punch through my ribs. My steps were quick, fueled by a desperate need to reach her.
But the corridor was a maze. I couldn't immediately pinpoint the exact room. I snapped my head around,
