Chapter 45 A Cry For Help

• Alessia
• I walked through the dimly lit hallway, my heels clicking softly against the polished floors, guided by a silent maid toward the guest bathroom. My mind was racing, heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and dread. Madam Claudia’s probing questions felt more like an interrogation than polite conversation. She had asked things only someone with an unsettling depth of knowledge about my life could ask, and it left me unnerved.
• When I reached the bathroom, the maid gave me a small nod before disappearing down the hall. I locked the door behind me and leaned against it, inhaling deeply in an attempt to steady myself. Pulling my phone from my coat pocket, I scrolled quickly to Luca’s number. My hands trembled slightly as I hit the call button.