Chapter 22 The First Crack In The Truth

• The courtyard smelled faintly of wet stone and orange blossoms, but the air was heavy with tension. The guards stood farther back than usual, sensing Rafael’s mood. He wasn’t a man prone to visible fury, but when it brewed, it hung over him like a storm cloud waiting to burst.
• Valentina walked beside him, every step matching his pace, though her heart was pounding. She’d seen Rafael angry before cold, calculated but this was different. This was personal.
• Isabella was seated on the wrought iron bench near the fountain, a book resting unopened on her lap. Her hair was perfectly styled, her emerald earrings catching the dim light. She looked up as they approached, her face smoothing into a polite mask.