Chapter 229 Who Stood There

• By the time Adriano reached the SUV, the last of Serena's boxes was being slid into the trunk. The sound of it thudding into place felt heavier than it should have. It felt like he was closing a chapter he wasn't sure he wanted to end.
• Mike was standing by the open door, waiting in his usual stiff, soldier-like stance. "Good morning, sir," he said as Adriano slid into the back seat without giving a response. The leather creaked faintly under his weight. Mike closed the door behind him and rounded the hood, getting into the driver's seat. The vehicle rumbled to life and fell into position between two other black SUVs in the convoy.
• The city blurred past, but Adriano's mind wasn't on any of it. He sat back with his phone in hand, scrolling without reading. He was desperate for a distraction, but nothing seemed to be able to pull him away from his thoughts. He could still see Serena's face-those eyes wide and rimmed with hurt, her voice raw from begging.