Half Surrender

The villa settled into silence once more, but this quiet was different. It wasn't peace.

Camilla stood frozen outside the study door, her knuckles hovering a breath away from the wood.

The shouting had cut through the house like broken glass, Dario's raw fury, Massimo's devastating calm and though the housekeeper had gripped her arm and whispered "Stay in your room, signorina," Camilla's feet had