Chapter 47

Clara

I found solace out on the rear balcony, in a quiet corner of the night. Free of Dante’s smile and Dario’s steadfast presence, I felt suddenly shaky, my chest too tight. The champagne in my fingers did little to calm me.

The cool air caressed my skin, a welcome reprieve from the suffocating tension inside. I pulled deep breaths through my nose, forcing my racing thoughts to steady.

Dante’s pr