Chapter 208

Martina's breath caught in her throat as Antonio’s words hung in the air between them. She had always suspected that his feelings for her went beyond friendship, but hearing him confess it so directly was overwhelming. “I’ve liked you since before Ares was even in the picture,” Antonio continued, his voice soft but filled with an intensity that made her heart race. “From the moment I first laid eyes on you, Martina, I knew you were special. But I saw how you looked at Ares, how much you loved him, and I didn’t want to come between you two. So, I stepped back, kept my feelings to myself, and watched from the sidelines.”