Chapter 317

He froze mid-step, and Carlo, following closely, halted as well. The world seemed to fall silent. Even my heightened senses failed to catch the faintest sound. All that remained was the rush of blood in my ears and the relentless pounding of my heart—a rhythm anchoring me to sanity. “Ella,” Enrico breathed, my name slipping from his lips like a secret barely spoken. His whisper drew Carlo’s gaze to mine, and in that instant, the weight of their shock settled heavily in the room.