---
Kara's POV
Kara's breath caught as the night air seemed to wrap itself around her, the chill of the breeze doing nothing to soothe the turmoil inside her. Alessandro stood beside her, his presence so close that it was impossible not to feel the tension radiating between them.
She couldn't deny it any longer-she cared. More than she wanted to, more than she was prepared to admit.
But there was no easy way out of this. No simple solution to the confusion she felt when he was around.
He took a step closer, and she didn't pull away. Instead, she faced him, her heart racing. "I don't know what you want from me, Alessandro."
His eyes were intense, but there was a vulnerability there that took her by surprise. "I want you to trust me."
"Trust you?" she echoed, her voice barely a whisper. "You want me to believe you, after all of this? After Clara and the lies, after everything we've built on a facade?"
"I'm not asking for blind faith, Kara," he said, his voice rough. "But I need you to believe in me. In us."
Kara felt the world shift beneath her feet. She wanted to scream, to shout at him for making everything so complicated, but all she could do was stare into his eyes, trying to find a piece of the man who had kept so much of himself hidden.
---
Alessandro's POV
He couldn't believe he was standing here, pleading with her. Kara was everything he hadn't known he needed, and yet here she was, forcing him to face the very emotions he had spent years running from.
Alessandro stepped forward, the space between them closing. "I didn't want to drag you into this," he said quietly, his voice raw. "I didn't want to make you part of my world. But now, I can't imagine it without you."
Kara looked at him, her expression softening, but the doubt still lingered in her eyes. "And Clara?"
"Clara is a chapter that's over," Alessandro said firmly. "She's not a part of my future."
Kara's lips parted, as if she wanted to say something but couldn't find the words. Alessandro reached out, touching her arm gently, his fingers brushing her skin in a way that sent a spark through her.
"I won't let her get in the way of what we have," he added, his voice steady. "Not again."
Kara swallowed, her heart racing. Her emotions were a tangled mess-torn between trust and doubt, between the desire to let him in and the fear of being hurt once more.
"Why does this feel like such a risk?" she whispered.
"Because it is," he said quietly, his gaze soft but determined. "But I'll take it, if you'll take it with me."
Her heart pounded in her chest, the weight of his words settling deep inside her. She wanted to say no, wanted to pull away, to guard herself from the vulnerability that seemed so dangerously close. But in that moment, she knew it wasn't just about protecting herself anymore.
She reached out, her hand brushing his. "Okay. Let's take that risk."
Alessandro's eyes darkened with emotion as he pulled her closer, their lips meeting in a kiss that was softer than any they'd shared before. It was tentative, full of unspoken promises and a quiet understanding that things had changed.
---
The Next Day: Both POVs
The morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting soft light across the room. Kara lay awake in bed, tangled in the sheets, her thoughts a whirlwind of what had transpired between them the night before.
She hadn't expected things to move so fast, but now that they had, she couldn't bring herself to regret it.
She could hear the faint sounds of footsteps in the hall and then a knock on the door. Kara didn't have to guess who it was.
She opened the door to find Alessandro standing there, holding a tray with coffee and croissants, his usual confident expression replaced by something gentler, more real.
"Good morning," he said, his voice warm.
"Morning." Kara stepped aside to let him in, her heart fluttering at the simple act.
He placed the tray on the table, then sat beside her. The silence between them was comfortable, filled with something new and tender.
"I thought we'd take the day off," he said, his voice a little too casual. "Just you and me. No business, no drama. A real day off."
Kara smiled, her hand brushing against his. "I think I'd like that."
They spent the day wandering the villa, exploring the gardens, and even getting lost in the small town nearby. There was no pressure, no talk of the engagement or Clara's scheming. For the first time since their marriage-temporary or not-Kara felt like they were simply two people, enjoying each other's company.
---
The Evening: Clara Strikes Again
But just as the peace of the day seemed to settle into the evening, things took an unexpected turn.
Kara was sitting on the terrace, enjoying the view of the setting sun, when a car pulled into the driveway. She didn't need to look to know who it was.
Alessandro walked into the room just as Clara appeared on the balcony, her heels clicking sharply on the stone floor.
"I told you to stay away from her," Alessandro said, his voice a low growl.
Clara ignored him, her gaze fixed on Kara, who stood slowly to face her. "You know, darling," Clara said sweetly, "there's only so long you can pretend that this is real."
Kara's heart sank. The calm that had taken over her earlier in the day shattered, replaced by a familiar unease.
"You're still here," Kara said, her voice tight.
Clara's smile was as sharp as ever. "Oh, I'll always be around, darling. I'm part of his past. A past you'll never truly replace."
"Clara," Alessandro interjected, his voice hardening, "you're crossing a line."
"I'm just reminding you both of the truth," she said, her voice dripping with malice. "You can't change what's already been written. You're not his future, Kara. You're just a temporary distraction."
Kara's fists clenched, but before she could respond, Alessandro stepped between them, his stance protective.
"Leave, Clara. Now." His voice brooked no argument.
Clara smirked, unfazed. "We'll see how long this 'marriage' lasts, Alessandro. I'm not the only one who knows how fragile it is."
With that, she turned on her heel and walked out, leaving Kara and Alessandro standing in the silence that followed.
---
Kara's POV
The words Clara had spoken echoed in Kara's mind, threatening to unravel the progress she thought she had made. She couldn't deny the sting they carried, the doubt they planted.
But as she looked at Alessandro, standing firm in front of her, something shifted.
"This isn't about Clara," she said, her voice steady. "It's about us."
He met her gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment, before he spoke. "And I'll make sure nothing tears us apart. Not her. Not anyone."
Kara stepped closer, her heart pounding with something stronger than doubt. "Then show me."
Alessandro smiled, a slow, genuine curve of his lips that sent warmth flooding her chest. "I will."
---
End of Chapter Nine