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I try not to think too much about it and distract myself by working on some painting.

But as the time of my meeting with Luca draws closer, I become more restless. I pace the length of my bedroom, checking the time on my phone every few minutes, while an uneasy feeling twists tighter in my stomach.

Every instinct I have keeps telling me not to go, but I push it aside because I need to put an end to this.

He came all the way to Chicago because he genuinely believes I’m being held against my will, and the least I can do after everything he has done for me is give him the closure he needs. I need him to hear from me, face-to-face, that I’m here because I want to be and that I’m not leaving Roman.

A knock sounds at the door, pulling me from my thoughts.

“Come in.”

Sofía steps inside carrying a tray of snacks, but the moment her eyes land on me, her expression changes.

“What’s wrong?” she asks, setting the tray down. “Is everything all right? Do I need to call the doctor?”

“I’m fine,” I assure her.

She studies me for a moment. “Are you sure?”

I nod, but the truth is, I need to tell someone. Keeping this to myself is making the knot in my stomach worse. I can’t call Audrey; it’s already getting late in Rome, and I don’t want to wake her or bother her.

“Sofía, don’t freak out, but something happened.”

Her brows lift. “What happened?”

I take a breath. “Luca called me. He’s my ex.”

I tell her everything. How Luca came to Chicago because he thinks I’m being forced to stay with Roman, how he wants me to leave with him, and how I agreed to meet him for coffee so I could finally make him understand that we’re over.

When I finish, Sofía stares at me for several seconds.

“I’m in no position to tell you what to do,” she says carefully, “but do you really think meeting your ex is a good idea?”

“I know how it sounds.” I sit on the edge of the bed. “But it’s not because I still have feelings for him. I don’t. The person I love is Roman. Luca doesn’t know that,” I continue. “He thinks I’m being held against my will. The way everything ended between us was so abrupt. We were still together when Roman had him kicked out of Rome, and then Roman married me. From Luca’s perspective, it probably looks like I never had a choice.”

I look down at my hands. “He came all the way here because he thinks he needs to save me. The least I can do is talk to him and make him understand that I’m exactly where I want to be. That’s all I’m going to do.”

Sofía sighs. “Fine. But you’re taking one of the guards with you, right?”

I hesitate. “Luca asked me to come alone.”

Sofía’s expression immediately hardens. “Why?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he’s worried Roman will find out. Considering Roman kicked him out of Rome, he might be afraid of what will happen if he sees one of Roman’s men.”

“That makes this even more concerning.” She shakes her head. “And you’re not seriously thinking of going alone?”

“I don’t think taking a guard is a good idea either. If they report back to Roman, he’ll get the wrong idea before I have a chance to explain anything. I’m going to tell him about the meeting, but I want him to hear it from me.”

Sofía folds her arms. “I don’t think you should go. You’re pregnant, Aurora. There’s someone out there targeting Roman, and we don’t even know who they are. You shouldn’t be walking into a meeting with an ex who has suddenly appeared in Chicago and specifically asked you to come alone.”

Her words make my stomach tighten. “Then what do you suggest?”

Sofía thinks for a moment before looking at me. “How about I come with you? You’re not going alone. If Luca sees me, at least he won’t feel like you’re bringing Roman’s men to intimidate him. I’m just an old woman.”

A small smile touches my lips. “I think he’d be less intimidated by you than by a six-foot-tall guard with a gun.”

“Exactly.” She nods firmly. “So I’ll come with you.”