“I never trusted Violet.”
He said, each word deliberate.
“My loyalty has always been to her sister, and to the promise I made to her on her deathbed—to make Violet fulfill her lifelong dream of marrying Vincenzo.”
“That’s why it may feel like I hate you... but I don’t. I’ve observed you. You are... likeable. You do not pretend, and it pains me so much see you like this. I wish I could do something to ease your suffering.”
He softened, voice quieter now.
“You don’t deserve this. Vincenzo knew, deep down, that you do not deserve such cruel, inhumane punishment.”
“Elena... forgive me for how I’ve treated you these past weeks, since you became Vincenzo’s bride. I am truly sorry.”
That made my breath catch.
His words hit somewhere deeper than I expected.
He didn’t look at me as he spoke, eyes fixed somewhere beyond the ridge.
A gust of wind swept across the ridge, tugging at his coat, at my hair, at everything that wasn’t anchored.
The storm was coming closer now, pressure building in the air like something inevitable.
“How long... how long must I stay kneeling like this?”
I whispered, trembling, my knees raw and bleeding, every nerve aflame.
“Hours... maybe days,” Renzo said, his voice low.
Then softer still: “And when the rain comes... it will only make it worse, Elena. Much worse.”
He held my gaze, eyes full of conflict and something unspoken.
“But I’ll stay. Through it all. Let the storm fall. I’ll be right here with you.”
A sharp spike of pain shot through both knees as I shifted without meaning to—instinctive, desperate for relief that didn’t exist.
The jagged stone bit deeper, tearing fresh layers of skin. I sucked in a breath, body tightening involuntarily.
“No,” I whispered, teeth gritted against the pain. “Go. Leave me... I can endure this.”
Renzo’s jaw tightened.
“I won’t leave you. I’d take your place in an instant if it meant you wouldn’t suffer.”
The words sank deeper than the pain.
I swallowed hard.
My arms strained uselessly behind me, wrists raw and burning from the cuffs.
I tested the chain—pushing onto the balls of my feet, trying to find leverage, trying to stand.
The chain snapped taut with a brutal, metallic pull.
My balance failed instantly.
Knees slammed back into the unforgiving ridge of stone with a sickening jolt, and a sharp cry tore from my throat before I could stop it.
