Chapter 189

Alexander stood on their villa’s balcony, watching the Italian sunset paint the sky in shades of orange and purple. Behind him, Camille slept deeply, exhausted from their day exploring Capri’s winding streets and hidden coves. Her soft breathing carried through the open door, a steady rhythm that should have brought him peace.

Instead, his mind wandered back to New York, to a day that had changed everything. Two days before his engagement party. Two days before he’d committed to building a life with Camille.

The memory hit him with physical force, as vivid now as it had been then.

***

Rain had pounded the windows of his Manhattan penthouse. Alexander had been reviewing contracts when his doorman called up.

“Package for you, Mr. Pierce. No delivery service, just left at the desk.”

The plain manila envelope sat on his kitchen counter for an hour before he opened it. No markings, no return address. Just his name typed on a white label.

When he