Nicolas opened his mouth again, perhaps to deflect, perhaps to double down.
"Nick," Hazel said again, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "Enough."
This time, there was no room for argument. Her tone was final, her eyes blazing.
Nicolas glanced at her, then back at Leo. His smirk had faded completely. He picked up his wine glass and took a long, slow drink, saying nothing.
The silence stretched, thick and suffocating.
Then, very quietly, Leo exhaled.
It was not a sound of release. It was a sound of choice, the conscious decision not to end this man in front of his mother, his father, his wife, Nonna, and sixty feet of glass overlooking a mountain valley.
His hand, which had been resting on the table, moved to cover Bella's hand, still gripping his arm. His fingers wrapped around hers.
