Maya's POV
The Tuscan sun dipped behind rolling hills, bathing the vineyard in amber and crimson light. I perched on the weathered stone wall surrounding the villa's terrace, absently swirling wine in my glass. The valley below spread out in perfect patterns of grapevines, olive groves, and cypress trees. Such breathtaking beauty felt like a cruel joke after my confrontation with Valentina.
"Sebastian and I have been friends since childhood."
Those words wouldn't stop replaying in my head. Another deception, another hidden truth. I was exhausted by the constant discovery that nothing about Sebastian Sterling was ever what it appeared to be.
Footsteps crunched across the terrace stones. I recognized his approach without glancing up. Sebastian paused beside me, releasing a heavy breath before settling onto the wall, maintaining careful space between us.
"I shouldn't have left you alone with her," he said quietly. "That wasn't planned."
