A Night of Revelations

The dining hall brimmed with soft chatter and the clinking of silverware. As I sat across from Adrian Santoro, I realized that the evening was going better than I'd anticipated. 

The nerves that had knotted my stomach earlier had loosened somewhat, thanks in no small part to Rosa standing silently beside me, her presence a pillar of strength. 

She was doing more for me than she could ever realize and I was internally grateful to have her around are all times.

Adrian leaned forward slightly, his dark eyes shimmering with curiosity as the candlelight flickered between us. 

"So, Maria," he began, his voice smooth and inviting, "tell me something about yourself. What was your life like before the Alfonzo family?" 

I hesitated, unsure how much to divulge, but his gaze held an openness that made it difficult to resist.