As I got into the car, a thought slipped into my mind—subtle yet persistent: Alessandro had to be a wealthy man. It was in the way he carried himself, his natural confidence, the impeccable fabric of his perfectly tailored clothes, and the aura of power he exuded without uttering a word. Everything about him seemed to belong to a world far beyond what I knew.
But it was just a guess. A theory. Until the car turned onto a driveway flanked by towering cypress trees, winding gently toward what appeared to be a private estate.
When we finally reached the main entrance, my theory turned into an overwhelming certainty.