Chapter 5: The Quiet Before The Break.

Sofia's Pov:

The morning light spilled gently through the pale curtains, painting soft golden streaks across the floor. It should have felt like a fresh start, a quiet welcome to a new day. But instead, it felt suspended like the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to change.

I sat at the edge of the bed, tightly hugging my knees to my chest. My gaze lingered on the distant skyline outside the window. It was peaceful. Quiet. Too quiet.

How long had it been since I truly felt free?

A soft knock tapped against the door.

I stiffened slightly—just for a moment—but reminded myself to breathe. It was a reflex I had not fully unlearned.

"It's me, Mattia," came the familiar voice. Calm, gentle.

"You can come in," I answered, turning toward the door.

His eyes darted around the room before focusing on me as he entered quietly and calmly. "Morning, Sofia."

"Good morning," I murmured. My voice felt strange in the stillness.

Mattia walked over and sat in the chair across from me. There was a pause between us, but it wasn't heavy. Just cautious. Delicate, like the first step across a frozen lake.

"You slept okay?" he asked.

I nodded slowly. "Better than most nights."

He gave a slight smile, but it didn't reach his eyes. "I talked to Alexandro."

My fingers curled slightly around the edge of the blanket. "You did?"

"Yes," he said. "I reminded him that the ceremony was completed… that you have done everything required of you. I asked him to consider letting you go."

A breath caught in my throat. It was not quite hope, not yet, but something like it flickered inside me. "And?"

"He didn't say yes," Mattia replied, his tone carefully measured. "But he didn't refuse. He is open to the idea—as long as I stay close and ensure everything goes smoothly."

"So, I'm still not free," I said quietly.

He looked pained. "It's not perfect. But it's the first time he's even entertained the thought. It's a start."

I sighed, letting my shoulders slump. "A start." The words tasted foreign, like something out of someone else's life.

"Sofia," Mattia leaned forward slightly, his voice low. "I know it's not everything you want. However, it is a step, and it might even be the start of something better.

I turned back toward the window. Are you certain that he will not change his mind later?

"I believe that he values patience and strength," he said slowly. You have shown both. And I will do everything I can to help make this real."

His sincerity was disarming. For the first time in a long while, I felt like someone was fighting with me, not against me.

He hesitated a little bit but continued, " I see the toll this has taken on you. And I believe you deserve to live your life freely not with conditions."

The weight in my chest eased just slightly. "Thank you, Mattia."

He stood. "There's something else. Alexandro wants you to meet someone at your café. Your manager. He asked me to take you there."

"The café?" The word caught in my throat like a forgotten song. I hadn't set foot in that place since… since everything changed.

"He says it's part of the agreement you had with him," Mattia explained.

I felt the ache of nostalgia, sharp and sudden. My café used to be my sanctuary. A place where I created joy, warmth, beauty. The thought of going there once again thrilled and excites me.

Maybe small steps could still lead somewhere.

"Okay," I whispered. "Let me prepare."

Before stepping out of my room, I had taken a longer look in the mirror than usual. Not to check how I looked, but to see if I could still recognize the woman staring back at me.

I placed a pair of earrings on, simple studs, and ran a hand over my necklace. It wasn't fancy, just something that had been mine for years. Little things that reminded me I still had a life outside everything else.

I had changed into something light, a soft beige blouse tucked into simple jeans. I wasn't trying to impress anyone; I just wanted to feel like myself again. As I stepped out of the room, Mattia was already waiting in the hallway.

"You ready?" he asked.

"As prepared as I will ever be," I said with a small smile.

We walked through the house in silence. The halls were quiet, and the light from the high windows danced across the tiled floor. It all felt too perfect, too calm, as though the moment was holding its breath with me.

Downstairs, the house staff greeted me politely, offering a nod here and there. I didn't know all their names, but their presence had become familiar.

Outside, the car was already waiting. Mattia opened the car door for me, and I gently slipped inside,slowly smoothing my blouse out of habit. He took the driver's seat, adjusted his mirror, and then turned on the ignition.

As we pulled out of the driveway, I found myself staring at the road ahead, letting the silence fill the space between us.

"I didn't ask," Mattia said after a while, "but how are you feeling this morning?"

I turned to him. "I think I'm still figuring that out," I said honestly. "But... it's not as heavy as before."

He gave a slight nod, like he understood exactly what I meant.

The city slowly came into view—trees lining the road, people walking by with their own stories, shops opening up, life moving forward. I watched it all, trying to anchor myself in the present.

"Do you miss it?" he asked softly. "The café?"

I smiled faintly. "Every day."

We were just a few minutes away now. I could already sense the area, the scent of nearby bakeries, the rhythm of street vendors setting up for the day, the gentle buzz of my city.

I inhaled deeply.

"I will be there with you. Just in case."

I gave him a small nod, thank you.

The car turned the final corner. My heart picked up a little. I wasn't sure if it was nerves, nostalgia, or something in between.

But one thing was certain—this was a step I needed to take.

Even if just one.

Even if small.

Even if I was not sure where it would lead.