Under a false identity

Lucius carefully slid the album back onto the shelf, a small smile lingering as he thought of the memories he and Layla had just shared over coffee. She wrapped her arms around him from behind, resting her cheek gently against his back, drawing him into her warmth.

"Are you really leaving in the morning?" she asked softly, her voice a blend of concern and acceptance.

He nodded. "Yes."

Layla took a breath, her arms tightening around him. "Promise me you'll be safe. I may not know the risks you took before we were married, but you have a wife now, waiting at home." Her voice wavered slightly because of the concern.

"If things get dangerous, take your men with you. Don't go alone." She knew that, as his wife, she could have asked him to stay. But she understood how deeply he needed closure—to uncover the truth behind Matteo's death and free himself from the weight of guilt he'd carried for so long.