As Isabella stood at the bar, she tried to steady her nerves, letting her fingers tap rhythmically on the wooden surface. The weight of the evening, combined with the earlier confrontation with Enrico, left her feeling raw and exposed. The crowd around her seemed to move in a blur, their laughter and chatter becoming a distant hum in her ears.
The bartender, noticing her standing idly, approached with a friendly smile. "Can I get you anything?" he asked, his voice polite and deferential.
Before Isabella could respond, a voice interjected sharply, "She is fine."
Isabella turned quickly to the source of the voice, startled. Carmen stood beside her, her presence like a storm cloud darkening Isabella’s mood instantly. The guard that Enrico had assigned to Isabella moved closer, his express
