Shadows of Affection (GxG)

Chapter 43: Distant Shadows

Lily wanted to believe that they could fix it, that they could find their way back to each other. But as she looked into Alessia's tired eyes, the shadows of the mafia looming larger with every passing day, she couldn't help but feel like they were standing on opposite sides of an ever-growing divide.

Lily could see it so clearly—the exhaustion was no longer something Alessia could hide behind her usual composed demeanor. Her eyes, once bright and sharp, now carried shadows that reflected sleepless nights and unending pressure. Even though Lily had tried to bring it up gently, urging Alessia to take a break, to let someone else carry the burden for a while, it always came down to the same answer.

"I can't, love. Not yet."

The weight of holding her power in place, keeping the Sorento mafia steady, was crushing Alessia, even if she wouldn't admit it.

Lily's heart ached every time she saw her lover retreating further into the shadows of her responsibilities. It wasn't just Alessia either—her sister Rosa and best friend Emma were experiencing the same with their own partners, who were entangled in the same world, working tirelessly to keep everything in order. Rosa had been quieter lately, and Emma seemed on edge, both of them dealing with the toll of their own responsibilities within the web of power.

Lily could see the cracks forming, not just in Alessia's once unwavering control but in the relationships around her. Rosa and Marco were fighting more often, tension seeping into every conversation. Emma and Isabella were distant, struggling to find moments of peace between their own obligations. It felt like the world was slowly unraveling around them, and the more they tried to hold it together, the more strained everything became.

As much as Lily wanted to believe their love was strong enough to withstand anything, the distance between her and Alessia was growing. They spent less time together, their once intimate evenings now overshadowed by late-night meetings, calls, and constant strategising. Even when they were together, Alessia's mind seemed elsewhere, absorbed in the next move, the next threat.

Lily understood why Alessia was like this—she had to be. She was the leader, and the weight of the entire organisation rested on her shoulders. But that didn't stop the longing in Lily's chest, the need to pull her lover out of this world for just a moment, to remind her of the life they were supposed to be building together.

The shadows of the mafia were creeping into every corner of their lives, threatening to pull them apart. And no matter how much Lily wanted to fight it, she was starting to wonder if they could ever truly escape.

-

That night, Alessia was able to finish earlier than usual. It was a rare break in her relentless schedule, and she seized the opportunity to head back to the mansion, a bundle of fresh lilies in hand for her Lily. The flowers were her way of making up for the growing distance, a small gesture of love when words and time had failed her lately.

She stepped into the grand hallway, her footsteps soft on the marble floors. The mansion was eerily quiet, the kind of stillness that sent an unsettling chill down Alessia's spine. She had expected to find Lily waiting for her in the living room or perhaps curled up with a book in their favorite reading nook. But she wasn't there.

Alessia searched the kitchen, the art room, even the garden, but there was no sign of her. It wasn't until she moved toward their bedroom that she noticed the faintest sound—a soft, muffled sob. Her heart clenched as she quietly opened the door, the sight before her immediately freezing her in place.

Lily was curled up on their bed, clutching Alessia's pillow to her chest, tears soaking the fabric. She was trembling, her body racked with quiet sobs, as if she didn't want anyone to hear how much she was hurting. Alessia's heart broke at the sight. The strong, fierce woman she loved was crumbling, and it was because of her—because of the life they were both trapped in.