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They then finished their dinner quickly, the weight of the new evidence pressing heavily on their minds. Without wasting a moment, James, Alice, and Marco rushed back to the villa.

Inside, Alessandro sat tense in the dimly lit living room, his hands nervously twisting a ring on his finger. When the officers entered, Marco didn’t waste time.

“We’ve found the rope in your car, Alessandro,” he said quietly but firmly. “The marks match the bruises on Vittoria’s neck. We know about the affair — the love letter, Leonardo’s presence that night.”

Alessandro’s face drained of color. His shoulders slumped as tears welled in his eyes.

“I… I did it,” he choked out. “I killed her.”

Alice exchanged a glance with James but let Alessandro continue.

“He called me a baby,” Alessandro said through ragged breaths. “Said I know nothing, that I’m useless without my rich parents. I was furious — I couldn’t take it anymore.”

He wiped his eyes roughly. “I just wanted to make her listen, to make her see me… but I lost control.”

James nodded slowly. “Is that why you arrived an hour late to the wine tasting event?”

Alessandro nodded, tears welling up again as a small sob escaped him. Marco straightened and called out to the officers waiting outside. “We should take him in now.”

But James raised a hand, stopping him. “Wait. Alessandro, what about Leonardo? Did you kill him too?”

Alessandro shook his head vehemently. “No. I have no idea why Leonardo was in Vittoria’s bedroom. I wasn’t even in the house when he was there.”

James leaned forward, surprised. “Then when and where did you kill Vittoria?”

His voice trembling, Alessandro replied, “Around 10:30 p.m., in her bedroom… with the rope you found.”

He swallowed hard, voice trembling. “I left the house around 9:30 p.m., but after driving for a bit, I turned back. I was so angry… I just wanted her to apologize. But when I confronted her, things got out of control. I didn’t mean to — it just happened. After that… I drove straight to the event and stayed at a friend’s place for the rest of the night.”