HOLLYThe estate was quiet, the kind of silence that pressed against the skin and made every breath feel heavier. Giovanni had summoned me again, but this time Luca was with me. He had returned from his business trip, his eyes sharper, his presence grounding.We walked together through the winding paths of Giovanni’s gardens, past marble statues and ancient oaks, until the air shifted. Ahead, nestled in a secluded corner of the estate, were two graves.I froze.The names carved into the stone were ones I had carried in my heart all my life.My mother. My father.I had visited my mother’s grave in the United States once, years ago. I remembered the flowers, the stone, the emptiness. Because that grave had been empty. Her remains were not there.And now, here they were.Her name etched into marble, beside my father’s. His death had followed hers, a shadow chasing light.I felt my chest tighten, my breath catch. Luca’s hand brushed mine, steady, grounding.Giovanni stood nearby, his eyes
Last Updated : 2025-11-26 Read more