The shopping had been perfect.Three stores, two gelato stops, and countless moments of Aria’s infectious laughter.We’d bought a new dress for her—pale pink with butterflies embroidered on the hem.She’d insisted on wearing it immediately, her old sundress carefully folded in the shopping bag.“Mama, can we go to the park? Just for a little bit?”I checked my phone.No messages from Alessandro yet.We’d been out for two hours, and everything had been blessedly normal.“Thirty minutes,” I agreed. “Then we need to head home.”The park near the Via Veneto was one of Aria’s favorites.Shaded paths, a small playground, and usually filled with families on sunny afternoons.But when we arrived, something felt wrong immediately.The park was nearly empty.A few people were scattered on distant benches, but none of the usual crowds of children and nannies.“Mama, where is everyone?”“I don’t know, sweetheart.”My hand moved instinctively toward my thigh.Toward the reassuring weight of the gu
Last Updated : 2025-09-30 Read more