All Chapters of ROSES ON FIRE: Chapter 131 - Chapter 140

MARIAI had arrived in Palermo with my heart beating wildly in my chest, searching for answers I could no longer avoid. On serene city days, the streets looked like labyrinths full of mysteries and potential dangers. But they were not the dangers of crowded streets, nor were their secrets to be sought behind the crumbling walls of buildings. They buried the real enigmas in the souls of the people who lived in this city full of history and passion. And my story, my secrets were here too, but nobody knew that. For now.I was not so much of a stranger in this beautiful landscape, not even a passing visitor in search of what many would call “my hidden truth”. I was bound to these places, but ran as far as I could from them. My truth, the one I held deep inside, hiding from the eyes of the world, was not a dark or evil one. No, I was neither a criminal nor a sinner on any record of wrongdoing. However, my fear came from the raw knowledge that, in the eyes of some, appearances could be dece

CLARISSAWith my heart still pounding from the call I received from my daughter Francesca, I hung up the phone with a slight wince. My gaze turned to Maria, her close friend and confidante for years. Her watchful, warm eyes seemed to offer me support and understanding in those moments of confusion."You have nothing to worry about, I told her, trying to keep my emotions in check. "Francesca just called to let us know she was okay, but she didn't have time to let us know she was leaving."Maria's face, which had previously seemed tight with worry, began to brighten slightly. She nodded, smiling slightly. "I see. I know Francesca usually cares to let us know when she's going somewhere. But if she failed to do so, I don't think I should make a big deal out of it."I was relieved to see that Maria was beginning to regain her confidence. And yet, despite Maria's soothing words, a thread of worry still flickered in my soul. I remembered Francesca's words, the hurried sound of her voice. "

VINCENZOEvery day, my eyes would linger on her. Francesca. A name that was only supposed to mean part of my plan, a way to get the revenge I so desperately wanted. She was the daughter of my enemy, of the man who had stolen everything from me, who had taken my father and left a void in my soul, a void that no one and nothing could fill. But despite this void, despite my fierce desire to avenge his death, I felt something I couldn’t understand, something that tormented me and made me feel guilty.Francesca was beautiful in a disturbing way. The look in her eyes, the grace with which she moved, all made my heart beat faster in ways I couldn’t control. A casual glance, a fleeting touch, and I felt like my entire universe was spinning around her. Her deep, shining eyes seemed to read my soul, to reveal those emotions I was struggling to hide. But how could I feel this way about the daughter of the man who had brought me so much pain?I tried to convince myself that all I felt was an illu

FRANCESCADeep in my heart, I knew this moment was unique, that I couldn’t compare to anything else in my past. But paradoxically, I didn’t start out thinking that everything was perfect. I simply felt that perfection in the air, in the way the sun’s rays delicately embraced the white sand of the Maldives beach, in the way the ocean’s sharp blue seemed to merge with the endless sky.I woke up this morning in a sense of daze, as if we both stepped into a corner of paradise we didn’t yet know. In Vincenzo’s eyes I could read his inner peace, the calm happiness that made me feel safe. I knew he had been through a lot, that life hadn’t always been kind to him, because he never talked about his past life, but this morning, all that mattered was our present together.We hadn’t come to that place in search of paradise, but clearly the Maldives had offered it to us on a platter. We could feel the soft sand beneath our bare bodies, and the sea slipped between our feet. Another day on the beach

VINCENZOIt was still a dark morning, when the first rays of the sun were just beginning to light up the sky. The mountain air enveloped my cabin, creating a comforting tranquility and solitude. We had arrived late from the Maldives, where I had spent endless hours relaxing on the sandy beaches and crystal clear waters with Francesca. And now, as I looked at her sleeping peacefully wrapped in fluffy covers, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for our precious moments together.Francesca seemed to sleep like a child, the delicate features of her face accentuated in the dim light. I walked carefully around the bed and stood there, as if I wanted to keep every detail of that view in my mind. Although I wanted to stay here, next to her, to continue enjoying the quiet moments, I knew I had to leave.Within minutes, I hurriedly dressed, not wanting to wake Francesca. With my backpack fully loaded with all the necessary items for the trip, I quickly jotted a simple note before heading out. I l