The first weeks in the old villa felt like a dream – fragile, precious and almost ineffective.The house was hidden in a small, fertile valley in the Sabine mountains. Surrounded by old olive trees, wild thyme and a clear brook, the quiet blew past the west side. The villa itself was old, but solid. The walls of travertine had survived the centuries, even though the roof some places had to be repaired and the courtyard of weeds overgrown was.Marcus worked like a possessed man from the first day.At sunrise he stood up, repaired roof tiles, built new shutters freshly beaten wood and cleaned the well. His muscular upper body shining before sweat while dragging heavy stones or olive trees cut back. Livia often observed him from the terrace, the little Valeria in a cloth in front of the breast, and felt a deep, warm tenderness rising in itself.“You build us a kingdom,” she said one evening smiling when he exhausted, but happy to her.Marcus took his hands off his tunic and ki
Last Updated : 2026-05-21 Read more