Chapter 95

Later that evening, Annizah took Fiore to the garden, needing some fresh air. She cradled the baby, her thoughts a whirlwind of emotions. She was deep in thought when Vincenzo’s mother approached.

"May I join you?" she asked softly.

Annizah nodded, though she felt a bit distant. Vincenzo’s mother sat beside her, watching Fiore with a wistful smile.

"You remind me of myself when I had Vincenzo," she said. "I carried him everywhere, just like you do with Fiore."

Annizah looked at her, curiosity piqued. "What was he like as a baby?"

Vincenzo’s mother’s eyes softened with the memory. "He was a strong baby, even then. Determined. Always wanting to be held, to feel secure. It broke my heart to be separated from him after he was born, but I understood it was necessary."

Annizah’s curiosity deepened. "Why did you have to be separated?"

She sighed, looking out over the garden. "Our world, our family—it’s always been complicated. There were threats even back then, and your father believed