intriguing portrait in him, one that defied all his expectations. She was not the cynical and calculating heiress he had imagined, but a gentle, almost resigned young woman, facing

sat reading, surrounded by trees and the soothing sounds of birds. He waited patiently for her to settle down on a bench, one

sed, and met his gaze. A slight frown, a hesitation... then she seemed to recognize him as this man she

voice calm. "My name is Lorenzo. I noticed that w

surprise and caution, but eventually

ply, accepting the hand

the book she was holding. "The Flowers of Evil," he remarked when h

mile on her lips. "Maybe the sunligh

into beauty. "You seem like someone who always finds a sliver of light in the darkness. » He looked at

a little more. "You know, Rome can be... scary, when you don'

.. he wasn't around very much. And now there is no one left. » She attempted an awkwa

eft her when he found out she was pregnant. A wave of dull anger invaded him at the

aze on her. "I'm here on business, but... I also sometimes feel

rious-looking man, about whom she knew almost nothing.

he replied without hesitation. "Someone with whom silence is not aw

ugh she tried hard to repress the feeling. After all, he was a stranger. Yet he seemed

out a hand to her with disconcerting gallantry. "Wo

tant. "You don't even know who I am," she

st beautiful encounters are those that begin without knowing where they lead. I am

she found nothing suspicious. Finally, she nodded slowly. "Okay," she said, standing up as

e. "Promise." Tonight, I will only be L

e they could chat without being disturbed. Sofia was slightly nervous, unaccustomed to this kind of attent

r disappointed dreams. She revealed herself gently, without going into painful details, and he was content to let her gui

ng his intense gaze on her. "As if every detail had a special i

. "That's nice of you to say that. I guess... when we've lost a lo

rough so many trials, and yet she continued to move for

was calm, lit by street lamps and the stars shining in the sky. When they a

" she said, smiling, sincerely gratef

, his gaze locked on hers. "I'm glad you agr

of his eyes. She knew almost nothing about him, and yet she felt strangely

ly whispered as he pulled bac

knew she was attracted to this mysterious man, but a little inner voice was telling her to remain careful. Because she did not yet k

unexpected turn, without understanding that it was only the