The phone rang just as I was rinsing the last cup from breakfast. The morning had been quiet, sunlight falling across the counter while Julian read in the living room. I glanced at the screen, expecting to see Simone or Lena, but instead I froze.

The name glared at me, one I never thought would appear on my phone again. Alessia. My hand tightened on the glass, and for a moment I thought of letting it ring out.

Julian looked up from the sofa when he heard the silence. “Who is it?” His voice ...