Eight Years Later

Azzurra sat at the pool’s edge, her legs submerged in the cool water, the night breeze brushing across her skin like a soft caress. Above, dark gray clouds drifted through the sky, gathering into a thunder-laden mass. The scene was wild and ominous, yet breathtaking in its own raw beauty.

She rubbed her arms against the chill, exhaling a quiet sigh when the water broke with a ripple. Marcello’s head surfaced, followed by his broad, powerful shoulders. He caught her ...