Lia’s pov

The atmosphere was filled with the aroma of clean clothes and a slight hint of sweetness— remaining vanilla from the cookies that she and Luca had prepared earlier. Lia stood near the kitchen sink, washing the final dishes, absorbing the soft sounds of life around her. In the lounge space, Luca sat on the ground, turning the pages of a cherished storybook, softly mouthing the words as he read. Dante was close by, perched on the couch, one arm resting over the backrest as he ...