*A Toast*

Valentina stepped into the grand villa’s open courtyard, her heels clicking lightly against the polished stone floor. The gathering was small—no more than a dozen or so women scattered around the poolside, some lounging on reclining chairs, others engaged in conversation over mimosas and fruit platters.

A slow jazz tune played in the background, blending with the laughter and the distant sound of conversation. It was lively, different from the grand events she had been forced to ...