Born of the Storm

Chapter 8

As the sun dipped below the horizon, I sat alone in my room, the quiet of my home wrapping around me like a shroud. I gazed out the window, watching the sprawling vineyards bathed in the soft glow of twilight. My thoughts drifted back to the past, to the Salvatore family—a family that had once felt as much mine as my own blood.

The Salvatores had always been close to the Morettis. Our ties were woven through years of shared history, alliances, and secrets. I remembered the grand dinners, the laughter that echoed through their halls, and the warmth I felt in their presence. The Salvatores had treated me like one of their own, filling the void left by my eagerness to go beyond the gates.

I recalled running through the vast gardens of the Salvatore estate as a child, my heart light and carefree. The memories of summer afternoons spent with the Salvatores' only child, brought a faint smile to my lips. We had been inseparable, our bond forged in innocence and trust. Him, with his dark, expressive eyes and easy smile, had been my only friend.

But those days were long gone. As we grew older, the reality of our families' world began to creep in, shattering our childhood illusions. My family had secrets, dark and dangerous ones that I had only begun to know. And him, too, had been drawn into the same web, but had faced it head-on, accepting his fate while I had run away.

I remembered the night I left. The weight of my family's expectations and the suffocating pressure of the life laid out for me had become too much. I had slipped away in the dead of night, leaving behind everything I knew, including people I held close to me. He had faced his destiny, bound by loyalty and duty, while I sought freedom and a chance to forge my own path.

My chest tightened with guilt. I had abandoned them, left him to navigate the treacherous waters of our families' world alone. I wondered how he had fared, what burdens he carried now. Did he resent me for leaving? Did he understand why I had to go?

My hesitation had cost me time. By the time I finally parked my car and stepped out, smoothing the deep burgundy satin dress I wore, I was already late for dinner. The grand entrance of the estate loomed before me, the sounds of chatter and clinking glasses drifting through the open windows.

Continuing my walk, I reached the wing of the estate that held the dining room. My heart quickened, knowing who I was about to face. The people, the person I had tried so hard to forget. The memories of our time together, once a source of comfort, now felt like a haunting echo. It all felt like a lifetime ago, yet the emotions were as raw as ever.

As I approached the door to the dining room, I hesitated. The person inside was tied to both my happiest and most painful memories. I had spent years trying to forget them, to move on from the betrayal and heartache. But now, standing here, I realized that the past was inescapable.

With a deep breath, I pushed open the door. The room was dimly lit, and there they were, seated at the table, their eyes widening in surprise as they saw me. The tension in the room was palpable, a silent acknowledgment of the memories we both carried.

Relief washed me as I quickly scanned the room and noticed that he was not present. The tension in my shoulders eased slightly, and I allowed myself to breathe a little easier.

"Teresa, sono così felice che tu possa unirti a noi." (So glad you could join us) Alessandro said, breaking the silence and gesturing for me to take a seat.

I nodded, offering a polite smile to the assembled guests as I moved to my place at the table. The chatter slowly resumed, and I tried to focus on the conversation around me. The weight of the evening's importance still pressed heavily on me, but an absence made it a little more bearable.