Chapter 29. Almost Normal

The house felt too large.

The clocks ticked louder, the floors creaked longer, and even the air seemed to move slower.

In the kitchen, Rosa poured herself and Gabriella a cup of tea. The scent of bergamot rose with the steam, soft and soothing against the chill of the morning.

Ezio had left before dawn, leaving behind tighter security and fewer servants. Only the essentials remained—the loyal, the quiet. Outside, men rotated their shifts in pairs, shadows moving along the fences.

Rosa sat at the worn oak table, watching the teapot’s reflection shimmer. Gabriella sat opposite her, chin resting on her hand, eyes distant.

“It’s too quiet,” Gabriella murmured. “Feels wrong.”

Rosa nodded. “He likes order. Silence means safety.”

Gabriella traced the rim of her cup. “Still, it’s not right—keeping that girl locked up upstairs all day. After what happened…” She hesitated, glancing toward the ceiling, as if she could see through it. “She must be terri