Chiara’s POV
“You’re thinner than the last time I saw you.”
Noemi’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts as she set a steaming cup of tea on the small wrought-iron table between us. The scent of bergamot and fresh herbs rose with the steam, warm and familiar. She sat across from me, studying me the way only she could, half affectionate, half quietly judging every change.
A short laugh slipped from my lips, awkward, almost unfamiliar after years of holding everything in. “Life has a way of wearing people down,” I said.
She frowned, her lips pressing into a thin line, eyes soft but sharp. “You’ve been through too much, Chiara. More than anyone should.”
I looked away, wrapping my hands around the teacup, letting the warmth seep into my skin. Time had not dulled her ability to see through m
