Rosa looked at her four-year-old son and then at Samuele, who had just made an already impossible situation so much more complicated. She scrambled to find an excuse, her mind racing to frame it all as a game—a story where the doctor was a hero helping them save the world. She hated the idea of lying to him, but the thought of crushing his spirit or admitting the ugly truth was even worse.
But before she could weave another lie that would eventually break her heart, Samuele beat her to it.
“I am your doctor, Renzo,” he said gently. Rosa’s eyes snapped to his, and he gave her a small, reassuring nod. He had seen the panic written all over her face and stepped in to anchor her.
“Then why did you say I was your son back there?” Renzo questioned, a small frown creasing his face.
“Because t
