Chapter 28 - THE GARDEN
The estate garden had become Emma's favorite place.
Matteo had planted roses, lavender, and yellow flowers because they reminded him of her first gift.
One summer morning, Sophia watched Emma running between the trees.
“You built all this for her.”
Matteo smiled.
“She gave me a reason.”
Sophia looked at him.
“And what about you?”
“What about me?”
“Who gives you a reason?”
He hesitated.
Then Emma shouted from across the garden.
“Matteo!”
He laughed.
“She does.”
Sophia smiled.
For a moment, neither spoke.
The past no longer stood between them.
There was no fear.
No poison.
No locked doors.
Just sunlight.
Emma returned holding three flowers.
“One for Mama.”
She handed Sophia a rose.
“One for Matteo.”
She gave him a yellow flower.
“And one for me.”
She kept the lavender.
Matteo looked at the three flowers.
Different colors.
May you like
Together.
Just like their lives.
