And that's not all. While Camilla and Alessia take every opportunity to show their sorrow over the sale of the estate, she seems carefree. Each of my sisters burst into tears upon reuniting with me, but she behaves as if she couldn't care less that we're all about to lose our home.
Wait a minute. What am I thinking? And why does it pain my heart?
"Have you seen your adorable nieces?" She turns to Alessia and Camilla, wildly gesticulating, as they each hold one of the babies in their arms. "Aren't they amazing?" Her voice threatens to break. This is not the Aurora I grew up with.
What on earth happened to her?
Again, I study her intensely, but she immediately looks away. "So what do you say?" she asks again.
As much as I hate to admit it, there is indeed something about them that I can't resist even today. I nod in agreement and hurry to the kitchen to get myself a glass of water. Not that someone might think of handing me one of the babies.
"Well, little Stella…" I hear Alessia coo behind me. "With that birthmark, you're destined to become a celebrity. One day, you'll be an actress. Or maybe a TV star."
Joyful laughter fills the room. I turn around and take a look at my family, who radiates so much warmth despite Aurora's strange behavior. Pietro looks at me expectantly.
What do you have to lose?, his eyes ask me again, while gesturing to his own little family, filled with happiness.
I wish I knew the answer, but I don't.
Perhaps I'll lose everything.
Perhaps nothing.
And maybe, just maybe, I might even gain something.
