Chapter 11 - THE FIRE AT THE CONSERVATORY
The fire started three nights before my departure.
I woke to the smell of smoke.
At first, I thought I was dreaming.
Then the alarm sounded.
I ran into the hallway.
Smoke drifted from the conservatory.
The room where Elio's mother's painting hung.
I called for help.
Teresa appeared.
Bruno followed.
Security personnel began evacuating the house.
Elio arrived moments later.
He grabbed my hand.
“Come with me.”
I looked toward the conservatory.
“The painting.”
Elio's face changed.
“Ginevra—”
“Your mother's painting.”
He looked toward the smoke.
For a moment, grief flashed across his face.
Then he turned back to me.
“Leave it.”
I stared.
He took my hand.
“You matter more.”
We evacuated.
Firefighters arrived.
The fire was contained before it spread through the entire estate.
But the conservatory suffered serious damage.
The painting was lost.
Later, I found Elio standing outside the ruined room.
He looked devastated.
I approached.
“I'm sorry.”
He shook his head.
“Don't.”
I swallowed.
“She was important to you.”
Elio nodded.
“Yes.”
For a long moment, neither spoke.
Then he looked at me.
“But you're alive.”
His voice broke.
“And that's what matters.”
I began crying.
Elio stepped closer.
This time, I reached for him.
We held each other.
And I realized something.
The man who had once valued power above everything had chosen me over the last painting his mother had left behind.
But the fire wasn't an accident.
May you like
Investigators later found evidence of deliberate ignition.
And the trail led back to Dario.
