Alessia found herself retreating further into herself as the weeks passed. Her body had healed from the traumatic experiences, but the mental scars remained, cutting deeper with each passing day. The seizures, though less frequent now, still haunted her. She had good days, where the weight of the world seemed bearable, and bad days, where every step felt like a monumental effort.

She had spent years hiding, afraid of the truth, of her family's legacy. But now, that truth was inescapable. They were all haunted by the decisions of their past, and the future was uncertain.

One day, Alessia decided to take a walk through the gardens. The familiar scents of jasmine and roses filled the air, but even the beauty of nature couldn't wash away the heaviness in her heart. She wandered through the paths, trying to clear her mind, when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Alessia."

Turning, she saw Giovanni approaching. He didn't wait for an invitation to join her, falling into step beside her as they walked in silence. She wasn't sure what to expect, but the quiet between them felt less suffocating than in recent weeks. They were finally acknowledging the distance between them—both physically and emotionally.

"I've made a lot of mistakes," Giovanni said quietly, after a long pause. "And I don't know how to fix them. But I want to try. For you, for all of us."

Alessia felt a flicker of something in her chest—hope, perhaps—but it was fleeting. She didn't know if she was ready to forgive him. Not yet.

But the fact that he was here, that he was trying, meant something.

"I don't know if forgiveness is possible," Alessia replied, her voice heavy. "But maybe... maybe we can find a way to move forward. Together. Just... not right now."

Giovanni nodded. "I'll wait. I'm here when you're ready."

Months passed. Alessia's healing was slow, and the scars of her past would never fully fade, but she had begun to rebuild her life in ways she hadn't expected. She enrolled in a course on art history, a subject she had always been passionate about but had never had the freedom to pursue. Slowly, she reclaimed parts of herself that had been buried under the weight of her family's legacy.

Her brothers, each in their own way, supported her journey. Luca remained her constant presence, always there with quiet encouragement, while Francesco's rebellious spirit reminded her to embrace life without fear. Paolo had become more present, offering advice without expecting anything in return.

Though still haunted by the past, Giovanni had been the most changed. He had stepped away from his leadership role within the family business, recognizing that his path forward had to be different. He had begun to focus on rebuilding the trust within the family—especially with Alessia.

And Alessia? She had learned to find her own way, to live for herself, not for the name or the legacy she had once been shackled to. She had started volunteering at a local shelter for abused women, offering support to those who had lived through their own version of trauma.