An elderly man of 89 felt insulted when he requested a basic sandwich at a café. Stunned, a prosperous woman spotted something on his wrist and went still. As she approached and recognized what it was, her expression turned vacant, and she was utterly…

This, it means so much to me. Isabella reached out over the table, lightly touching Giuseppe’s hand. We both share the same loss, and somehow, that connects us.

I don’t know why fate brought us here today, but I know we’re together now and maybe that means something greater. They fell silent for a few moments, processing the revelations and the feelings that accompanied them. Emanuele’s watch was still in Isabella’s hands, and she carefully returned it to Giuseppe, who placed it back on his wrist with a solemn look.

This watch, Isabella said, her voice soft, is more than an accessory. It’s a symbol of the time we spent with him, of what we shared. And as painful as it is, it also reminds me that time continues to pass, and that we need to find ways to move forward.

Giuseppe smiled sadly, understanding the depth of those words. I don’t know how to move on, he admitted sincerely. After we lost everything, Victoria and I, we ended up on the streets, and now we’re just surviving.

Isabella felt a wave of empathy so strong that it made her shift in her chair. And where is Victoria now? she asked, her heart tightening. Giuseppe lowered his head.

She’s waiting for me in a nearby square. We have nowhere to go and she… well, she’s even more broken than I am. Isabella took a deep breath, sensing that there was something greater to be done.

I want to see Victoria, she said firmly. I want to help both of you. I can’t change the past, but I can try to improve the future.

Isabella’s heart raced as she walked alongside Giuseppe through the bustling streets of the city. The words they had exchanged in the cafe still echoed in her mind. The father of the man she had loved was at her side.

And now about to meet the woman who had always despised her, Isabella knew the moment would be difficult. But something inside her told her this was the right step to take. Giuseppe guided her in silence, his steps slow and weary, as if the weight of the years and hardships had drained all the energy he once had.

Isabella’s eyes wandered through the city, but her mind was in a whirlwind of thoughts. Reuniting with Victoria was something she had never imagined. The memories of Emanuele’s mother made her tremble, but she knew she had to face it.

Finally, after a few minutes, they arrived at a small square hidden between old buildings. It was a tranquil but worn place, where a few people sat on benches or strolled leisurely, and there, under the shade of a large tree, sat Victoria. The contrast between the woman Isabella had known in the past and the fragile figure sitting in the shade was shocking.

Victoria, once proud and immaculate, was now hunched over, wrapped in an old tattered coat, her grey hair carelessly tied back. Her eyes, once filled with pride, were now dull, staring into nothing as she held a small bag beside her. Giuseppe approached carefully, as if fearing to awaken a sleeping beast.

Isabella followed closely, her heart in her throat. When they got close enough, Victoria lifted her eyes with an expression of exhaustion that quickly turned to surprise and distrust upon seeing a stranger next to her husband. Giuseppe, Victoria murmured, her voice hoarse and weakened.

Who is this woman? Giuseppe hesitated for a moment, as if searching for the right words. Victoria, this is… Isabella. She… she was someone important to Emanuele.

The name Emanuele fell between them like a stone thrown into a still lake, creating ripples of tension and repressed emotions. Victoria’s eyes widened upon hearing the name, and she immediately recognised who stood before her. Isabella, Victoria said, her voice a mix of disbelief and anger.

You… you are the woman who took him away from us, the cause of all our misery. The accusation was strong and cutting, and Isabella felt the impact of those words like daggers, but she took a deep breath, determined to stay calm. She knew that for there to be any chance of reconciliation, she would need to be patient…