Late Night Talks

That evening, the villa was quiet. The boys were finally in bed after an exhausting day at the beach. Bianca sat cross-legged on the cream-colored armchair in the cozy family room. She had swapped her beachwear for soft gray joggers and an oversized navy-blue sweater, her hair loosely tied into a bun. She cradled an open paperback in her hands, but her attention was nowhere near the printed words.

The room was warm and inviting, lit by the amber glow of a single lamp on the corner table. The furniture was a blend of old-world French charm and modern comfort: plush beige couches with intricate wooden frames, a glass coffee table stacked with glossy magazines, and a handwoven rug in muted earth tones sprawled across the floor.