CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY THREE – DISTRACTING THEORIES

Over the next few days, Maria and Luca took turns bringing Joan supplies and news from town. The story of Joan's sudden departure had spread quickly, thanks in no small part to Signora Rossi's efficient gossip network. "You should hear the theories," Luca chuckled one evening as he dropped off a bag of groceries. "Some people think you're a secret agent, called back for an urgent mission. Others are convinced you're a runaway heiress." Joan couldn't help but laugh. "If only they knew the truth." As the days turned into weeks, Joan found herself settling into a strange new routine. She spent her days reading, writing in her journal, and gazing out at the endless expanse of the sea. At night, she would climb to the top of the lighthouse, watching the beam of light sweep across the dark water. It reminded her of her own situation – a small point of brightness in a vast, uncertain world. Meanwhile, Maria kept a watchful eye on the town, alert for any sign of Scipione's men. But as tim