CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND NINETY EIGHT - A NEW DAWN

As they settled onto the blanket, savoring the delicious breakfast and the breathtaking scenery, Amelia felt a sense of contentment wash over her. She leaned against Alessandro's shoulder, intertwining her fingers with his. "You know," she said softly, "I could get used to mornings like this." Alessandro pressed a kiss to the top of her head. "So could I, cara mia. So could I." They spent the next hour talking quietly, their conversation flowing easily from reminiscing about their past to dreaming about their future. As the sun climbed higher in the sky, casting a golden glow over the water, Amelia found herself opening up about hopes and fears she hadn't even realized she'd been harboring. "I've been thinking," she said, tracing patterns on Alessandro's palm, "about what you said the other night. About hearing the patter of little feet someday." Alessandro tensed slightly beside her, clearly remembering the pain they'd been through. "Amelia, we don't have to—" She shook her head