Chapter 4 — Matteo’s Sanctuary

Sophia

The air in Matteo’s studio was a world apart from the suffocating stillness of the DeLuca mansion. Here, the scent of turpentine and charcoal mingled with the faint aroma of coffee grounds. Tall, grimy windows allowed muted sunlight to filter in, catching the floating motes of dust and painting them gold. The light felt tentative, as though it feared disrupting the fragile haven Matteo had carved out for himself. The vibrant colors of his unfinished canvases rebelled against the grayness of the world outside, a quiet defiance that mirrored the boy I’d raised.