Ariana's gaze swept across the assembled ladies, their eyes wide with astonishment, their lips parting in hushed whispers. A tempest of emotions roiled within her, yet she maintained a facade of composure.
"Oh, dear," Giulia murmured, her eyes darting between Ariana and the other women. "I fear this has taken an unexpected turn."
Ariana inhaled deeply, her chest rising and falling with controlled breaths. A practiced smile graced her lips, though her eyes betrayed a flicker of turmoil. "I do apologize for my outburst, signorine," she said, her voice soft yet carrying a firm undertone. "Perhaps it is time to conclude our Caffé Sociale for the day?"
A chorus of polite affirmations rippled through the group as the women gathered their belongings. As they departed, leaving Ariana alone in the courtyard, a sense of isolation washed over her.
