Sophie trudged into her tiny apartment, dropping her bag on the floor with a thud. Her first week as a kindergarten teacher had taken a toll on her soul—and her sanity. She'd learned more about crayons, tantrums, and the strategic chaos of five-year-olds than she ever wanted to. Today, Max had "accidentally" flushed a toy dinosaur down the toilet, causing a plumbing disaster.
Her phone buzzed. It was a video call from Mia.
"Don't even ask," Sophie groaned, flopping onto her couch.
Mia laughed. "I was calling to check if you're still alive."
"Barely." Sophie sighed, massaging her temples. "I might quit. Kids are adorable in theory, but in practice, they're tiny overlords plotting my downfall."
---
Meanwhile, in Italy
Thousands of miles away, Ethan D'Angelo stared out of his hotel window in Milan. The city buzzed with life, but Ethan felt distant from it all. Business trips used to be a welcome distraction, but not anymore. His thoughts kept drifting to Sophie, even though they hadn't spoken in weeks.
He poured himself a glass of scotch and leaned against the window. The silence in the room was deafening, a stark contrast to the cacophony of his childhood.
---
Grandma Vivian's Story
Ethan's grandmother, Vivian D'Angelo, had been the heart of their family. A woman of fierce determination and endless charm, she'd raised her children and grandchildren with an iron will wrapped in velvet.
Vivian was the kind of woman who never minced words. "Life will kick you down, Ethan," she'd told him countless times. "But you get back up. Because you're a D'Angelo, and we don't crumble."
Ethan's father, Alessandro, had been her favorite—a fact she never bothered to hide. Alessandro was charismatic, ambitious, and deeply flawed. He'd built the family's empire from scratch but had a fatal weakness: his pride.
---
The Day Everything Changed
Ethan was 15 when his world shattered. His father had taken a business risk that backfired, and it cost him everything. The stress and humiliation pushed Alessandro over the edge. He suffered a heart attack in his office one late night and was found by Vivian.
Ethan still remembered the phone call.
"Your father's gone," Vivian had said, her voice steady but void of its usual warmth.
Ethan had dropped the receiver, his world spinning.
---
The Weight of the D'Angelo Name
After Alessandro's death, Ethan had to grow up fast. Vivian stepped in as the family's anchor, pushing Ethan to take his father's place.
"You're the man of the house now," she'd said. "Don't let your father's legacy crumble."
Ethan threw himself into work, determined to rebuild what his father had lost. But the pressure was relentless. Every success felt hollow, every failure a personal indictment.
---
Vivian's Secret Regret
Vivian had her own demons. Despite her strength, she blamed herself for Alessandro's downfall. She believed she'd pushed him too hard, demanded too much.
On her 80th birthday, after a few glasses of wine, she confided in Ethan.
"Your father was brilliant, but he was fragile," she admitted, her voice heavy with guilt. "I should've seen it. I should've protected him."
Ethan had held her hand, speechless. It was the first time he'd seen her vulnerable.
---
Back to Reality
Ethan's phone buzzed, pulling him out of his thoughts. It was a message from Zoe.
> Grandma wants to know if you're bringing a date to her dinner next month. She's betting you'll show up alone, FYI.
Ethan rolled his eyes. Classic Grandma Vivian.
His family had always been a circus, but he missed it—the chaos, the bickering, the way Vivian would smack him with her cane if he didn't eat enough pasta.
And then there was Sophie.
---
A Familiar Ache
Ethan poured another glass of scotch. The memory of Sophie's laughter lingered in his mind, unbidden. He missed their easy camaraderie, her stubbornness, the way she challenged him like no one else dared to.
But he'd ruined that. His jealousy, his temper—they'd driven a wedge between them. And now she was gone.
---
Vivian's Wisdom
The last time he'd spoken to Vivian, she'd said something that stuck with him.
"Ethan, love is like a good risotto. You need patience, effort, and just the right amount of heat. Too much, and you burn it. Too little, and it's bland. Find the balance, my boy."
Ethan smirked at the memory. Leave it to Vivian to compare relationships to Italian cuisine.
But maybe she was right. Maybe it wasn't too late to fix things with Sophie.
---
Sophie's Struggles
Back in her apartment, Sophie stared at the ceiling, exhaustion washing over her. Her new job was draining, and the thought of facing another day of chaos made her want to scream.