"Enzo," Valentina called sweetly, wrapping her arms around him. "I was just comforting Seraphina. She has been overwhelmed."
Enzo frowned at me. "Seraphina, what is going on now?"
"She yelled at us," Matteo said quickly.
"She said she hated us," Rocco added.
"She scared Alessia," Gianna said softly.
"That is not true," I said, my voice shaking.
"She is just upset about the dog," Valentina said gently. "We should be patient."
Enzo's expression hardened. The way a man's face hardens when he has already chosen a side and resents being asked to justify it. "Seraphina, this is getting out of hand."
Something inside me shattered again.
I turned away.
They would never listen.
Never understand.
I went back to my room. The room they had given me at the far end of the east wing, where the walls were thin enough to hear the soldiers changing shifts outside and thick enough that no one heard what happened inside.
My suitcase was still there.
Waiting.
I checked my phone.
My flight confirmation had arrived.
The documents I requested would be ready in the morning.
I only needed to survive until then.