The Riccardo Inheritance

The roar of the private jet engines faded, leaving behind the low hum of the bustling Italian airport. Fourteen-year-old Juliana stepped onto the tarmac, her small backpack clutched tightly to her chest like a shield. She was in Italy, sent away from the only home she knew, to live with relatives she hadn't seen in years. Her eldest brother's venomous words and the sting of his hand still echoed in her mind.

She found a corner, a familiar comfort in her new, terrifying reality, and waited. Hours passed. The crowds ebbed and flowed, but no one came for her. Anxiety gnawed at her. Had they forgotten? Or worse, did they simply not care?

Finally, a kind stranger noticed her and alerted airport staff. As she sat in a supervisor's office, trying to explain her situation, the phone rang. Her uncle was on the other end, having finally realized she'd been left stranded. Relief warred with a deep sense of unease. Her new life was about to begin, but the shadows of her past and the uncertainties of her future loomed large.