Chapter 41 : The Dawn of a New Era

The battle looked over, and the first rays of dawn bathed the city in a soft, golden light. The Mateo mansion stood weathered but unbowed, a testament to the family's resilience. Inside, the atmosphere was a mixture of relief and exhaustion. They had faced the inferno and emerged victorious, but now came the hardest part: moving on.

Fabio woke to the gentle sound of birds chirping outside his window. His body ached from the previous night's battle, but his spirit felt lighter than it had in weeks. He turned to see Sophia still asleep beside him, her face peaceful and untroubled. He smiled softly, brushing a strand of hair from her face.

He slipped out of bed, careful not to wake her, and headed downstairs. The house was eerily quiet, a stark contrast to the chaos of the night before. In the kitchen, he found his father, Duncan, sitting at the table with a cup of coffee.

"Morning, Dad," Fabio greeted, pouring himself a cup and sitting down.

Duncan looked up, his eyes tired but calm. "M