Scarlett Rose couldn't believe she was actually here. Bologna University. Her dream. The buildings were old, the windows tall, the streets cobblestone — it felt like she had stepped into a postcard. Her backpack bounced as she walked in, her heart racing like crazy.
She had thought about this moment for years. Sketching buildings, imagining studying abroad, dreaming about Italy. And now it was real. She felt this mix of excitement and nervousness that made her stomach twist. Okay, Scarlett. You got this. Don't mess it up.
Her first class was architectural theory. The professor spoke, his voice bouncing around the lecture hall, and Scarlett just… focused. Scribbling notes, sketching tiny things in her notebook. Everything felt alive, like she was seeing architecture for the first time. She loved it.
Then the professor said something that made her sit straighter. "I'm giving you a project. Something hard. Design a building that mixes history and modern ideas. Only the top five students will get to go to a Veloce Morte workshop in Rome — Italy's top architecture company. You'll learn things most architects only dream of."
Scarlett's heart almost stopped. Top five? Veloce Morte? This was huge. She didn't even think twice. She would be one of the top five. She had to be.
For the next few days, Scarlett barely slept. She drew sketches, redrew sketches, crumpled papers, tried again. Some nights she just stared at her model thinking, Is it good enough? Will they pick me? But she didn't give up. She couldn't.
One afternoon, leaving class, she almost ran into a girl carrying way too many books.
"Oh! Sorry!" Scarlett said.
The girl looked up, smiling. "No worries. I'm Elissa Jones. Are you new?"
Scarlett smiled back. "Yeah. Scarlett Rose. Nice to meet you."
And just like that, it clicked. They started talking, walking together, laughing about getting lost in the campus, terrible cafeteria coffee, even the confusing lecture. Elissa said she worked part-time at a small ice cream shop in the plaza. Scarlett felt an instant connection. Someone who actually understood hard work.
"You should come by my shop sometime," Elissa said. "Best gelato in Bologna. And you'll hear me complain about my boss for hours."
Scarlett laughed. "Deal. I could use a friend like you."
By the end of the day, Scarlett felt lighter. Making a friend in a new country wasn't easy, but she had Elissa.
Then came the day of the project review. Students presented their work to professors and guest architects. Scarlett's hands shook as she put up her model — modern lines mixed with old Roman ruins, simple but bold. She had poured everything she had into it.
The room was tense. Everyone whispered, looked at each other, checked the designs. Scarlett forced herself to breathe.
Finally, Professor Lorne stood up. "The top five students are…" Scarlett's heart hammered. "…you made it!"
She could barely believe it. She was going to Rome. She was going to the Veloce Morte workshop.
The workshop was at the Roman Forum. Ancient ruins everywhere, the sun painting the stones gold. Scarlett clutched her sketchbook, trying to calm herself. And then she saw him.
Tall. Confident. Mysterious. Nicolas Volkov.
Her stomach dropped. Ten years. Ten years without seeing him. And now he was right there.
He walked like he owned the place, but there was something unreadable about him. He glanced around and his eyes… didn't seem to recognize her.
Scarlett's chest tightened. Does he remember? Or… She pushed the thought aside. She had a workshop to focus on. But something told her this meeting wasn't by chance. Something told her that Nicolas Volkov was going to change everything… again.