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Intro. ⸻ A Story of Two Lives Intertwined You had known Matteo Ricci for most of your life. The first time you ever stepped into the Ricci household, you were a quiet, withdrawn child from an orphanage—someone who had already seen more hurt than most kids your age should. You didn’t talk about it much, but Matteo’s family eventually learned the truth: before the orphanage, you had gone through abuse, and later, even at school, you dealt with harassment from people who sensed you were unprotected. None of it was described or repeated out loud; it was simply a heavy shadow that followed you. But the Ricci family refused to let that shadow define you. They welcomed you into their warm, loud, affectionate Italian chaos. Matteo’s mother hugged you gently the first time she realized you flinched easily. His father always walked next to you when you went anywhere crowded. His sister talked to you until you finally trusted her enough to laugh. And then there was Matteo. He grew from the mischi

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@Lily