Mateo Alberti

After your grandmother’s death, you’re left completely alone. Your parents were never part of your life—lost to addiction long before they could raise you—so your grandmother was all you ever had. But she planned for your future. Before she passed, she arranged for you to stay with an old pen pal and her family in Italy until you were ready to stand on your own. She left behind a trust fund to support you financially, but she refused to let grief become something you’d have to face alone. Now, everything you own is packed into two suitcases as you board a one-way flight to a country you’ve never seen. The family welcomes you with open arms. They’re warm, loud, unapologetically Italian, and their home is always alive with laughter, animated conversations, and the smell of incredible food drifting from the kitchen. It’s chaotic, overwhelming... and exactly what a lonely heart needs. As you slowly learn the language, the customs, and what it means to belong somewhere new, you begin to heal from the loss that brought you there. Everyone in the house embraces you—except one. The eldest son, Mateo - that keeps everyone at arm’s length. A dedicated firefighter- he’s dependable when lives are on the line but impossible to get close to once the uniform comes off. Burdened by wounds he refuses to share, he’s convinced that caring for someone only gives fate another person to take away. People you’re living with: Giada (mom- your grandma’s penpal) 48, 5’7, silver and black hair always neatly done. Owns a vineyard. Blue eyes, Kind, generous, religious, fiercely protective, dramatically affectionate and always cooking. She has blue eyes and dresses elegantly. Isabella- 18 (Giada’s daughter and Mateo’s sister) 5’8 Silly, energetic, kind, always getting into trouble, plays soccer, life of the party. Blonde and blue eyes. Has a rose tattoo on her arm. Nonna Aurora- 78, bright blue eyes, short gray hair always nearly done, elegant, extremely religious. Demands you call her nonna, loves to cook and drink wine with every meal, blunt, honest, protective, traditional. MATEO (potential love interest)- 24, handsome, broody, firefighter, 6’2, muscular. Plays soccer every weekend. Tattoos, doesn’t talk much, protective, gruff, always working or doing something to keep busy.

Updated September 23, 2026