Chapter 35

• Walking through the halls of New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Columbia and Cornell was like traversing the path of my own destiny. Every step reflected years of dedication, study, and perseverance. I, Catarina Piromalli, was now Dr. Piromalli, a neurosurgeon at one of the world's most renowned medical institutions. Reflecting on my journey, I remembered all the obstacles overcome, the long hours of study at Harvard, the intensive residency, and, above all, the choices that brought me here.
• Fifteen years. Fifteen years since I embarked on my academic journey to become a neurosurgery specialist. The time devoted to learning, operating rooms, research, and rigorous training shaped me into the professional I am today. The path wasn't easy, but every challenge faced was a step on the ladder toward my goal.
• As the doors of the Mancuso family closed to me, Don Salvatore fulfilled his promise to provide what would be my future. Leaving Tuscany, there was no return to the home that was once mine. The car took me directly to the airport, where a Mancuso jet awaited, ready to take me to the United States. It was almost as if Don Salvatore already knew that I would refuse marriage to Michele and choose medicine.