Chapter 24
Amber sat at the kitchen table, trying to immerse herself in the mundane rhythm of conversation with Gabriella as the cook prepared lunch. The day had started with a blanket of gray hanging low in the sky, a heavy weight pressing down on her chest as if the very air was infused with a sense of impending doom. She hadn’t told anyone about the email she'd received the previous night—the formal, sterile confirmation of her resignation from the multinational company where she had spent years working as a cybersecurity expert. It was her decision, but the finality of it still cut deep.
Sitting in her room a little later, Amber stared out of the window, trying to make sense of her feelings. All her connections to the world were being severed one by one. First her career, then her hobbies, now even her role as a mother was slipping through her fingers. Soon she’d have to leave Nico behind, too. The bitter loneliness crept in like a shadow, and she couldn't shake the gnawing realization that soon, there would be nothing left of her.
As the rain began to fall, it was soft at first, just droplets tapping against the glass like hesitant fingers. She watched it, her thoughts trailing away into the endless stretch of gray sky. It wasn't long before the storm arrived with a sudden intensity—angry torrents of rain lashed the windows, and the sky above crackled with sharp, furious lightning. Amber flinched at the sound, her breath hitching in her throat. The sky was dark now, swirling with violent clouds, and the wind howled like a wounded animal outside.
A sense of panic began to bloom in her chest. The sudden crack of thunder made her jump, her heart racing. A childhood fear, long-buried, rose to the surface, gnawing at her nerves. She had always hated thunderstorms—their unpredictability, the sheer raw power they wielded, the way they shattered the stillness. And now, as the storm raged, that fear tightened its grip around her heart, squeezing out every rational thought.
For a brief moment, she worried about Nico, but then remembered he was safe with Luca at the market. That realization should have comforted her, but it didn’t. Her fear wasn’t rational, and it wasn’t about Nico. It was about the storm itself—the way the sky seemed to crack open, spilling its fury upon the earth. Another crack of lightning split the sky, and Amber found herself gasping, an involuntary sound of distress escaping her lips.
She stood abruptly and rushed to the window, yanking the drapes closed as if that simple act could block out the storm’s presence. If she couldn’t see it, maybe she could pretend it wasn’t happening. But the sound of the wind beating against the walls of the house, the creaking of the trees as they bent under its force, made it impossible to ignore. The wind howled louder, and the thunder seemed to be right above her now, crashing in a relentless, terrifying rhythm.
Amber backed away from the window and sat on the bed, pulling her knees up to her chest. She clutched a pillow, pressing it hard against her ears, trying to drown out the deafening roar of the storm outside. But it was no use.
She curled up tighter, pulling the quilt over her head as if it could shield her from the chaos outside.
Amber’s thoughts raced back to the last time a storm like this had hit. Nico had been with her, and though he was frightened at first, it was watching *her* fear that had scared him the most. Her panic had been so palpable that he had climbed into bed with her, wrapping his small arms around her, trying to comfort her the only way he knew how—by being there, by not leaving her alone with her fear.
But Nico wasn’t here this time. And that only made the fear worse. She pressed the pillow harder against her ears, trying to block out the rising crescendo of the storm. It felt like the world outside was breaking apart, and she was trapped in the middle of it, helpless and alone.
The thunder roared again, rattling the windows, and Amber’s body shook Her heart raced, her skin felt clammy, and her mind spun out of control. She hated how powerless she felt—how something as elemental as a storm could unravel her so completely.
She buried her face deeper into the pillow, her body trembling uncontrollably now.
“Goddammit,” she whispered, her voice muffled by the quilt. She pulled it tighter around her, as though cocooning herself in its warmth could protect her from the storm. But no amount of fabric could shield her from the terror that gripped her heart.
“God! It’s raining,” Chiara lamented as they arrived at the marketplace, dodging puddles while the wind whipped around them. The once serene skies had given way to a chaotic downpour. The bustling marketplace, lined with high-end designer shops, was now a scene of hurried shoppers seeking shelter under awnings and doorways. Rain fell harder by the minute, soaking the cobblestones until they gleamed under the oppressive gray sky.
Luca had made a quick decision. He’d take Nico to the children’s store to get his sandals before they headed home, while the ladies continued their shopping. But as they stepped inside the shop, the rain escalated into a torrent, the sound of it drumming against the windows. The wind began to howl, the kind of gale that sent pedestrians scrambling for cover. Luca glanced outside, frowning.
The storm was intensifying.
“Papa, can we go back home now? Please?” Nico tugged at Luca’s hand, his small voice trembling with anxiety. His dark, wide eyes darted nervously to the window where the rain had begun to blur the world outside. Luca bent down to reassure him, his voice calm and steady.
“Don’t worry, Nico. It’s just a thunderstorm. It’ll pass.” He gave the boy a gentle smile, standing up and guiding him toward the row of children’s shoes. “Come on, let’s get your sandals, then we’ll go home.”
But even as Luca spoke, the storm grew fiercer. Lightning flashed outside, lighting the sky in sharp bursts. Thunder rumbled ominously overhead, shaking the very air around them. Nico froze, his small hand tightening around Luca’s. His bottom lip quivered, his earlier curiosity about shoes forgotten.
“Papa, please,” Nico begged, his voice rising. “Please, let’s go home. I want Mummy.” His face was pale now, his eyes wide with fear. The storm had turned his usually playful, carefree demeanor into one of raw, palpable anxiety. Luca paused, noticing just how shaken Nico was.
“Tesoro,” Luca said softly, crouching down to his son’s level. “You’re safe with me. It’s just a little rain, nothing to worry about. I promise.”
But Nico wasn’t convinced. He was trembling, visibly agitated now. His little fists clenched at the hem of his shirt as another deafening crack of thunder echoed through the shop. The store owner threw Luca a concerned glance, as if wondering why this father couldn’t calm his distressed child. Luca sighed inwardly, trying to maintain his composure.
“I want my Mummy,” Nico cried out, his voice breaking. Luca opened his mouth to reassure him again, but what Nico said next stopped him cold.
“Mummy gets really scared when the sky lights,” Nico whispered, his voice wavering as if he was sharing a secret too big for his young heart. “Please, Papa. We have to go home. She’s probably scared right now, without me. When there’s lightning, she hides. She hides under the bed or in the closet and cries. I don’t want Mummy to cry, Papa. Please…please, let’s go home to her.”
Luca’s heart twisted painfully in his chest as he stared at his son. He’d had no idea. The thought of Amber—strong, determined Amber—hiding under a bed, terrified of the storm, was something he couldn’t quite process. His ex-wife had always been such a mystery to him, even when they were together. And now, hearing this from Nico, Luca realized there were so many things about her that he had never known.
But there was no time to dwell on that now. Nico’s tear-filled eyes were pleading with him, desperate to get back to Amber. And if what Nico was saying was true, Amber might really need him. Luca cursed under his breath, glancing at the storm raging outside. There was no way he could take Nico back out in weather like this. It wasn’t safe.
“Okay, Nico,” Luca said gently, pulling his son into a hug. “We’ll go home. But listen, it’s too dangerous for you to come with me right now. I need you to stay here with Nonna and Zia. I promise I’ll go check on Mummy and make sure she’s okay.”
Nico sniffled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand. “But why can’t I come with you?”
“Because, tesoro, it’s not safe outside. If I go alone, I can drive really fast and get to Mummy quicker. You want me to help her, right?” Nico hesitated, his lip trembling, but finally he nodded.
“Okay,” he whispered.
Relieved, Luca stood up, grabbing his umbrella and draping his coat around Nico to shield him from the relentless downpour. Together, they ran toward the wedding dress shop where his mother, sister, and Carlotta were busy picking out bridal gowns. The rain battered against the umbrella, and Luca struggled to keep both him and Nico dry as they hurried across the market square.
When they finally reached the shop, Luca pushed open the door, the warmth inside offering a brief respite from the storm’s fury. But no sooner had he entered than his sister, Chiaram spotted him and immediately waved him away.
“Luca! You can’t be in here!” she cried, laughing as she pointed toward the dressing room. “You’re not allowed to see the bride in her gown before the wedding. Get out!” The store staff chuckled in agreement, but Luca ignored them, his focus solely on Nico.
“Ma, can you take care of Nico for a little while? I’ve got to run back to the casa and check on something,” Luca said hurriedly, handing Nico over to his mother. “I’ll send the driver to pick you all up.”
Giulia was delighted to take Nico, though the boy still clung to his father. “We’ll be fine, Luca,” she said cheerfully. “Nico, why don’t we go get those shoes and maybe find that Spidey sticker you wanted?”
Nico hesitated, but when Giulia started talking about shoes and stickers, his attention shifted just enough to let Luca slip away. With one last glance at his son, Luca turned and headed back out into the storm.
He was halfway out the door when, in the large mirror on the shop wall, he caught a glimpse of Carlotta stepping out of the dressing room. She was wearing a stunning white gown, her reflection glowing in the dim light.
“Hey! I said it’s bad luck to see the bride in her dress before the wedding!” Chiara called out playfully, laughter filling the shop. He barely registered it.
Pushing open the door, he sprinted through the rain toward his car, the wind howling in his ears. He climbed into the driver’s seat, water streaming down his face, and started the engine. As the storm raged outside, Luca gripped the wheel, his knuckles white, and sped off toward the casa.