Chapter 29
“Mummy, look at my new sandals! Aren’t they cool? Aren’t they?” Nico’s voice bubbled with excitement as he darted around Amber, showing off his new shoes. Luca watched from the corner of his eye, his earlier hesitation dissolving as he took in the transformation. The boy, so shy and quiet around his grandmother and aunt, blossomed into a lively, joyous whirlwind whenever Amber was near. It was as though her presence alone allowed him to burst into life, to dance through the world with uncontained joy.
“Very beautiful,” Amber murmured, her words hollow. Her gaze drifted to Luca, catching his eyes across the room, her face etched with silent worry. Only now did he realize the depth of her expression—this wasn’t mere fatigue. Ever since she returned to Rome, she had been quietly watching him, measuring his worth, assessing if he could truly be a father to their son. And as she looked at him now, her eyes held something else—fear. She was waiting for his answer, waiting for the promise he had yet to give: the reassurance that he would take Nico under his roof, care for him as she faced the battle of her life.
Luca’s chest ached with the weight of her unspoken plea, but he couldn’t bring himself to answer just yet. It wasn’t just about Nico’s well-being, though that alone was agonizing. He had others in his life to consider before he could make this choice—people he couldn’t disregard, responsibilities he hadn’t yet resolved. He had been selfish once before, following his desires with little thought of the impact. This time, he wanted to do it right, to ensure Nico would have the support he deserved without the collateral damage of a hasty decision.
Amber’s gaze remained fixed on him, her large, expressive eyes scanning his face, searching for the assurance he was struggling to offer. He smiled, hoping it would bring her some comfort in the face of his silence. But as the uneasy quiet stretched between them, he felt his own anxiety solidify into a knot that wouldn’t ease for a long time.
The house had fallen silent after his mother had left, with only the soft shuffling of the housekeeper cleaning up in the aftermath of Nico’s energetic play. As Amber walked toward him, a determined look in her eyes, he felt her presence before she spoke.
“Luca, can we talk?” Her voice held a quiet insistence.
He glanced up, fingers still poised on the laptop as he finished drafting a letter. “Depends,” he replied with forced casualness, “is it about Nico staying here with me in Rome?”
“Yes,” Amber nodded, her posture rigid as she waited.
“Go to your room and rest,” he said, keeping his gaze fixed on the screen. “We’ll talk in the evening.”
“But why not now?” she demanded, her voice tinged with frustration. She couldn’t see the battle raging within him, couldn’t know how conflicted he felt. Amber, straightforward and outspoken, had always worn her heart on her sleeve. She had loved him openly, standing by him through whispers and harsh words from the media and even his own family. And when she’d felt that love slip away, she’d left without hesitation, taking Nico and every shred of her affection with her.
Yet, alongside the guilt and worry, there was a quiet ache within him—a feeling of bitter sorrow he couldn't ignore. How unlucky he had been. She had loved their son so deeply that, three years ago, when she walked away, she took Nico with her, leaving him behind as little more than a memory. He had become irrelevant to her, because her love for him had faded, gone silent without any hint of remaining affection.
The saddest part of it all was the quiet truth he could never admit out loud: if she had only asked, if she’d even hinted that she still wanted him in her life—he would have left everything and followed her in a heartbeat. he would have followed her anywhere, no questions asked. But she hadn’t. She simply made her choice and walked away, leaving him with an empty home and nothing else.
“Luca?” Her voice broke through his reverie, and he turned, catching her look of confusion and concern.
“We’ll talk tonight,” he repeated, switching off his laptop as he rose. “Right now, I have something important to do.”
“What’s so important?” she pressed, a hint of disbelief coloring her tone.
“I need to see Carlotta,” he said finally. The moment the words left his lips, he saw Amber’s face fall, her expression unreadable but heartbreakingly familiar.
“I see,” she whispered, turning away, retreating from him without another word. And just like that, the distance between them grew, a chasm he wasn’t sure he could cross. She hadn’t asked him why, hadn’t fought for his attention. She never did.
Yet he knew he had to go. His life had shifted irrevocably in a matter of hours, and this time he wasn’t going to make the same mistake. He needed to talk to Carlotta before he made any decisions.
When he arrived at Carlotta’s family home, she was waiting in the living room, her face lighting up with a bright, breathless smile as she saw him. “Hi,” she said softly, standing to greet him. “I didn’t know you were coming—did you miss me?” She teased lightly, slipping into his arms, her warmth and joy spilling over him like sunlight.
But Luca gently eased away, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. He took her hand, guiding her to a quiet corner where they wouldn’t be disturbed.
“Actually, I came to talk to you about something,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. Her face clouded, her eyes narrowing in concern as she sensed the gravity of his words.
“Did something happen, Luca?” Her voice trembled, the lighthearted ease she’d shown moments earlier vanishing. “Is it Amber?”
“No,” he replied, shaking his head. “Actually… it’s about Nico.”
The words hung heavy in the air, and he watched as confusion flickered across her face, quickly replaced by suspicion.
“Nico?” she echoed, her tone sharper now, wary. “What about Nico?”
“Actually, it’s about Nico,” Luca said, his tone grave. He could no longer skirt around the truth; it was time to be direct. “He’s going to stay with me for the foreseeable future.”
Carlotta blinked, her face twisting in shock and confusion. “Why?” she asked, her voice tight as her gaze probed his.
“Does it matter?” he responded, trying to steel himself.
“NO! – I mean Yes! Yes, it does,” she burst out, her frustration spilling over. She shook her head, her voice rising with a mixture of anger and disbelief. “What about… everything? The engagement party? Our wedding? The honeymoon in Hawaii?” And that for Luca said it all.