Chapter 43
Amber felt her chest tighten as the memory of every rejection, every hurt came flooding back. She could feel her heart hardening even as he spoke, her resolve sealing over the wounds she had finally managed to close. She’d spent too long caught in a cycle of hope and heartbreak, of wishing he would stand by her only for him to choose his family’s expectations time and again. She wouldn’t return to that cycle, wouldn’t put herself back into the same agony, no matter how earnestly he claimed to love her now.
No whispered “I love you” or familiar touch could erase the scars he’d left behind. She wouldn’t let herself be swept back into that storm of longing and regret, wouldn’t gamble her heart on him again—not for love, not for duty, not for anything. She’d learned the price of loving Luca, and she wouldn’t pay it a second time.
"I’ll be packing my bags first thing in the morning,” Amber said, her voice steady but full of strain. “I'll stay the remaining four days in a hotel nearby. It’s better for Nico to stay here with you. I’ll come by during the day to spend time with him, but—"
“Amber! Are you even listening to anything I’ve said?” Luca’s voice was tense, each word clipped and furious. “You’re not going anywhere, and stop acting like you’re just going to abandon Nico like that. Do you have any idea how much it would hurt him? He’s already terrified that you’re going to leave him here—because you told him you would! And now you’re planning to actually follow through? You’re willing to put him through that? Have you even thought about what that would do to him?”
Amber clenched her fists, each word hitting deeper than the last. She had thought about Nico, about the pain her decision would cause him. But what was the alternative? Letting Luca and his overpowering presence take over her life again, submitting to the role of his woman, only to be relegated once more to the backseat while his demanding family closed in on her like vultures? And then there was the media—she’d already been torn apart in public, branded as a “homewrecker” and worse, insulted by strangers in articles, blogs, and social media. That experience had shredded her confidence, leaving scars she hadn’t yet recovered from. She could barely imagine the fresh wave of humiliation that would follow her back into Luca’s world, with his family watching her every move and waiting for her to fail.
“It’s just six months,” she said, her tone edged with finality. “If everything goes well, it could be even sooner. I’ll explain it to Nico. He’ll understand, I know he will.”
Luca’s expression hardened, his jaw set in a way that told her he was nowhere close to giving in. But Amber was equally resolute. This conversation had drained her of every ounce of strength she had left, and she could feel herself fraying at the edges, each word unraveling her a bit more. Clutching her torn nightgown tightly around herself, she turned and made her way to the door, back toward the refuge of her own room.
To her surprise, Luca didn’t follow. He didn’t call after her, didn’t make another attempt to stop her. He just stood there, silent, as she slipped through the door and into the dim hallway. She almost felt a sting of disappointment at his silence but quickly brushed it aside. This time, she reminded herself, she was holding firm.
Amber woke to the soft light of dawn filtering through her window, her breath uneven, her body wrapped in a lingering heat. She felt flushed and disoriented, her skin sensitive as if it still carried the touch of his hands. In her dream, Luca had been everywhere, his presence overwhelming, his touch both demanding and tender.
He had reached for her, pulling her close as their bodies met with a desperate, consuming need. His hands traced along her curves slowly, as though he was memorizing her all over again, fingers gliding over her skin, igniting it with a fire that seemed endless. His lips traveled from her collarbone to the hollow of her neck, planting soft, deliberate kisses that left her breathless, each touch fanning the embers within her. She could feel his warm breath against her skin, his heartbeat echoing her own, strong and quick, each beat matching the rhythm of their shared longing.
In the dream, Luca’s gaze held hers, filled with an intensity that made her feel like there was no one else, nothing else. His hand slipped to her waist, drawing her against him, his lips capturing hers in a kiss that started slow, then grew deeper, more urgent, until it felt as if he was pouring every ounce of passion he had into her. Her fingers trailed over his shoulders, then down his back, pulling him closer, craving the heat and solidity of him. Each movement was deliberate yet instinctive, as though he knew exactly what she needed before she even realized it.
Their bodies moved in a rhythm that was both familiar , and there was a gentleness in his eyes as the passion between them reached a crescendo.
When she finally stirred awake, the sheets tangled around her, Amber felt a shiver of lingering warmth running through her, her body still attuned to the vivid memory of his touch. She ran a hand over her face, willing herself to shake off the feeling that had lingered in the wake of the dream, as she made her way to the bathroom to freshen up, splashing cool water on her flushed face. With an unsteady breath, she dressed and headed downstairs, her pulse still racing, mind replaying every heated detail even as she tried to regain her composure over breakfast.
It was a sight to behold, and not in a good way. Luca's immaculate house—always so perfectly tidy, thanks to Gabriella’s diligent care—was now a warzone. Flour dusted the counters, egg shells littered the floor, and a sticky substance dripped down the cabinets. The kitchen was in chaos, and it was all because of the father-son duo who’d decided to try their hand at cooking breakfast.
"Gabriella took today and tomorrow off to visit her sick sister," Luca explained, his voice light with amusement, "so Nico and I decided to take over the cooking, right, sous chef de cuisine?"
“Si, papa!” Nico yelled with enthusiasm, holding a large wooden spoon in his tiny hands. The spoon was dripping a thick, white gooey mess, and he waved it around excitedly, leaving a trail of the goo across the countertops.
Amber couldn’t help but smile at the sight, though she was already envisioning the hours Gabriella would spend cleaning up after them. But what really caught her attention was Luca. He stood there, effortlessly handsome in just a pair of cargo shorts, his chiseled abs and muscular arms on full display. His tan skin glistened under the overhead light as he worked, his strong hands moving with surprising care, yet the chaos in the kitchen made it clear that this wasn't exactly his element.
"A-are you sure you don’t want me to take care of the cooking?" Amber asked hesitantly, eyeing the mess unfolding before her. She had the misfortune of tasting Luca's cooking in the past, and let’s just say, it hadn't exactly been... edible. The thought of him and a three-year-old taking on breakfast duties only heightened her concern.
Luca glanced over at her, clearly offended by her suggestion. "What are you talking about?" he asked, his voice dripping with disbelief, as though the idea of him not being able to cook was absurd.
“No, mummy! Me and papa are the sous chefs today!” Nico piped up, his eyes wide with excitement as he held a large wooden spoon that was dripping with a white, gooey substance. Amber raised an eyebrow as she realized exactly what that mess was. \*So that's what he was stirring\*, she thought with a sigh, already preparing for what was sure to be a chaotic breakfast.
"We are going to make the fluffiest omelette ever!" Nico continued, jumping around enthusiastically, as if the fate of the kitchen and their stomachs depended on it.
Amber took a deep breath, seeing the determination in both their faces, though she couldn’t help but worry. "Okay, fine," she relented, though her concern was still evident in her voice. She eyed them both carefully, trying to make sense of the disaster unfolding. "Let me know if you need me to chop any vegetables or anything."
But before she could even move, both Luca and Nico shooed her away with exaggerated gestures, as if she were the one overreacting. "We’ve got it covered, mama," Luca said with a smirk, clearly amused by her worry. Nico joined in, waving his spoon in the air like he was the head chef of a five-star restaurant.
Half an hour later, the omelette was presented to her with the kind of pomp and fanfare that could have rivaled a Michelin-starred chef unveiling a dish. Both Luca and Nico stood proudly at the table, eagerly watching Amber as she took her first bite. Nico, bouncing with excitement, could hardly stay still, while Luca, eyes glinting with anticipation, waited for her reaction.
Amber hesitated for a moment, glancing at the omelette, which was a little too browned around the edges, but it smelled decent enough. She took a bite, and despite the slightly burnt exterior, the taste wasn’t bad. But then, she crunched down on something hard. Eggshells. She forced a smile, covering up her surprise.
“It’s delicious,” Amber said with a smile, though her teeth were clenched, trying to mask the crunch she had just encountered.
Nico’s face lit up with joy as he jumped up and down in excitement. "Did you hear that, papa? It’s delicious!" His small hands clapped together in glee.
Luca, still standing a little too close, grinned at Amber, clearly pleased with himself. He leaned in, his voice lowering to a playful, almost intimate tone. “You can kiss the chef if you like it that much,” he said, his gaze lingering on her lips.
Amber shot him a sharp, almost exasperated look, her lips curling into a wry smile as she ignored his remark completely. She didn’t need to entertain his teasing, not after everything that had happened between them.
But when Nico took his turn tasting the omelette, the excitement quickly evaporated. He took one bite, chewed once, and then his face scrunched up in disgust. Without warning, he spat the bite back onto his plate. “Ew! It’s crunchy!” he exclaimed, his little face twisted in distaste.
Luca looked at the mess that had once been a hopeful breakfast, now looking like a disaster zone. Amber couldn’t help but chuckle, despite herself.
“Never mind,” Luca muttered, shrugging nonchalantly as he surveyed the chaos in the kitchen. The counters were covered in spilled ingredients, the utensils scattered, and Nico’s spilled gooey concoction was everywhere. “I’ll just order something for lunch,” he said with a defeated sigh, as if the whole debacle had been a minor inconvenience rather than a culinary catastrophe.
Suddenly, the smile disappeared from Amber’s lips, reminder like a small chill running down her spine, the dream like happy family, was way beyond her reach now. And this….She looked round herself, a smiling husband, who was no longer her's. And a son who she was soon going to leave behind..... this was only a dream, a small, beautiful dream that was going to be over in two days time, when she leaves. The clock was ticking.