Chapter 191 Tell the Truth
Luca paused for a moment, a complicated look flashing in his eyes.
He knew this question would come up sooner or later.
He thought it over, then told her the truth about the past. "These years, I've always regretted it. If I'd stayed calmer back then, if I'd trusted you more, you wouldn't have suffered so much."
Olivia listened quietly, feeling a strange ache in her heart, like those old grievances and pains were still buried deep inside.
She lowered her head and didn't speak.
Luca saw her like that and his heart tightened. "Did I say something wrong? Don't be upset."
"No." Olivia shook her head. "I just feel a bit sad—for the you back then, and for the me back then." She looked up at Luca. "But it's all in the past. I don't blame you anymore."
Luca froze, his eyes full of surprise. "Really?"
"Really." Olivia smiled. "I can tell you didn't mean it back then, and these years you've been looking for us—that's not easy." She paused. "Actually, I'm surprised. I thought you'd hide that misunderstanding, but you told me the truth."
"I don't want to lie to you," Luca said seriously. "Past or present, I want to be honest with you. I know you haven't fully forgiven me yet, but you're starting to accept me, right?"
Olivia's face turned a little red, and she nodded.
Seeing her shy like that, Luca gathered his courage and asked softly, "Olivia, can I... pursue you again?"
Olivia froze and looked up at him.
"You're like a blank sheet of paper now," Luca said, his eyes full of hope. "I want to write our future on it. I want to pursue you again, make you fall in love with me again, show you that this time, I'll take good care of you and Leo. I won't let you two suffer even a little. Give me a chance, okay?"
Olivia's heart raced, her cheeks getting redder.
She looked into Luca's sincere eyes and felt torn.
This man—though she didn't remember the past—she could see how good he was to her, how much he cared for Leo.
She could feel he truly wanted to make up for what he'd done wrong.
"I... I don't know," she said softly. "I want to ask Leo what he thinks."
Luca smiled. "Okay, let's ask Leo."
He pulled out his phone and called his mom, Clara, on video.
She picked up right away. Seeing Luca, Clara smiled. "Luca, how are you and Olivia? Everything okay?"
"We're both good, Mom." Luca smiled. "Olivia's here too."
"Really?" Clara got excited. "Olivia, are you okay? Sorry if we caused you any trouble."
"I'm fine, ma'am. Sorry for worrying you." Olivia smiled, a bit embarrassed.
"Good, that's good." Clara let out a sigh. "Leo's been talking about you every day. I'll go get him."
Clara set the phone on the table and went to call Leo.
While they waited, Olivia looked nervous, her hands twisting together.
She was afraid Leo wouldn't like her now, afraid he'd feel like she was a stranger.
Luca saw her tense and teased, "What? Scared our son won't recognize you as his mom?"
Olivia's face reddened, embarrassed. "A little. I haven't been with him for so long, and I forgot him."
"Don't worry. Leo's really attached to you. Even if you forgot him, he won't forget his mom." Luca reassured her.
Soon, Clara brought Leo over.
Leo saw the screen and his eyes lit up. "Daddy!"
Then he spotted Olivia, full of joy. "Mommy!"
Hearing that clear "Mommy," tears fell from Olivia's eyes right away.
It was the first time her son called her Mommy—her heart felt sour and sweet.
"Leo," she said, choking up. "Mommy misses you so much."
"Mommy, I miss you too!" Leo's eyes turned red. "When are you coming back? I drew lots of pictures for you."
"Mommy will be back soon," Olivia wiped her tears and smiled. "When I get back, I'll paint with you every day, play with you, okay?"
"Okay!" Leo jumped with excitement. "Mommy, come back quick. I want you to ride bikes with me, eat steak with me."
"Okay, whatever you say." Olivia nodded, her eyes full of love.
Luca watched the sweet mother-son moment, feeling warm inside.
"Leo," Luca said. "Daddy has something to ask you."
"What, Daddy?" Leo looked at him.
"Daddy wants to pursue Mommy again, make her love Daddy again, so we can be a family forever. Okay?" Luca said seriously.
Leo paused, then nodded hard. "Okay! I agree! I've wanted Daddy and Mommy together forever. Then we'd be a real family! Mommy, say yes to Daddy. He's great—looks for you every day, tells me stories about you all the time."
Olivia looked at Leo's hopeful eyes, then at Luca's nervous face, but stayed quiet.
Luca's smile faded a bit, but he just chuckled lightly. "No rush. I can wait."
Those few words made Olivia glance at him more, her feelings all mixed up.
Then Luca chatted with the kid about other stuff. When it was time, they hung up.
Olivia calmed down, picked up the warm water nearby, and held it to Luca's lips. "Drink some water. You talked a lot."
Luca drank obediently, his eyes stuck on her face, never getting enough.
"I'll do it myself." He reached for the cup, but Olivia stopped his hand.
"You lie still. I'll take care of you." Her voice was gentle but firm. "Doctor said you need to rest, no moving around."
For the next few days, Olivia took full charge of caring for Luca.
Every morning, she'd wake up early, wipe his face and hands, then go downstairs to the restaurant for a light breakfast and feed him bit by bit.
His wound needed timely dressing changes. Afraid the nurse would hurt him, she learned from the nurse how to do it, always super careful and gentle.
"Does it hurt?" she asked softly while wrapping the bandage, worry in her eyes.
Luca shook his head, looking at her focused side face, feeling sweet. "No pain. With you caring for me, it doesn't hurt at all."
Olivia didn't expect him to be so smooth-talking. Her face reddened, and she ignored him.
At night, Olivia lay in bed but couldn't sleep, tossing and turning.
When she closed her eyes, Jason's gloomy face popped into her head, along with the cold security bars on the villa windows and all those endless lies.