Chapter 229 Ordinary Days

Chapter 229 Ordinary Days
A few more days passed peacefully at the Romano mansion, and Calla had quickly settled into a comfortable routine again. 

Most mornings, she woke up before Rico and spent a few minutes simply watching him sleep. The faint frown between his brows, his juicy lips set straight, slow yet steady breathing, and his chest going up and down.

It was still strange seeing him so relaxed. She knew how much he had battled insomnia in the past, and he had always looked like a man carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Now, although he was busier than ever as the new Don, he seemed lighter somehow. And that made her happier than ever.

The mansion itself felt different too. The tension that had once followed everyone through the hallways was gone. Donna Marta no longer kept to herself. Eli was slowly becoming more like the cheerful little boy he used to be before the kidnapping.

Even Sophia appeared happier. At least on the surface.

That afternoon, Calla was sitting in one of the smaller living rooms with a cup of tea in her hands. The television played quietly in the background while she scrolled through her phone, with nothing else left to do.

She wasn’t paying much attention until a familiar face suddenly appeared on the screen, and her fingers froze.

It was Leah.

Calla slowly lowered her phone and turned her full attention to the television. The news reporter spoke calmly while photographs of Leah appeared across the screen.

“…following several charges related to conspiracy, kidnapping, obstruction of justice, and aiding criminal activity, Leah Pierce has officially been sentenced to ten years in prison.”

Calla blinked, eyes growing wide in shock. Ten years? That was a long time.

The reporter continued speaking, explaining details of the trial and the evidence presented against her. And Calla listened quietly.

Part of her felt relieved, while another part simply felt sad.

Everything Leah had done had been terrible, but it was still difficult to understand how someone could destroy their own life so completely because of jealousy.

The sound of footsteps pulled her attention away from the television. She looked up just as Rico entered the room.

His gaze fell on her and he smiled softly at her. He loosened the tie around his neck and immediately walked toward her. But the look on her face caused him to pause.

His eyes briefly landed on the television, then he looked away with a sigh as if it wasn’t important.

Calla frowned slightly. “Did you know about this?”

Rico took off the tie, folded his sleeves up, and sat beside her. “About what?”

She gestured toward the screen, her eyes watching his movements. “Leah.”

His expression didn’t change. “Yes.”

Calla stared at him, waiting for him to say something. She knew that Leah got caught after she tried to escape, and was taken captive by Rico. She didn't know what happened to her after that. 

“You knew she was being sentenced today?” She asked Rico after a second.

“I knew," he replied with a shrug, planting a quick kiss on her cheek. The reporter continued talking in the background. 

Calla studied Rico carefully. He didn’t seem interested, curious, or even satisfied. Almost as if Leah no longer existed in his world.

She turned toward him, moving her hair away from her face. “Shouldn’t we have attended the trial?” She asked in a low tone. "At least, to testify. We are the victims after all."

Rico finally looked at her. He gazed deeply into her eyes. He couldn't understand why she wanted to put herself through that, knowing she would have to relive that traumatic experience. But the look in her eyes answered all his questions. 

She wanted to see it to the end.

Still, he wouldn't let that happen. He inhaled and shook his head. “No.”

The answer came immediately and Calla tilted her head. “No?”

Rico leaned back against the couch. “She’s no longer our problem," he declared. The answer made Calla remain silent. Rico reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. “The moment she was arrested, she stopped being our concern," his voice was calm. "There was no reason for us to sit in a courtroom and watch.”

Calla looked back at the television and saw that the report was ending now. Leah’s photograph soon disappeared from the screen.

She let out a small sigh, and a faint smile slowly appeared on her face. A chapter of their lives closed.

Rico picked up the remote and changed the channel without a second thought. Then he pulled Calla closer to his side. “What were you watching before that?”

Calla couldn’t help smiling brighter. Trust Rico to dismiss an entire news report with the press of a button.

She rested her head against his shoulder. “A romcom.”

“That sounds terrible.” He pretended to gag and she laughed loudly, hitting his chest slightly.

“It doesn’t," she responded with an eye roll.

“It does.”

Calla laughed and Rico smirked. And within seconds, the conversation had moved on to something completely different. 



The days continued passing quietly, and Calla found herself enjoying the simple things she had once taken for granted. Like just resting.

Working as an escort, she barely had time for herself. It was work, and more work, just to pay off debts that weren't even hers, and bills. She was glad she no longer had to return to that life.

She was more than happy that finally, nobody was rushing off to chase enemies, or receiving disturbing phone calls in the middle of the night. Nobody was worrying about kidnappings, attacks, or betrayals.

Life had finally slowed down.

One morning, Calla walked into the dining room and found Eli sitting on top of the table instead of in his chair. Donna Marta watched him with a sweet smile, not stopping him.

Sometimes, it surprises her how much Donna Marta doted on Eli. She spoils him rotten, and this moment was proof.

She immediately pointed at him. “Get down, Eli.”

Eli shook his head, munching on the snack Donna Marta had given him before breakfast. “No.”

Calla's lips fell apart in shock. “Young man—”

"It's okay, Lyra," Donna Marta chimed in. "Let him be."

Calla tried to say something to refute, but the words died in her throat. She could only glare at the boy.

A few seconds later, Sophia walked in carrying a plate of fruit. Without saying a single word, she looked at Eli.

Eli sighed dramatically, his shoulders slumped. "Fineeeee," he said, then climbed off the table.

Calla laughed. “You didn’t even say anything," she whispered to Sophia.

Sophia shrugged. “I didn’t need to.”

The little boy grumbled all the way back to his chair.



Later that afternoon, Calla found Rico in his study buried beneath an alarming amount of paperwork.

The sight alone made her pause at the doorway. Papers covered the desk, and more sat stacked on nearby chairs. Several files had been left open. Even the floor wasn’t safe.

Calla folded her arms. “Wow.”

Rico looked up, his eyes immediately softened when he saw her. “What?”

She pointed around the room, a scoff slipping past her lips, like the answer to his question was before him. “It looks like a paper factory exploded.”

His expression darkened, and he shut his eyes for two seconds before peeling them open again. “I hate being Don.”

Calla laughed. “That’s not true.”

“It is," he simply replied.

She walked around the desk and glanced at one of the documents. Most of it looked painfully boring. “What is all this?”

Rico groaned. “Reports.”

“About?”

“Everything.”

Calla sighed and smiled. “You look miserable.”

“I am miserable," he immediately replied. His response made her laugh even harder.

Rico reached out and suddenly grabbed her wrist, pulling her onto his lap, making Calla squeal in surprise. The next second she was sitting comfortably against his chest.

“Much better,” Rico said, a wide mischievous grin pulling the side of his lips.

“You’re supposed to be working," Calla said, attempting to pull away, but he was obviously stronger than her.

Rico held her waist not too tightly, just enough to keep her in place. “I am working."

She raised an eyebrow. “By kidnapping me?”

“Exactly.”

Calla shook her head. She stopped struggling and rested against him, knowing her struggles were futile anyway. 

They remained in each other's arms for hours, listening to their breathing and just enjoying each other's warmth.



As more days stretched on, Calla began noticing something else. Rico smiled more often now.

Not huge smiles or loud laughter, just small moments that she never would have noticed months ago.

Like when Eli said something ridiculous during dinner. Or when Sophia and Ezio argued over something meaningless. Or when Donna Marta tried to convince everyone to eat more food.

Those little smiles appeared more frequently now. And every time Calla caught one, it made her chest warm.

One night, she found herself standing on the balcony outside their bedroom. The cool breeze brushed against her skin as she looked out over the city lights in the distance.

A pair of arms suddenly wrapped around her waist. She smiled instantly, knowing who it was. How could she not, when his scent had been engraved on her heart?

Rico rested his chin on her shoulder, neither of them speaking. They simply stood there together, and she realized that happiness wasn’t always found in grand moments.

Sometimes it was found in ordinary days, where everyone was safe. Days where laughter filled the house, where the people she loved were still beside her.

And right now, that was more than enough.