Chapter 122 I agree

Chapter 122 I agree
The smell of vanilla and melted butter filled the kitchen air.
I sat on a stool near the counter, rolling my sleeves up to my elbows. My cheeks were dusted with flour. I had learned this recipe in Italy, just for Angelo back then.
“The smell is so good,” Angelo chuckled happily, sniffing the air.
“I’m almost done, hun,” I said, something flickering in my mind.
“This is a huge amount of cookies, Mommy. Are we going to eat all of them?” he asked, his big eyes following the movement of my hands over the oven tray.
“No, bebe.” I smiled. “We’ll invite the others to eat with us. What do you think?”
“Yay!” he cheered. “Everyone will see how good my mommy is at making cookies.”
He spun in circles around me as if he was driving a car. “Their moms can’t make them like you.”
I laughed softly. I knew he believed I was the best cook in the world, after Mama of course.
“What’s that smell?” I heard Ricardo’s voice behind me.
“Just boredom,” I said nonchalantly. “Do you want some?”
When I turned, my eyes instantly met Luca’s.
Why did my eyes always find his face first no matter who stood beside him?
He was leaning against the doorframe, watching us silently.
Ricardo stood next to me and swallowed five cookies at once, while holding another five in his other hand.
“Hey!” I exclaimed. “Not like that!”
“What?” he asked with his mouth full. “There’s too much. You two can’t eat all of this.”
He stuffed more cookies into his hand before leaving the kitchen.
Angelo instantly ran after him. “Uncle Ricardo! I want to see the new horse.”
“Be careful. Don’t go near the horse alone,” I shouted after him.
The atmosphere shifted the moment they left the kitchen.
I smiled and looked toward Luca. “Don’t you want some?” I asked, acting sweet and calm.
He said nothing. Just stared at me with one brow slightly raised.
“What?” I asked.
He took a few slow steps toward me, then casually traced my arm with the back of his fingers. “I’m just surprised by the sudden change.”
I swallowed and looked down at the tray.
This was my moment.
I had to play this perfectly or everything would fall apart.
I slowly lifted my head and met his eyes. “I thought about everything you said yesterday.”
“Aha,” he muttered. “And?”
He grabbed a cookie and took a bite.
I turned fully toward him. “I think I’m convinced by what you said.”
His eyes narrowed slightly with suspicion. “Really?”
“If it’s only three months of enduring you…” I shrugged lightly. “Then fine. At least after the divorce, my life might finally return to peace.”
His gaze searched my face carefully, as if trying to figure out whether I was lying.
“Okay,” he finally said.
Then his voice lowered.
“But you need to understand something…” He swallowed another cookie. “If you try to manipulate me, then don’t blame anyone except yourself.”
A polished smile stretched across my lips despite the anxiety crawling through my chest.
“Your cookies really are good,” he said.
Then his eyes wandered around the kitchen.
The moment he spotted the medium box filled with cookies, he reached for it.
But I snatched it away instantly.
“No!” I snapped.
He frowned.
I tensed immediately.
“These are for Mama and Papa,” I said quickly. “You can’t eat from this box.”
The sound of Angelo’s running footsteps interrupted the tension.
“Mommy, come!” he shouted excitedly. “You have to see this. The horse is giving birth.”
“Really?” I said, quickly placing the cookie box inside one of the kitchen drawers.
Ricardo had a stable of six horses in the backyard. Ever since he was young, I had known about his obsession with horses, especially pure Arabian ones. But Papa had always prevented him from pursuing it seriously.
Every obsession was a weakness that could eventually be used against you.
The way Ricardo helped the horse give birth was surprisingly gentle. He treated her like she was something precious.
Luca rolled up his sleeves and started helping him.
Angelo circled around them excitedly, wanting to help but having no idea what to do.
The warm breeze and the late afternoon sun reminded me of the trips Papa used to take us on when we were children.
Even back then, guards surrounded us everywhere.
But my foster brothers had somehow made those moments feel normal.
Safe.
They treated me like I was their little princess.
My gaze slowly drifted toward Luca’s broad tattooed back.
The flex of his muscles.
The sweat sliding down his shoulders as he helped Ricardo pull carefully.
Suddenly, he looked toward me as if he had sensed my stare.
I instantly looked away, my cheeks warming with embarrassment.
A smirk slowly tugged at his lips.
Damn him.
“Finally!” Angelo exclaimed the moment the baby horse came into the world.
“How adorable,” I whispered, watching them help the exhausted mother and her newborn.
“Can I touch it?” Angelo asked as we walked closer.
“Come here,” Luca said, extending his hand toward him.
“Wow,” Angelo breathed in amazement. “This is so cool.”
Luca smiled faintly. “Isn’t it?”
“Can I name it?” Angelo asked Ricardo.
Ricardo chuckled softly. “What do you suggest?”
“Emm…” Angelo mumbled thoughtfully. “I don’t know yet. I...”
“Okay. Tomorrow you can come up with a name,” Ricardo said.
“Yaaay!”
Angelo immediately started running in circles again, making car engine and brake noises with his mouth.
“I’m going to take a shower,” Luca said as he rose to his feet.
Ricardo grabbed his shirt from the floor. “I need one too.”
We all entered the villa again, leaving the horse with the stableman.
The moment I stepped into my room, my expression slowly changed.
‘This is my chance to start my plan,’ I muttered to myself.