Chapter 75
Chapter 75
Chapter 5
70
The car ride felt like an eternity, even though it was only thirty minutes. Amber sat stiffly in the backseat, Nico curled up in her lap, fast asleep, his tiny body rising and falling with every soft breath. Luca sat beside her, as cold and distant as ever, completely engrossed in his phone, giving her no more than a passing glance since they left the airport. He seemed to have perfected the art of ignoring her existence. He spoke in rapid Italian on the phone, discussing business, dismissing her with his silence, and for once, she didn’t mind.
As long as there was no conversation between them, there was no argument. And right now, that was a small mercy she could cling to. Maybe this distance would give Nico the space he needed to build a relationship with his father, without the shadow of their broken marriage looming over everything. If she could manage to keep the peace, perhaps Luca could finally be the father their son deserved.
The car weaved through narrow streets, and Amber found herself yawning as the exhaustion of the day settled in. She stared out the window, watching as familiar landscapes flew by, landmarks she hadn’t seen in years but had never forgotten. Her heart clenched as they pulled into the long driveway leading to the casa, the sprawling estate coming into view.
The house stood as grand as ever, a palatial testament to Luca’s old–world wealth, its terracotta roof glinting under the soft glow of the
driveway lights. Amber’s chest tightened. This place, once her home, now felt like a relic from a life that no longer belonged to her. The
memories hit her hard, an onslaught she hadn’t prepared for. They weren’t the painful, bitter memories she had expected–no, it was the
happy ones that cut the deepest.
Her wedding night had been spent in this house, filled with laughter and promises of forever. She had brought Nico home here for the
first time after giving birth, the joy of being a new mother washing over her as she stood in the nursery Luca had designed himself. These
moments had been beautiful once, but now, looking at the familiar stone walls and manicured gardens, they made her feel sick. The
memories were bittersweet, twisting inside her like a cruel joke.
Luca didn’t wait for her as the car came to a stop. He climbed out quickly, disappearing into the house with long, purposeful strides,
leaving her alone in the silence of the night. It wasn’t a surprise–he’d been leaving her behind for years.
With a heavy sigh, Amber carefully unbuckled Nico, lifting his sleeping body into her arms. He stirred slightly, murmuring in his sleep, but didn’t wake. His face, peaceful and serene, was a stark contrast to the turmoil bubbling inside her. The butler appeared swiftly,
carrying their luggage into the house.
Stepping inside the casa, Amber was hit with a fresh wave of memories. Every corner, every room whispered stories of a life she had once lived here, stories she had tried desperately to forget. The vase sitting on the entryway table–the one she had found at a flea market one summer–brought a sudden lump to her throat. Luca had laughed when she’d brought it home, teasing her about introducing “flea market treasures” into his family’s pristine estate. His mother had been scandalized, of course, but Luca had loved it, declaring that it added “character” to the house. She could still hear his voice in her head, telling her that a new chapter had been written into the casa’s history,
thanks to her.
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Sara Lili
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.