Chapter 78
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When she reached his room, her heart skipped a beat. Nico wasn’t there.
Panic gripped her as she hurried downstairs, only to find her son sitting at the breakfast table with Luca and Carlotta. For a brief
moment, Amber’s heart softened at the sight–Nico looked so small, sitting there with his legs crossed at the ankles, like a little man trying to mimic his father. But as she stepped closer, she noticed something was wrong.
Nico’s face was tight, his eyes dark with frustration. His little hands were clenched in his lap, and his bottom lip quivered as if he were on
the verge of tears. Her smile faltered as her motherly instincts kicked in.
“Nico?” she asked softly, hurrying to his side. “What’s wrong, baby p>
At the sound of her voice, Nico’s composure shattered. He burst into tears, large droplets spilling from his eyes as he sobbed
uncontrollably. Amber scooped him up into her arms, holding him close as his little body trembled with emotion.
“What happened, sweetheart?” she whispered, gently rocking him. “Why are you so upset p>
Luca, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly spoke, his voice tight with barely concealed pain. “He won’t even look at me,” he said, his voice rough, almost broken. “He won’t talk to me. He… he hates the sight of me p>
Amber looked over at Luca, startled by the raw emotion in his voice. She had never seen him like this–vulnerable, exposed. His usual calm, controlled demeanor was gone, replaced by something much more fragile. But before she could respond, before she could find the words to comfort him, Luca stood abruptly, his chair scraping against the floor as he walked away. He didn’t stop, didn’t turn back, just disappeared from the room, leaving Amber standing there with Nico still sobbing in her arms.
Carlotta, who had been silent through the whole exchange, stood as well, her discomfort obvious. “I’m sorry,” she said quietly, picking up her designer purse from the chair. “I thought maybe Nico would like to get to know me, but… ” She trailed off, offering a tight smile. “I shouldn’t have interfered in such a personal matter p>
She turned to leave, clearly feeling out of place, but Amber wasn’t ready to let her go. This wasn’t how things were supposed to go. Everything was spiraling out of control, and she couldn’t let that happen.
“No, please, Ms. Forentino,” Amber called after her, desperation creeping into her voice. Carlotta paused, turning back. “Please, wait. I think we all started off on the wrong foot. Maybe we could have dinner together tonight? Start fresh p>
Carlotta hesitated, her expression unreadable, but eventually, she nodded. “If that’s what you’d like, ” she said, her voice still strained. “I’ll
be there p>
Amber forced a smile, though her heart ached as she watched Carlotta leave the room. She looked down at Nico, who had quieted but still clung to her, his little face buried in her neck.
For Nico’s sake, she had to make this work. He needed to like Carlotta. The woman would soon be his stepmother, and if she didn’t form a bond with him, Nico’s life could become a nightmare. It tore at Amber’s soul to think of leaving her son in the care of people who didn’t
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18:25 Thu, Jan 29
Chapter 78
truly know him, didn’t love him like she did. But what choice did she have?
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This was for Nico’s own good. He would be safe here, away from the sad reality of her own crumbling life. By the time she was gone,
would have moved on. He wouldn’t remember her when the end came, and he wouldn’t cry for her.
It was better this way.
At least, that’s what Amber had to keep telling herself.
Comments
Bernita White
So is Amber sick p>
7 days ago
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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.