Chapter 59 - Undeserved

Maria's POV 

I woke up to an empty bed.

The space beside me was cold. Luca had already left.

I rolled over slowly, letting the soft sheets wrap around my bare skin. My body still ached a little from last night. From him. From everything.

I sat up, brushing my hair back with my fingers. The sun had filled the room already, almost like it didn't want any single part of the room to be dark.

I stood up and grabbed a robe, and made my way out to the living room.

Louisa was dusting the edge of a shelf, moving in that quiet, careful way she always did. She looked up when she saw me.

“Good morning,” she said politely.

“Morning,” I replied. “Luca’s gone?”

She nodded. “Yes ma'am. He left with Alex earlier.”

I glanced toward the door, like I might catch up with him somehow. But I didn’t ask where he went. I already knew I wouldn’t get an answer to that.

“Any word about… the shooter?” I asked carefully.

Louisa shook her head. “I don’t know anything about it.”

“Did Luca or Alex say anything before leaving?”

“No,” she replied. “Nothing was mentioned.”

I could tell she was holding back. Not like she was lying. But I think she was just doing her job the way she’d been trained to. 

Keep the house clean and mind your business. Don’t speak unless you’re asked directly, and even when you're asked, only answer when it is necessary.

I leaned on the wall, watching her as she folded a towel over her arm. I was curious. Not just about Luca, but about her.

“Louisa,” I said, and she paused. “Where are you from?”

She blinked. “I’m from Italy ma'am. But my parents migrated here when I was about 14.”

“How did you come to work for Luca?”

Her hands shifted slightly, like the question made her uncomfortable. But she answered.

“Madam Alexa recruited me herself,” she said. “She wanted someone to help around the house, but Mr. De Rossi was being very cautious at the time. He didn’t want just anyone walking in.”

I nodded slowly. “You had to go through a lot?”

“Very strict process,” she said. “Before the interview, there were background checks. We were given documents to signs so that whatever we heard or saw here didn't leave this place. Only five of us were shortlisted. But Madam Alexa picked me.”

She still called her that. Madam Alexa.

Something about that made me feel… off. Like I had walked into someone else’s home and tried to make it mine.

“She trusted you?” I asked.

“Yes. From the start. She always gave me clear instructions and kept me close. Mr. De Rossi…” she trailed off. “He wasn’t easy to please, I must say. I don’t think he paid me much attention at the beginning. It was always Madam Alexa who told me what to do.”

“And after she left?”

Louisa paused again. “I thought I would be let go. But Mr. De Rossi kept me. Started relying on me more. Gave me more to do.”

I shifted on my feet. “How long ago did Alexa leave?”

“It’s been about a year now,” she replied.

I hesitated. “How do you feel about me being here now?”

Louisa didn’t blink. “I’m just an employee, ma'am. I was hired to work, and I'm even lucky to still work here after Madam Alexa left. Not to judge who stays or who goes. I do my job, and I mind my business. That’s how I’ve stayed this long.”

I nodded. I understood that. But still…

“Do you know Alexa is dead?”

She nodded. “Yes. Mr. De Rossi told me himself.”

I looked at her for a moment. “What was she like?”

Louisa took a breath. “She was beautiful. Gracious. You could tell she watched those rich women in movies and wanted to be like them. But she had her own charm. She was smart, funny when she wanted to be. But also… sharp. She knew how to get what she wanted.”

I swallowed lightly. “And she and Luca?”

“I must say they were compatible,” Louisa said simply. “She had a way of making him listen. Of making him move. She… she motivated him.”

I bit the inside of my cheek. “Did she ever talk about children?”

Louisa’s face softened a little. “Yes. A few times. She’d ask me if I thought she’d make a good mother. I think she really wanted one.”

“Then what happened, did she think she couldn’t?”

“She said she believed she couldn’t,” Louisa replied. “She used to say God wouldn’t give her a child because of the life she was living. Because of all the things she had done.”

“Did she ever go for a check-up or anything?”

Louisa shook her head. “She said she didn’t need to. She already knew.”

There was a silence between us. I could tell Louisa was done talking. She gave me a signal like she was asking me if she could leave.

So I nodded so you could leave.

She simply nodded back with a polite smile.

She walked off, her steps light, as if she couldn’t wait to get away from the conversation.

I stayed in the living room, staring at the spot she’d just left.

Her words stayed with me. About Alexa. About children.

And suddenly, the thought came again.

Luca had come inside me last night, I'm sure of it.

He’d done it more than once. Not just last night. Not just this again this early morning. And I’m sure I hadn't gotten pregnant.

Was something wrong with me? Or was it him?

Then again… maybe it was a good thing. Maybe like Alexa believed, Luca and anyone with him, even me myself don't deserve a child.

But whether or not Luca and I deserve children isn't the case here. I still needed to get myself checked.