LOGINRosa was amused by his sudden burst of excitement. She chuckled soundlessly, shaking her head. “Hold on, hold on,” she said softly. “You’re moving too fast, Samuele.”He rubbed the back of his nape, looking momentarily flustered. “Sorry, I was just...” He trailed off with a small, sheepish laugh as the servers began laying the dishes on the table.Once they were alone again, the playful atmosphere vanished. Samuele leaned forward and took her hand once more, his fingers tracing the ring he had just placed on her finger. But the ring on her finger was not enough to quiet the fear in his chest. “Rosa... you won’t leave now, right?” He was terrified that she had accepted his proposal but hadn't actually agreed to stay.“Samuele,” Rosa started, her fork moving through the lasagna mindlessly. “I have to leave.”“But why?” The worry etched into his face was deep and painful to see.Rosa sighed, still conflicted over what to reveal and what to hide. “I just can’t stay here. Not in this city
For a split second, Samuele stood frozen, unable to believe what he had just heard. But as he looked into Rosa’s eyes and saw the shimmering joy breaking through her tears, he finally let out a jagged breath of relief.He moved quickly, pulling the ring from its velvet cradle. Stepping closer, he took her hand in his—his own fingers trembling slightly now—and slid the diamond onto her finger. It fit perfectly, a sparkling promise against her skin.Rosa’s lips quivered, and she bit down on them hard, trying to stay composed even as the walls around her heart completely vanished. Before she could say another word, Samuele reached for her, pulling her up from her chair and sweeping her into a fierce, desperate embrace.“Thank you, Rosa,” he whispered into her hair, his voice thick with emotion. “Thank you for giving me this chance. I will spend the rest of my life proving to you that you made the right decision. I promise you.”Rosa closed her eyes, the scent of him and the strength of h
Rosa’s breath hitched, her mind spinning into a blur. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words died in her throat. She had expected him to try one last time to win her over or ask for a chance to pursue her before she was gone for good... but marriage? She had never imagined he was this serious.Oh God, what do I do? Her mind screamed. Is life actually giving me a second chance? Where would I ever find a man like him again? The questions raced through her head, a frantic internal debate between her fear and the beautiful reality standing right in front of her.When she remained silent, Samuele rose from his seat. His expression was painfully earnest as he stepped closer. Then, in a move that made Rosa gasp and press her trembling hands to her mouth, he dropped to one knee. He pulled out a small velvet box and held it out to her. As he clicked it open, a beautiful diamond ring caught the light inside.“Please, Rosa,” he whispered, his eyes searching hers. “Say yes. Make me the luck
Exactly an hour later, Rosa got a call from Samuele. He was waiting outside her building.She sighed softly as she tied her hair into a ponytail. She didn’t feel like putting on makeup—just a touch of lip gloss. Grabbing her purse, she looked at herself briefly. Her black knee-length dress, paired with a beige blazer and black heels, was simple—but enough.She leaned down and kissed Renzo’s forehead as he sat playing a game on Lucy’s phone. “Mommy will be back soon, okay, baby?”Renzo nodded. “Okay, Mommy.”Rosa straightened and looked at Lucy. A silent conversation passed between them—unspoken worry, reassurance, and understanding all at once.Then Rosa turned and walked out of the apartment, closing the door quietly behind her.She took the elevator down. When the doors opened, she stepped out and made her way toward the exit.And then she saw him.Samuele stood by his car, dressed in a black suit, leaning casually against it.Rosa slowed, a flicker of confusion crossing her face.S
The next morning, Samuele woke with a heavy head, the dull ache of a hangover lingering from the night before. But as he stood under the shower, letting the water wash away the haze, his thoughts cleared—reality hit him with more force than the water: Rosa was leaving tomorrow.And after that… he might never see her again.Driven by a sudden, frantic impulse, he reached for his phone and dialed her number. When she picked up, he didn't bother with pleasantries. He asked to see her, but Rosa’s voice was a wall of flint.“Doctor, I have too much to settle before my flight,” she replied sternly. “I can’t come.”The rejection stung more than it should have, and the pain in his chest intensified.No matter how many times she turned him away, he couldn’t stop himself from hoping—that maybe, just once, she would look at him differently… that she might return even a fraction of what he felt for her.He stayed silent for a moment, the weight in his chest growing unbearable.Then, before he c
Reid didn’t back down. “Why is it impossible? It only takes one time, Luciano. Sometimes that’s enough.”“Fuck.” Luciano shut his eyes, his jaw tightening.“Fuck… fuck!” he snapped, slamming his fist into the wall behind him.The people nearby flinched at the sudden outburst, but Reid lifted a hand, silently signaling that everything was under control. He already knew he’d be covering the damages—and probably the entire bar tab.Luciano stood there for a moment, breathing hard, the possibilities crashing into him all at once.“Find out everything about her,” he said finally, his voice low but deadly. “I want every detail. What she’s been doing these past five years… and whether she has a child or not.”His heart pounded in his chest.If the doctor was telling the truth… then she had hidden his child from him.How dare she?Reid gave a short nod, already pulling out his phone as he stood up. “I’ll handle it.”He didn’t waste another second. There were more important things now than si
Reid’s brow furrowed, his confusion deepening into a dark worry. “What do you mean? If you aren't marrying Laura, then who are you marrying that day? What is the plan this time, Luciano? Please, don't make this more of a mess than it already is. This isn't a game—this is your life, man.”Luciano di
“But know this—Luciano Mancini doesn’t need a signed document to make a deal.”Rosa’s eyes flew open, and she quickly shook her head.“No, I didn’t mean to end our arrangement.”Her reply lit something in Luciano’s eyes.But Rosa had never intended to end it—not yet. Not until she became pregnant wi
Panic surged instantly, flickering across Lucy’s features.“Who is he?” she whispered, her breath hitching as her eyes darted across the lobby. She quickly zeroed in on three men who had entered the hospital in Rosa’s wake.“I don’t know,” Rosa murmured. Her voice remained steady, yet an underlying
Lucy’s heart sank even as she spoke the words. She had always known this truth was inevitable, but voicing it made the coming loss feel real.Rosa sighed. “I intended to leave, but I think now I’ll have to stay longer. The case is still going on, and I can’t leave until it’s over. I need to fight fo







