LOGINRosa blinked at her ex-husband in genuine confusion. “What did I do?”Luciano reached out, pinching her cheek with a tenderness that didn't match his reputation. “You made me the happiest man alive,” he said, his deep voice softened to a rough whisper.The doctor, unable to hide her smile any longer, decided to give them a moment of privacy. She began to exit the room, calling back over her shoulder, “The scan is complete. Come back to my office when you're ready.”Left alone in the quiet, dim room, Rosa asked Luciano to pass her some tissues. He complied, watching silently as she wiped the cold gel from her stomach.As she prepared to climb down from the examination table, he reached for her arm again. But Rosa’s face contorted into a frown, and she snapped, “Stop pretending. The doctor isn't here anymore.”Luciano furrowed, a flash of genuine hurt crossing his features. “It’s not an act, Rosie,” he replied, his voice low and wounded.“Then whatever it is, just stop it,” Rosa shot ba
Rosa felt a whirlwind of emotions she couldn't name. This was a moment she had craved so desperately during the long months of her first pregnancy. Back then, every time she sat in a waiting room, she had imagined what it would feel like to have Luciano accompany her like other husbands—to have him stand as her shield while she felt so vulnerable.But as the weeks turned into months, and he never searched for her, never returned her calls, those hopes had slowly withered. She’d had to teach herself, in real-time, how to be alone. She had steeled her heart so firmly that even now, with a second life growing inside her, she had arrived prepared to face every examination, every scan, and blood work in total solitude.But now, here was the devil, appearing at the very moment she had convinced herself his presence was impossible. She stood frozen, unable to move.Sensing her dazed stare, Luciano reached up and slid his sunglasses off, revealing eyes as blue and fathomless as the ocean. For
“Get dressed quickly. Renzo won't start until you're there,” Rosa said, her voice sounding slightly dull as she fought to keep her emotions under control. “He has to take his medicine on time,” she reminded him.Luciano nodded, rising from the bed. He called out to his son as he headed toward the door. “Renzo, you start eating. Daddy will be down as soon as I’m dressed.”“Okay, Daddy!” Renzo chirped. He was far too excited about finally having his father around to deny any request Luciano made.Soon, Luciano appeared at the breakfast table, looking every bit the formidable Don in a crisp white shirt, black tie, and a perfectly tailored black suit. When he arrived, he found Renzo clutching a piece of bread and jam in his small hand, eating with a look of pure deli
Rosa finished preparing breakfast for all of them, and to her surprise, she didn't feel nauseous. Perhaps her pregnancy was becoming unpredictable, or perhaps the baby in her womb was already relishing its father’s presence, just like its elder brother.She shook her head at the thought, trying to dispel the idea. She looked toward the stairs; Renzo and Luciano hadn't come down yet.She glanced at the spread she had laid out on the table. She had prepared the bread and jam for Renzo, but for Luciano, she had plated Bresaola and Parmigiano. She knew him too well; she knew he wouldn't be able to stomach just bread for a meal. As the coffee began to brew, filling the kitchen with its rich, bitter aroma, she decided to go upstairs and see for herself what was taking the father and son so long.She climbed the steps carefully and slowly. Just as she pushed open the door to Renzo’s room, he emerged from the bathroom with Luciano, a trail of steam following them like clouds. Renzo was bundle
The question hung in the air, cold and heavy. His parents had separated when Luciano was too small to even remember the lines of his face. There had been no one to teach him how to fight the shadows. Even his mother had been a distant figure, leaving him to face the terrors of the night alone until he simply stopped sleeping altogether to avoid the dreams.He didn't want to explain that he had learned to fight monsters by becoming one.“Renzo, let’s get you showered,” he announced, his voice regaining its authoritative edge as he stood up. He looked at Rosa, his gaze unreadable. “While we do that, Mommy can make us breakfast.”Rosa watched him, her eyes narrowing slightly as she shook her head. Even in a moment of vulnerability, he was still the bossy, commanding man.
Luciano reacted instantly. He withdrew his hand and pulled Rosa’s top back down, his movements sharp and efficient as he covered her. Rosa scrambled into a sitting position, reaching for Renzo and scooping him into her lap in one fluid motion.“Shhh, baby, I’m here. Mommy is here,” Rosa cooed, rocking him desperately in her arms. But Renzo’s sobs only intensified; his eyes remained clamped shut, his body rigid as if he were still trapped deep within the nightmare.Seeing him like this, Rosa’s own eyes welled with tears. “Renzo, baby, please wake up. Open your eyes for Mommy.”“No, Mommy!” Renzo wailed again, the word breaking into a ragged sob. “I won't open my eyes. They will kill me.”Watching Rosa’s helplessness and his son’s terror, Luciano felt a pained emotion he had never known—as if his heart were being hollowed out of his chest. He moved quickly, reaching out to take Renzo from her arms. Rosa looked up at him, her face tear-streaked and her expression filled with a dazed con
A small smile appeared on Lucy’s face as she watched Rosa’s expression."I saved some pasta for you."Rosa offered a small, tired grin. "You’re the best, Lucy."Lucy shook her head fondly and gave Rosa’s hair a gentle caress before heading to the fridge. She pulled out a bowl and placed it in the m
Rosa left for the hospital in a frantic hurry. This time, she didn't have to wait for the bus or walk; she hailed a cab. She had enough money in her bank account now to spend without worry.But she had no idea that every step she took was being tracked. Every street she crossed, every person she spo
After leaving Samuele’s office, Rosa headed to Patient Accounts to finalize the paperwork for the treatment fund. Once she had submitted the required paperwork and gathered details regarding the next steps of the treatment, she headed toward the hospital pharmacy.She wasn't blind to Samuele's adva
Rosa stared down at her hands, interlocking her fingers tightly on the table, her voice barely a whisper. “I’m at a loss, Lucy. I don’t even know where to begin. Even the briefing Nicholas gave me seems to be evaporating from my mind. Half of those convoluted legal terms were completely indeciphera







