Chapter 4

Lucia burst into the emergency department of San Vitorio Children’s Hospital, completely breathless, her chest rising and falling as fear squeezed her throat.

Her voice shook.

“What happened? What happened to him?”

Leo ran a hand through his hair, worry twisting his features.

“Nico had an allergic reaction,” he said, his voice tight and sharp at the edges.

Lucia felt her knees weaken.

“Allergic reaction? I wrote down every single thing he must not eat. Didn’t you see it? Didn’t you read it?”

Before Leo could reply, Lorenza stepped forward in a small, guilty voice.

“It was my fault. I-I didn’t know mango would trigger him. I’m really sorry…”

Leo quickly defended her.

“Lorenza meant well. Besides, the list you gave us got lost somehow. Maybe… maybe you didn’t write it clearly.”

Lucia froze, staring at him like she didn’t know him anymore.

“I didn’t write it clearly?” she repeated, hurt slicing through her chest.

She had memorized the children’s allergies. She knew their limits like she knew her own heartbeat. Before handing that list over, she had checked it twice—word for word—making sure nothing was missing.

And yet he stood there, protecting Lorenza… blaming her.

Her anger simmered, but before she spoke, Leo nose twitched.

He sniffed the air and frowned.

“Have you been drinking? Nico is in the hospital and that’s what you were doing?”

Lucia felt like the ground fell from under her.

“You’re the ones who took them out. How is this—”

“Lucia!” Leo snapped sharply, his eyes cold.

“What you should be doing right now is checking on Nico, not standing here trying to shift blame. A stepmother is still just… a stepmother.”

The words stabbed her straight in the heart.

Lucia’s breath caught. She stared at Leo, unable to believe he said it.

After everything she had done—every night awake, every school meeting, every scraped knee she tended—

That was all she was to him?

Just a stepmother?

Someone he could dismiss whenever it suited him?

Her chest ached so badly she thought she might crumble.

Before she could find words, a nurse called from the hallway,

“Family of Nico Marchesi?”

The three of them walked into the consultation room together, but they felt miles apart.

Dr. Marinelli, a stern woman in her fifties, adjusted her glasses.

“Who are the child’s parents?” she asked.

“We are.” Lorenza answered too quickly, pulling Leo beside her, her face arranged with an expression of urgent maternal concern.

Lucia stood behind them, swallowing her pain. She didn’t care about positions or titles—she just wanted to know if Nico was okay.

Dr. Emilia’s eyes sharpened.

“Nico is six years old. Don’t you people know what he can or cannot eat? Allergies are not jokes. Some reactions can even be fatal. Luckily, he didn’t eat much this time, or you would have arrived too late.”

Lorenza bowed her head.

“I’m sorry. It was my fault.”

Dr. Emilia wasn’t moved.

“You, as his mother, should have known better.”

Lorenza’s voice trembled.

“I-I wasn’t around when they were younger. I didn’t know about their allergies. They often get allergic reactions anyway… maybe something about how they’ve been raised?”

Her tone implied blame—subtle, but directed at Lucia.

Lucia felt heat rise in her chest.

Dr. Emilia cut in calmly.

“Allergies can be caused by many factors—environment, genetics, even the mother’s diet during pregnancy.”

At that, Lorenza’s eyes flickered with guilt.

Back then, during her pregnancy, everything in her family had fallen apart. She wasn’t eating well, not resting, sometimes even drinking.

She knew it.

The doctor sensed it.

“Who takes care of the children?” Dr. Emilia asked bluntly.

Leo hesitated—then glanced at Lucia.

Lucia stepped forward, voice soft but steady.

“Good evening, doctor. I’m… I’m their stepmother.”

Dr. Emilia’s eyes moved from Lucia to Lorenza, then back.

“You didn’t know about his allergies?”

Lucia’s fists tightened.

“I knew. I left a list of all the precautions before they went out. But… the list got lost.”

Leo’s jaw tightened. He didn’t want her pointing fingers at Lorenza.

But Lucia didn’t care.

“Doctor, please,” she asked quickly, voice trembling with fear, “Is Nico okay? Is he still vomiting? Does he have fever?”

From her urgent questions, Dr. Emilia could immediately see who truly knew these children.

Who cared.

Who paid attention.

Who worried.

And it wasn’t Lorenza.

After examining Nico’s chart, Dr. Emilia pulled Lucia aside.

“He needs IV fluids and observation tonight. If nothing else happens, he should be fine.”

Lucia finally exhaled, relief flooding through her.

Dr. Emilia then turned to Leo and Lorenza, her tone firm.

“If you cannot care for your children properly, don’t pretend you can. Parenting is not something you do halfway.”

Lorenza’s face burned with embarrassment. Tears gathered in her eyes.

She turned and hurried out before they could fall.

On the way to the ward, Lorenza whispered, voice shaking,

“Leo… I failed as a mother. Because of my carelessness, Nico ended up here.”

Leo took her hand to comfort her.

“It’s not your fault. You didn’t know. And the doctor said he’ll be fine.”

Lucia watched silently. Her chest hurt again—but she kept walking.

They entered the ward together.

Lucia moved toward Nico’s bed, but Lorenza reached him first, sitting beside him with an expression of soft sorrow. Leo stood on the opposite side, protective.

The scene looked peaceful—like a picture-perfect family.

Except Nico didn’t want Lorenza there.

He pouted and turned away from her.

He wanted Lucia.

Lucia swallowed the sting in her eyes and gently took Nina’s hand.

“Come. Let’s wait outside.”

They stepped into the hallway. Lucia sat on a bench, exhausted.

Nina wrapped her small arms around Lucia’s neck.

“Mamma Lucia… don’t be sad. If Papà won’t stay with you, I will.”

The innocence in her voice made tears gather behind Lucias eyes.

“I’m not sad,” she whispered, even though she was breaking.

Inside the ward, Lorenza watched Nico with soft eyes.

“They say sons resemble their mothers. Look at his eyes… they’re just like mine. And Nina’s personality is exactly how I was when I was little. Looking at them, I see myself.”

Leo half-smiled, remembering the fearless, fiery Lorenza from their youth.

“Yes… you two are a lot alike.”

Lorenza looked down sadly.

“It’s just a pity that all their childhood photos are gone.”

Leo sighed softly, remembering when her family lost everything.

“We can take new ones,” he said gently.

Lorenza wiped her eyes and whispered,

“You remember when you used to make seafood pasta for me when I was pregnant? It tasted so good.”

Leo chuckled faintly.

“You want some now?”

“No… it’s fine. The past is gone.”

She turned away.

“Let me just use the restroom.”

But as she moved, she bumped into the bed frame.

“Lorenza!” Leo caught her quickly.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m just… weak,” she murmured, lips pale. “I guess years of bad eating are taking their toll.”

Leo frowned.

“Then rest. Let me take you home.”

She shook her head.

“No. Don’t forget, we have dinner plans with Pietro and the others. It’s late already. It wouldn’t be right to cancel. You should go. I’ll stay with the kids.”

Leo hesitated.

“Don’t skip it,” she pressed gently. “People will think I’m avoiding them. Just… go. And… could you bring my toiletries after?”

Leo nodded after a moment.

“Alright. I’ll go and come back quickly.”

When he left, he found Lucia in the hallway.

“I made plans with Pietro earlier. I’ll go and return soon. Just… stay with them for now.”

Lucia only nodded.

After he left, she went back into the ward with Nina.

The moment Leo was gone, Nico turned to Lorenza, voice firm.

“I don’t need you. You can go. My mamma Lucia will take care of me.”

Lorenza’s heart trembled, but she forced a smile.

“Nico, I’m worried about you because you’re sick.”

Before he could respond, Lucia stepped in gently.

“Nico, close your eyes and sleep.”

He obeyed immediately.

Silence settled across the ward. Nina clung to Lucia’s arm, not wanting her to leave.

Lorenza kept glancing at her buzzing phone.

Nina noticed.

“You can go and do what you want to do. You don’t have to stay with Nico.”

The child didn’t understand biology or maternal rights.

She only knew who had been present every day of her life.

And she wanted to protect that.

Lorenza said softly,

“I’m not busy. It’s just your dad. I asked him to bring my toiletries… he’s just texting me about them.”

She showed NinaNina the phone.

Lucia looked away, but her eyes caught the message.

She saw Leo’s gentle concern—

But it wasn’t for her.

Minutes later, Lorenza blushed faintly and said,

“Sorry, Lucia… Leo can’t find them. They’re personal things anyway. I’ll go home and get them myself. Please watch the kids while I’m gone.”