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Chapter 3

Author: Katerina
ELENA POV

The meeting continued as if nothing had happened.

“Is the South Harbor agreement ready?” one of the advisers asked.

“The final version is complete,” I said. “The partners are scheduled to sign this afternoon.”

Luca glanced at Sofia. “Add her as co-lead. She can handle communication and financial review after the signing.”

The legal adviser frowned. “South Harbor involves several freight companies, the dockworkers’ union, and financial channels that are already under investigation. A co-lead shares responsibility for every decision. Miss Bellini isn’t prepared for that.”

“Elena completed the due diligence,” Luca said. “Sofia will only handle the final coordination.”

Everyone turned toward me.

I looked at the agreement, then pushed it across the table. “Fine.”

Sofia’s surprise quickly became a pleased smile. “Thank you, Elena. I’ll do my best.”

I stood and placed my access badge, encrypted phone, and vault authorization card in front of the adviser.

“My permissions end at noon. Any remaining documents can be sent through my attorney.”

Luca’s expression hardened. “Why are you returning everything? You’re acting as if you won’t be coming back.”

He caught my wrist before I could step away.

I looked down at his hand. The watch around it was the one I had given him years ago, when we still believed seven years together meant something permanent.

I calmly removed his fingers.

“I’m flying to London for work this afternoon.?If the family needs anything, contact my attorney.”

The elevator doors closed with Luca still watching me. Sofia stood beside him, holding the South Harbor agreement against her chest.

My next stop was a private bank.

I emptied the vault of Luca’s belongings and sealed files, then handed everything to my attorney’s assistant.

“Send these to Valdieri headquarters. Close the vault after someone confirms delivery.”

I signed the termination form and returned the key.

At a luxury consignment shop nearby, the handbags, jewelry, and dresses Luca had given me were already packed into labeled boxes. I signed the sales agreement without asking what any of them were worth.

Over the past month, I had already separated our accounts and transferred the property documents.

I left the shop and raised the handle of my suitcase. My flight would depart in two hours.

“Goodbye, Luca.”
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  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 9

    ELENA POVLuca remained in intensive care for three days.The delivery truck had broken three of his ribs, shattered his left leg, and left him with a severe concussion. The doctors performed two operations before they were certain his condition had stabilized.I learned the details from the hospital.When the ambulance brought him in, the emergency staff found my name listed as his contact in London. I went there, signed the necessary forms, and paid the initial medical expenses.I did it because a man’s life was at stake.It did not change my decision.Once the doctors confirmed that Luca would survive, I left the hospital and returned to work. I asked his family adviser to handle everything that followed.Luca spent nearly a month in the hospital.During that time, he called me more than once. I never answered. He sent messages apologizing for Sofia, for the South Harbor project, and for every time he had chosen someone else while expecting me to remain beside him.I forwarded each

  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 8

    ELENA POVA former colleague told me that Luca returned to Valdieri headquarters immediately after leaving Sofia’s private clinic.Sofia was sitting in the administrative office with several staff members, discussing the South Harbor agreement.“Luca gave me responsibility for the remaining work,” she said. “Once the final review is complete, I’ll be in charge of the agreement.”She had barely finished speaking when Luca opened the door.The office fell silent.“Don Valdieri, what are you doing here?”Sofia smiled and reached for his arm, but he stepped away and placed copies of Sofia’s original clinical records on the desk.“Explain why these records do not match the reports you gave me.”The color disappeared from her face.“The clinic must have made a mistake. Those are incomplete.”“I’ve been to your clinic.”Luca’s voice remained cold.“You were never diagnosed with severe depression or assessed as a suicide risk. The reports you gave me were altered. Your real prescription histor

  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 7

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  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 6

    LUCA POVHis black sedan ran two red lights before reaching the nearest private hospital. Still soaked from the rain, he rushed into the emergency department and searched the records from that afternoon and evening.Elena’s name was not there.Luca stood in the lobby as water dripped from his coat. If Elena had not gone to a hospital after getting hurt, where else could she have gone?Then he remembered the suitcase beside Elena.“The airport.”He drove there immediately, but it was nearly one in the morning when he arrived.Flights to cities around the world filled the departure screens. Luca stared at them and realized he had no idea where Elena was going.They had spent seven years together. He relied on Elena to manage the Valdieri family’s most difficult affairs, yet he had never asked about her plans.He approached the airline counter.“I need to know which flight Elena Moretti boarded.”“I’m sorry, sir,” the employee replied. “We cannot disclose a passenger’s private travel info

  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 5

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  • Twelve Chances. No Thirteenth   Chapter 4

    ELENA POVRain was pouring when I left the consignment shop. My flight departed in two hours, and I was checking the location of my driver when a black car stopped beside me.Luca flung the door open and rushed into the rain without an umbrella.“Why did you send Sofia those messages? Accusing her of stealing me, posting lies about her for everyone to see? She’s threatening to slit her wrist! You’re coming with me to apologize.”He showed me several screenshots. Messages from an account bearing my name insulted Sofia, accused her of using him to gain influence, and ordered her to withdraw from the South Harbor agreement.“I didn’t send these.”“Who else would threaten her?” Luca demanded. “You acted indifferent during the meeting, then attacked her privately.”“The screenshots are fake.”“She had no reason to risk her life to frame you.”For seven years, I had protected the Valdieri family from forged records and carefully constructed lies. Now Luca would not spend five minutes checkin

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