Semua Bab The mafia king’s substitute husband: Bab 71 - Bab 74

THE FUNDSALVATORE’S POVI go over Matteo’s proposal myself later that week, after Elian asks me to.I read every page carefully. Anything connected to the family name or money deserves that much attention, even when I’m not the one putting up the funds.When I’m done, I place the papers on the desk.“It’s solid.”Elian looks at me. “Really?”“Really.” I tap the proposal with one finger. “He’s covered most of the ways people could take advantage of it. The structure is clear. The money has somewhere to go, and there’s accountability for where it ends up.”A small smile pulls at Elian’s mouth.“You sound surprised.”“I am.”“Why?”I lean back in my chair.“Because I didn’t think Matteo had this in him.”Elian raises an eyebrow.“The Matteo I met at your first wedding could barely sit through a conversation without trying to impress everyone in the room. I wouldn’t have trusted him to handle something like this back then.”“People change.”“Some do.”He gives me a look.I sigh. “Fine. A

THE OLD HOUSEELIAN’S POVMy mother invites the three of us to the townhouse.It is the first time since everything fell apart that she has asked us to come there, and I stare at the invitation for a long time before I finally decide to accept.Maybe I’m ready.“Are you sure?” Salvatore asks when he sees me folding the letter. “You don’t owe her this, Elian. Whatever she’s expecting.”“I know.”I run my thumb over the edge of the paper.“I want to try anyway. For me, mostly. And maybe for Leo too. I don’t want him growing up believing that once a family breaks, it has to stay broken forever.”Salvatore doesn’t argue.He just nods.We went on a quiet Sunday afternoon.My mother is waiting at the door when we arrive. The nervous look on her face makes something twist inside me because I recognize it. I remember feeling that same uncertainty the first time I walked back into this house after everything happened.She has prepared tea and sandwiches.Everything is arranged neatly on the ta