Chapter 4 - THE MAN WHO NEVER KEPT PROMISES
Lorenzo Duca had made many promises in his life.
Some had saved people.
Others had destroyed them.
He had learned early that promises were dangerous because they created expectations.
And expectations created weaknesses.
But when Mia asked him whether Biscuit could stay forever, he said yes.
Without negotiating.
Without thinking.
The little girl squealed and threw her arms around his neck.
Lorenzo froze.
Then slowly hugged her back.
Elena watched from the doorway.
Something tightened in her chest.
She had never seen Lorenzo smile like that.
Not at business associates.
Not at visitors.
Not even at the household staff.
But Mia had somehow found a door inside him that everyone else believed was locked.
That evening, Elena brought him coffee.
He was sitting in the library.
“Thank you for letting her keep the puppy,” she said.
Lorenzo nodded.
“He seems determined to stay.”
Elena smiled.
“So does Mia.”
Lorenzo looked at her.
“She's a remarkable child.”
Elena's eyes softened.
“She takes after her father.”
A pause.
“He was kind.”
Lorenzo studied her.
“You loved him.”
“Yes.”
He nodded.
“I'm sorry.”
Elena looked surprised.
“For what?”
“For what happened to him.”
She looked down.
“Thank you.”
They sat in silence.
Then Lorenzo said, “I had a younger brother.”
Elena looked up.
“What happened?”
“He died fifteen years ago.”
She waited.
Lorenzo continued.
“His name was Paolo. He was twenty-one.”
His voice changed.
“He wanted to leave the family business. I told him to wait until I could arrange it safely.”
Elena listened.
“He didn't wait.”
Lorenzo stared at the fire.
“He was killed two days later.”
Elena's heart ached.
“I'm sorry.”
Lorenzo nodded.
“I spent fifteen years believing that if I had acted sooner, he'd still be alive.”
She looked at him.
“You couldn't control every choice he made.”
“No.”
He smiled bitterly.
“But I could have listened.”
Elena reached across the table.
Then hesitated.
Lorenzo noticed.
“It's all right.”
She placed her hand over his.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then Biscuit barked from the hallway.
Mia appeared behind him.
“Uncle Lorenzo!”
Lorenzo looked up.
“Yes?”
“Biscuit ate your shoe.”
Elena covered her mouth.
Lorenzo stared.
“Which shoe?”
Mia considered.
May you like
“The expensive one.”
For the first time in years, Lorenzo Duca laughed until his eyes watered.
