Chapter 8 - THE HOUSE WITH YELLOW FLOWERS
Damian bought the house on a Thursday.
It stood on a quiet street near the edge of town.
White siding.
Blue shutters.
A small garden.
And yellow flowers painted along the mailbox.
He had seen it while driving to a meeting.
The moment he noticed the flowers, he thought of Lily.
Please let us have a house with yellow flowers.
He told himself it was a practical purchase.
A property for staff housing.
A place where Elena and Lily could recover without the pressures of estate life.
But when he walked through the empty rooms, he knew he was lying.
He imagined Lily running through the hallway.
Elena standing in the kitchen.
Sunlight through the windows.
Laughter.
The kind of ordinary happiness he hadn't experienced since childhood.
He bought it through a legitimate property company.
Then stopped.
Because giving Elena a house without asking would be another form of control.
He had spent years watching powerful men confuse generosity with ownership.
He refused to do the same.
So he arranged for the property to become part of an independent staff housing program, with transparent eligibility criteria and affordable terms.
Elena would be free to apply.
Or refuse.
No strings.
No obligations.
No debt to him.
When Marco heard the plan, he raised an eyebrow.
“That's unusually complicated for a man who can buy an entire neighborhood.”
Damian looked at him.
“It's her decision.”
Marco smiled faintly.
“Yes, sir.”
That afternoon, Damian visited Elena in the staff block.
She was sitting at a small table helping Lily color.
He knocked.
Elena looked up.
“Mr. Bellucci.”
“May I come in?”
She nodded.
“Of course.”
Lily grinned.
“Mr. Damian!”
He smiled.
“Miss Parker.”
She held up a drawing.
“Look!”
A yellow house.
Flowers.
A big sun.
Three stick figures.
Damian stared.
“Who's that?”
Lily pointed.
“Mommy.”
Then another.
“Me.”
Then the third.
Damian swallowed.
“And him?”
Lily smiled.
“You.”
The room went silent.
Elena's face turned pink.
“Lily—”
The little girl looked confused.
“What?”
Damian crouched beside the table.
“Why am I there?”
Lily shrugged.
“Because you look sad when you're alone.”
His chest tightened.
She continued.
“And houses are for people who love each other.”
Elena looked away.
Damian stared at the drawing.
For years, he had owned houses in three countries.
But he had never had a home.
He looked at Elena.
Her eyes were shining.
Then he said quietly, “It's a beautiful picture.”
Lily smiled.
“You can keep it.”
Damian took the paper carefully.
“Thank you.”
He folded it once.
May you like
Placed it inside his coat.
And carried it with him for the rest of the day.
