Chapter 6 - ELENA'S CONDITION
Luca's recovery created headlines.
Not because he announced it.
Because someone leaked video.
A shaky clip from inside the rehabilitation room.
Luca standing.
Two steps.
Within hours:
CHICAGO POWER BROKER WALKS AFTER 12 YEARS
Then:
MEDICAL FRAUD INVESTIGATION CONNECTED TO COSTELLO FAMILY
Then:
FORMER PERSONAL PHYSICIAN ARRESTED
Elena hated the attention.
Maya's paternity remained private.
For now.
Then paparazzi photographed them leaving the estate.
Questions began.
"Who is the woman?"
"Who is the child?"
"Why is Luca Costello paying for her school?"
Elena packed that night.
Luca found boxes in the service cottage.
"What are you doing?"
"Leaving."
"No."
She looked at him.
"You said you had no claim."
"I don't."
"Then don't tell me no."
Fair.
Luca corrected.
"Why?"
"Maya deserves normal."
"She was kidnapped because of me."
"Because of Vincent."
"Same world."
Elena folded clothes.
"Luca, she has armed men outside her school."
"Temporary."
"She has reporters photographing her."
"I can stop most."
"Most."
She looked at him.
"I lived poor for nine years. Do you know what I learned?"
"No."
"Money solves a lot."
She paused.
"But powerful people always think solving a problem means controlling the environment until nobody can breathe."
Luca said nothing.
She continued.
"I don't want Maya growing up inside gates because the gates are expensive."
That hurt because it was true.
"What do you want?"
"A house."
"I can buy—"
"No."
He stopped.
She almost smiled.
"A normal house. Mine."
"I understand."
"Near enough that Maya can see you."
He looked at her.
"You're not taking her away?"
"No."
"But I'm not moving into your estate because we've discovered you share DNA."
Luca nodded.
"What else?"
"You keep therapy."
"I am."
"Not physical."
He stared.
Elena folded another shirt.
"You were betrayed by your uncle and physician for twelve years."
"I'm aware."
"You don't get to turn that into more control."
"Therapy."
"Yes."
"I have a therapist."
"Who?"
He paused.
"Danielle."
"She's a physical therapist."
"She talks a lot."
Elena laughed.
Then became serious.
"And Maya doesn't enter your business."
"Never."
"No family meetings. No secrets. No people calling her princess of anything."
Luca grimaced.
"Marco already called her Principessa once."
"Tell him I'll kill him."
"I believe you."
Finally, Elena said:
"And one more thing."
"What?"
"You don't buy affection."
He went still.
"I wasn't planning to."
"You'll be tempted."
She looked at the estate.
"You're very good at buying solutions."
He couldn't argue.
"So birthday gifts?"
"Normal."
"Define normal."
"Not horses."
"Maya wants a horse."
"Exactly."
"One pony?"
"No."
"Terrible negotiation."
She smiled.
They found a house eight minutes away.
Three bedrooms.
Blue kitchen.
Small yard.
The hedge was imperfect.
Maya loved it.
Luca paid nothing.
That was Elena's condition.
He did, however, send gardeners to repair the loose back gate.
Elena sent them home.
He learned.
Slowly.
The first weekend Maya stayed at the estate without Elena, Luca panicked about everything.
Food allergies.
Stairs.
Bath temperature.
Security.
Maya finally said:
"Dad."
First time.
Luca stopped.
She had called him Luca.
Mr. Luca.
Dad-Maybe once as a joke.
But not Dad.
"What?"
"You're being weird."
He blinked.
"Because I asked if your water is too hot?"
"You asked three times."
He laughed.
Then sat beside her.
"You called me Dad."
Maya looked embarrassed.
"Can I?"
His throat tightened.
"Yes."
She nodded.
"Okay."
Then:
"Dad, you're weird."
Perfect.
Elena arrived Sunday evening.
Maya ran outside.
Luca wheeled behind her.
Elena looked at him.
"How was it?"
"I learned children require constant supervision."
"Remarkable."
"Also she eats strawberries but not strawberry yogurt."
"Different texture."
"Why?"
"Because human beings contain contradictions."
Luca smiled.
"Stay for dinner."
Elena hesitated.
Then:
"Okay."
That dinner became another.
Then another.
Not romance.
Not yet.
May you like
Something gentler.
Trust returning in teaspoons.
