Chapter 14 - THE WOMAN WHO TAUGHT HIM WHAT HOME MEANT
Their relationship developed slowly.
Elena did not rush.
She had loved Nathan deeply.
His memory remained part of her life.
Alessandro understood that.
He never asked her to forget.
Sometimes they visited Nathan's grave together.
Sometimes Alessandro stayed back while Elena and Sophia placed flowers.
He respected the space grief required.
Sophia grew comfortable around him.
She brought him drawings.
Asked questions.
Interrupted meetings.
Once, she walked into his office carrying a stuffed rabbit and announced:
“Mr. Alessandro, Bunny says you work too much.”
Alessandro looked up from a stack of contracts.
“Does he?”
Sophia nodded.
“He says you need cookies.”
Alessandro closed the folder.
“Bunny makes a strong argument.”
Elena watched from the doorway.
She smiled.
One evening, Alessandro and Elena sat on the terrace overlooking the gardens.
The air was cool.
The sky was clear.
Alessandro took her hand.
“Can I ask you something?”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
“Do you ever wish you'd never come to work here?”
She considered the question.
“Sometimes.”
He looked down.
“I understand.”
Elena continued.
“But then I think about Sophia.”
He looked up.
“She saved your life.”
“Yes.”
“And you helped us find the truth about Nathan.”
Alessandro shook his head.
“I should have found it years earlier.”
Elena nodded.
“Yes.”
He looked at her.
She smiled sadly.
“But you're not the same man you were then.”
Alessandro leaned closer.
“I love you.”
Elena's breath caught.
He continued.
“I don't expect you to say it back.”
She looked at him.
“I know.”
He smiled faintly.
“I just wanted you to know.”
Elena touched his cheek.
Then whispered:
“I love you too.”
Inside the house, Sophia was laughing with Teresa.
The sound drifted through the open doors.
May you like
Alessandro closed his eyes.
For the first time in years, the mansion felt like a home.
