Chapter 13 - THE EMPIRE HE CHOSE TO LEAVE
Luca spent the following months separating his legitimate businesses from the criminal operations controlled by his father.
It was difficult.
Expensive.
And dangerous.
But he refused to bring our child into the same world that had nearly destroyed him.
He cooperated with legal investigations into the falsified medical records and the misuse of family assets.
He established independent management for his companies.
And he began building a life that didn't depend on fear.
One afternoon, I found him sitting in the nursery.
He was assembling a crib mobile.
Badly.
Very badly.
I leaned against the doorway.
“Need help?”
He looked up.
“No.”
I smiled.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
A small plastic star fell onto the floor.
I laughed.
Luca stared at it.
Then looked at me.
“Perhaps.”
I sat beside him.
Together, we finished assembling it.
Then he rested his hand on my stomach.
Our baby kicked.
Luca froze.
“Was that—”
I smiled.
“Yes.”
His eyes widened.
“Again?”
I laughed.
“I'm afraid I can't schedule it.”
He looked down.
Then whispered:
“Hello, little one.”
Another kick.
Luca laughed.
And I knew that whatever happened next, our child would grow up knowing something Luca had never been allowed to believe.
May you like
Love wasn't something you earned through obedience.
It was something freely given.
