Chapter 13 - THE MAN WHO CHOSE A DIFFERENT LIFE
Adrian Moretti's reputation had been built on fear.
He knew that.
He had inherited a criminal empire from his father and spent years maintaining it.
But Luca's birth changed him.
Isabella's death changed him.
Emma changed him.
Not by demanding that he become someone else overnight.
But by refusing to pretend that power excused cruelty.
Adrian began the difficult process of withdrawing from criminal operations.
He worked with legal counsel to separate legitimate holdings from unlawful activities and cooperate with appropriate investigations.
The process was neither quick nor painless.
He faced scrutiny.
Financial losses.
Threats from former associates.
And consequences for decisions he had made in the past.
But he continued.
One evening, Emma found him in his office surrounded by documents.
“Long day?”
Adrian sighed.
“Very.”
She sat across from him.
“Regrets?”
He considered.
“Plenty.”
Emma nodded.
“About changing?”
Adrian shook his head.
“No.”
He looked toward a photograph of Luca.
“I want him to grow up knowing his father chose something better.”
Emma smiled.
“Then keep choosing it.”
Adrian reached across the desk.
Took her hand.
“I will.”
Several months later, Adrian moved out of the heavily guarded estate.
He purchased a smaller home near Lake Michigan.
Still beautiful.
Still comfortable.
But less like a fortress.
Emma visited on moving day.
Luca crawled across the living-room floor.
Boxes stood everywhere.
Adrian held a screwdriver and looked deeply offended by a flat-pack bookshelf.
Emma laughed.
“Having trouble?”
He stared at the instructions.
“This thing was designed by a sadist.”
She laughed harder.
Adrian looked up.
“You think this is funny?”
“Very.”
He smiled.
Then handed her the instructions.
“Help?”
May you like
Emma took them.
“Now that's a word I like hearing.”
