Chapter 14 - THE PRENUP
Their lawyers spent longer on prenup than wedding menu.
Elina loved that.
Separate assets.
Bellandi trust stays hers.
Moretti holdings stay his.
Sorelle entirely hers.
No automatic management authority.
No hidden security rights.
No decision-making language disguised as protection.
Luca’s attorney called it unusually detailed.
Elina replied:
“Good.”
Then they discussed Noah.
Not adoption.
Elina did not replace Sofia legally unless future need arose.
She became designated emergency guardian jointly with Camila if Luca incapacitated.
Why?
Because Noah had bond.
But decision involved child specialists and family lawyers.
Not romance.
Good.
Wedding small.
North End courtyard behind Sorelle.
Sofia’s photograph present.
Not at altar center.
One table.
Memory.
Rosa walked beside Elina halfway.
Then stopped.
Elina walked rest alone.
Luca understood.
No giving away.
At vows:
Luca said:
“I promise not to make decisions for you and call them protection.”
Elina smiled.
“Specific.”
“I have history.”
Then she said:
“I promise not to confuse independence with never needing anyone.”
That mattered too.
They kissed.
No mafia spectacle.
Then Matteo’s letter arrived from prison.
Elina nearly threw away.
Read later.
He wrote:
I spent my life believing preserving assets justified controlling people.
By the time I understood difference, I had become exactly the man I once thought I was protecting you from.
Interesting.
No request forgiveness.
Then:
Sofia was braver than me.
You are too.
Elina did not reply.
Enough.
Years passed.
Sorelle opened second location.
Not chain explosion.
Measured.
Elina employed forty people.
Profit-sharing.
Training.
Luca worked legitimate holdings under board oversight.
No absolute empire.
Therapy.
Parenting.
Occasional old instincts.
Elina called them out.
He usually listened.
Then one night, Luca returned late.
Elina looked up.
“Where were you?”
He stopped.
Old dynamic reversed.
She smiled.
“See how that sounds?”
He laughed.
“Board dinner.”
“Did you eat?”
“Yes.”
“Good.”
Then:
“No tracker?”
“No.”
He raised phone.
“Want location sharing?”
“Only if mutual and optional.”
“Done.”
Normal marriage.
Consent even in boring things.
Then Noah, now nine, came downstairs.
“Why are you guys awake?”
“Marriage audit,” Elina said.
He rolled eyes.
May you like
Children.
Perfect.
