Chapter 14 - THE MAN WHO ASKED INSTEAD OF TAKING
Luca waited six more months before kissing me.
Not because he didn't want to.
Because I wasn't ready.
That fact alone would've sounded impossible to anyone who only knew his reputation.
The newspapers called him ruthless.
Business magazines called him strategic.
People in expensive restaurants lowered their voices around him.
But with me?
He waited.
He brought Leo to Marianne's Table for Sunday breakfast.
He helped Matteo reconnect with the legitimate company.
He drove my mother to appointments when I couldn't.
He never treated those acts like proof I owed him something.
Slowly, my fear changed.
Then one rainy evening, I found Luca standing beneath the awning outside the restaurant.
"Your car's making the sound again," he said.
I sighed.
"Different sound."
"That's not comforting."
"It's character."
"It's mechanical distress."
I laughed.
We walked upstairs.
Leo was spending the night with Elena.
For the first time, Luca and I were completely alone in my apartment.
He stopped near the window.
"I should go."
I looked at him.
"Why?"
His expression softened.
"Because I don't want you feeling like being alone means something has to happen."
My heart squeezed.
He understood without me explaining.
Again.
"Luca."
He turned.
"Stay."
He went still.
"You sure?"
"Yes."
We sat on the couch.
Talked for two hours.
About Sofia.
My mother.
His childhood.
My terrible finances before the inheritance.
His terrible napkin folding skills.
He insisted that was irrelevant.
Eventually, silence settled.
Not awkward.
Warm.
I looked at him.
"Ask me."
His brows drew together.
"What?"
I smiled.
"You know."
For once, Luca Moretti looked nervous.
"May I kiss you?"
I nodded.
"Yes."
He touched my cheek first.
Giving me time.
Then kissed me.
Slowly.
Gently.
Nothing about it felt like being claimed.
It felt like being asked.
And answering.
When we pulled apart, I laughed softly.
"What?"
He smiled.
"You taste like tiramisu."
"I'm a restaurant owner. Occupational hazard."
His forehead rested against mine.
Then my phone rang.
Rebecca.
I groaned.
"If there's another secret relative, I'm moving to Canada."
Luca laughed.
I answered.
Rebecca spoke quickly.
"Avery, we received the final ruling on Matteo's trust."
My heart pounded.
"And?"
"Victor's claims were rejected. The recovered funds belong to Matteo and his lawful heirs."
I exhaled.
Then she added:
"There was a sealed instruction attached to the original trust."
My stomach tightened.
"From who?"
"Your grandfather Gianni."
I looked toward Luca.
"What does it say?"
Rebecca paused.
"That if Matteo's daughter was ever found, she should be offered one thing before money."
"What?"
Rebecca's voice softened.
"The truth."
Inside the sealed packet was Gianni's confession.
He had helped cover up Matteo's disappearance because he feared a war with the Bellinis.
He regretted it for the rest of his life.
And before he died, he left instructions that the Moretti family never had the right to ask me for loyalty.
Only forgiveness.
I looked at Luca.
He hadn't heard Rebecca's words.
But he saw my face.
"What is it?"
I ended the call.
Then told him.
He was silent.
Finally, he whispered:
"Then I won't ask."
My eyes filled.
"For forgiveness?"
"For anything you don't freely want to give."
That was the moment I knew.
Not that Luca was perfect.
May you like
He wasn't.
But that I could love him without disappearing.
