Chapter 3
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“Noooooo!” The wail echoed through the bustling airport, drawing the curious glances of passersby. They had landed in Italy only half an hour ago, but Nico–Amber’s three–year–old son–was refusing to budge. Every time she took a step toward the airport exit, he screamed louder, making it impossible to move forward.
Amber crouched down, her eyes soft with concern, watching her son crumble into a full–blown tantrum. At first, she’d thought he was just moody from the long flight from the States. He’d been fussy the entire time, refusing to eat and clinging to her like a lifeline. He hadn’t slept for even a minute, too wound up to relax. But this… this was more than just travel fatigue.
Nico had always been a sweet, well–behaved boy, and Amber had never seen him act like this. Her stomach twisted with worry as his cries grew louder, drawing more attention from the surrounding crowd. Why now?
Amber crouched down, trying to meet his teary eyes, her voice soft but tired. “Nico, baby, what’s wrong? Are you feeling sick? Does something hurt?”
“No!” Nico shouted back, his face scrunched up, red and puffy from crying. His little fists clutched his favorite teddy bear to his chest like it was the only thing keeping him from completely falling apart.
She tried everything–offering his favorite snacks, his favorite toys, even Peppa Pig on her phone. But the answer was always the same. “No, no, no!”
Amber sighed, feeling the weight of exhaustion settle deep in her bones. It had been a grueling journey for ho
as well. Packing up her life, traveling halfway across the world with a toddler, and facing the emotional hurricane of returning to Italy–the country where everything had gone wrong–was more than she could handle right now. She’d booked a room in a nearby hotel, desperate for a night of
rest before dealing with the looming confrontation she dreaded most.
Luca.
The thought of seeing her ex–husband after all these years was already weighing heavily on her, and she needed all the energy she could muster to face him. But first, she had to deal with Nico’s meltdown. She knelt in front of him again, forcing a patient smile. “Tell me what
you want, sweetheart. What do you want?”
Nico sniffled, his voice a tiny murmur that broke her heart. “Wanna go home.”
Amber’s breath hitched, and she fought the urge to scoop him up and hold him tight, to shield him from everything. “We can’t, baby. You know we can’t-”
Before she could finish, a familiar voice interrupted her, sending a chill down her spine.
“You are home, Nico.”
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18:24 Thu, Jan 29
Chapter 72
Amber’s entire body tensed. She didn’t need to turn around to know who it was. The voice–the commanding, deep voice that once held
her in its thrall–was unmistakable. Luca. Her heart pounded in her chest, a chaotic mix of fear, anger, and something else she couldn’t
quite name. Slowly, she stood, turning to face him for the first time in over eight months.
70
There he was–Luca D’Alessandro, the man who had both saved her and shattered her. His dark hair, still perfectly styled, his sharp
jawline set with that same cold, brooding expression she remembered all too well. He hadn’t changed much, except for the colder edge
that seemed to have deepened in his eyes. Those eyes, once filled with warmth, now looked at her as if she were a stranger.
“Luc…” she whispered, barely able to get the word out.
But Luca wasn’t looking at her. His focus was entirely on their son. “Piccolino, come here,” he said softly, extending his hands toward
Nico. “Come greet your papa.”
It was painful to watch. Nico, the little boy who had once idolized his father from afar, was now cowering behind her leg, clutching his
teddy bear even tighter. His lower lip trembled, and his eyes were wide with fear as he peered up at the towering figure of his father.
Luca knelt down, trying again, his voice softer this time. “Nico, come…”
But all Nico did was bury his face in Amber’s leg, his muffled voice crying out, “No! Wanna go home! Mummy, please, home!”
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18:24 Thu, Jan 29
The End Of a Marriage
Sara Lili is a daring romance writer who turns icy landscapes into scenes of fiery passion. She loves crafting hot love stories while embracing the chill of Iceland’s breathtaking cold.
