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Nico lit up at the suggestion, already rattling off a list of things he wanted to buy at the store. Amber felt her heart squeeze as she watched him–so full of life, so innocent. He had no idea what she was going through, and she couldn’t let him see it. She had to hold it together, for him.
“Can I get a Superman sticker too?” he asked, his eyes wide with hope. “Like the one I had at home?”
Amber ruffled his curly hair, grateful for this moment of simplicity. “Sure, my naughty monkey. But you have to promise me you’ll be a good boy from now on, okay?”
Nico paused for a moment, staring up at her with those wide, innocent eyes as if thinking about something. Then he nodded, his little arms wrapping around her in a tight hug. “I promise, Mummy. I’ll always be a good boy.”
Amber held him close, his warmth grounding her in the present, pulling her away from the torment in her mind. “Let’s go, then. Maybe we can get you a haircut too.”
But as they descended the stairs, the warmth of that moment quickly evaporated. The family was already gathered in the living room. Guilia,
Chiara, and–of course–Carlotta were there. Even Luca stood amongst them, his presence suffocating.
Amber’s heart raced as she held Nico’s small hand tightly in her own, desperately trying to escape the suffocating atmosphere in the room. She walked quickly, her eyes fixed ahead, silently praying that they could make it out of the house without further confrontation. But it seemed like today Guilia or his daughter had no intrest in tormenting her. Because both of them completely ignored her presence and she was very glad
about it.
The morning had already been a disaster–she wasn’t ready to deal with more. But just as they were nearing the door, it was Luca who stepped in front of them, his broad frame blocking their way like an immovable wall.
“Where are you two going?” Luca asked casually, though his eyes lingered on Amber’s face, searching for something. Amber, feeling the weight of his gaze, forced herself to look anywhere but at him.
“Mummy and me are going to buy me some shoes. My sandal is broken.” Nico piped up before she could respond, his small face pulled into a deliberate sad expression. Amber could see the way her son had already learned how to win over his father’s heart, and she couldn’t help but feel a bittersweet pang in her chest. Despite everything, the bond between them had grown stronger in such a short time. Luca smiled at Nico, reaching down to pinch his son’s button nose playfully.
“Ah, broken shoes, huh? Well, I’m taking Ma and Carlotta to the market away. I can drop you two off,” Luca offered, his tone easy and familiar, as if everything was still normal between them. But Amber’s insides twisted violently at the thought of it–Carlotta. The image of her in that bathrobe from this morning flashed across her mind like a nightmare, plus she had just seen what was in Carlotta’s hands at the moment – a bridal dress magazine! Which meant they were going for Brid dress shopping. Her heart pounded in her chest, every beat a painful reminder of how Luca had moved on.
It wasn’t just the jealousy–it was deeper than that. It was the raw, gnawing pain of realizing that she had never been the woman Luca wanted to marry. When they had eloped to Naples, she had worn a cheap blue su ress from her emergency bag, far from the white bridal gown she had once dreamed of. She had been nothing more than a quick, temporary solution–a bride only because she had gotten pregnant. And now, watching Carlotta prepare to have the wedding that she never had, Amberouldn’t breathe under the weight of it.
Her lips parted, but the words stuck in her throat. Finally, she managed to mutter, “No, thanks. We can manage.”
Luca, however, wasn’t ready to let it go. He took a step closer, his brow fuowing slightly in that familiar way that made her feel like he could
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see right through her defenses. “You don’t have a car, Amber. I would’ve sat the driver, but Ma has him running errands. Let me drop you off. It’s no trouble.”
Now, everyone was looking at them. Carlotta was looking a tad bit anxious while Guilia looked outright offended.
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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.
