The End Of a Marriage
Chapter 110
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Amber’s voice broke through the stillness, fragile and trembling, 1st don’t know what comes over me when–Her words faltered, and before she could finish, a deafening crash sounded nutside. Another branch of the tree had fallen. Amber let out a sharp, terrified shriek, and in an instant, her body curled tighter against Lauca’s, her small frame shivering volently against him.
Shhh… shhh…” Luca’s voice was low and soothing as he rubbed slow circles on her back.
He gently tried to lift her. “Let’s get out of here. We’ll sit in the bedroom where it’s more comfortable.” His voice was calm, but there was a desperation behind it, a need to pull her out of this dark, suffocating space. But as soon as he moved, she gripped him tighter, shaking her head frantically.
“No, no, please…” Her voice was a plea, raw and desperate. “Please, Luca… don’t make me go out there.” Her words broke something inside him, and he relented, sinking back down beside her, his back pressed against the closet wall.
They sat in the darkness, the air thick with unspoken words, Amber’s head resting on his chest, him tightly holding onto her.
Fifteen minutes passed, maybe more, before the howling wind began to calm, the rain softening to a gentle patter. Amber’s breathing had slowed, though her body still trembled in his arms. In the quiet, she finally spoke again, her voice barely above a whisper.
“Is… is Nico alright? Did you bring him with you?”
Luca’s heart clenched at the mention of their son. “No, it wasn’t safe to drive with him in this weather,” he replied softly. “But he’s safe.”
Amber let out a shaky breath, and for the first time since he’d arrived, she lifted her head slightly, her eyes searching his face through the darkness. “You drove back alone?” Her voice was laced with disbelief, as if she couldn’t quite grasp that he had come for her, that he was here, in the middle of a storm, for her.
“Yes,” Luca answered, his voice thick with emotion.
“Why?” The wonder in Amber’s voice, the disbelief that he had come for her, struck Luca deeply. Could she truly not understand? Did she really believe that because she was no longer his wife, no longer the woman to whom he had once vowed forever, he had abandoned her?
She didn’t see it–couldn’t see it–that no matter how much distance had grown between them, no matter how much they had grown apart, he could never fully walk away from her. Abandoning her wasn’t something he was capable of. It wasn’t a choice; it was instinct, ingrained in him. Whenever she was in trouble, whenever she needed him, he would come. He couldn’t help it.
For a moment, they just stared at each other, the weight of their shared past hanging heavy between them. Then, before he could stop himself, Luca leaned in. His hand cupped the back of her neck, fingers threading through her hair, and he kissed her.
The darkness closed in around them, the storm outside fading into nothing as Luca’s lips met hers. For a moment, she was frozen, neither pulling away nor kissing him back, like a statue caught in the throes of indecision. But then, slowly, her lips softened beneath his, and she leaned into him, her body molding against his in a way that felt both familiar and foreign. It was a kiss filled with years of unspoken words, of regret and longing, tangled so tightly together they couldn’t be separated.
His heart slammed against his ribs as he felt her respond, felt her kiss him back. It was like coming alive again, like the world had color and sound and feeling after being numb for so long. Butterflies exploded in his stomach, a sensation he hadn’t felt in years, and suddenly he wanted to both laugh and cry. How could this woman–this infuriating, complex, beautiful woman–still have such a hold on him? How could she make him feel everything and nothing all at once?
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09:15 Mon, Feb 9
Chapter 110
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This woman infuriated him, baited him to insanity, made him care and to
No. No. No. The word echoed in his mind like a warning bell, and Luca pulled back abruptly, his breath ragged, his heart pounding. Not love!
And suddenly In his mind’s eye, he saw Carlotta–the elegant, poised Carlota wrapped in her flawless white dress, standing in the bridal shop just hours ago. The storm in his chest was nothing compared to the storm inside his mind. Guilt crashed over him like a wave, threatening to drown him. What had he just done?
He pulled away, his hands shaking. The thunderstorm had passed now, leaving a strange calm in its wake. The rain had stopped, and through the cracks in the blinds, sunlight began to filter into the room, thin rays of light cutting through the darkness of the closet.
and the image of Carlotta’s serene face haunted him.
He couldn’t breathe. Couldn’t think.
“I–I can’t…” Luca’s voice broke, and he stood up abruptly, leaving Amber in the shadows as the sunlight crept closer.
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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.
