1923 Pri, Feb 13 B
The End Of a Marriage
Chapter 154
Chapter 51
71%
As Amber and Luca climbed the stairs to her second floor apartment, Nice skipped a step ahead, his little hand clutching Amber’s. Behind them, Luca carried the last of their bags, his footsteps heavy on the creaky stairs. The afternoon light filtered through the narrow windows, casting a warm glow on the old wooden bannister.
he door of the neighboring apartment swung open. Out stepped grin that could charm anyone. His fitted shirt emphasized his
Just as Amber reached her door and began fishing in her bag for her keys, Mark, her neighbor–a tall, handsome bachelor with tousled dark hair and athletic frame, and his easy, confident demeanor instantly filled the hallway.
“Amber!” he exclaimed, his smile widening as he took her in. “Hey, it’s been a while! I thought I saw you from the balcony. Glad to see you back. And look who it is!” His gaze shifted to Nico, who beamed at the familiar face.
“Hi, Mak!” Nico chirped.
“And how’s my little buddy? Still into baseball?” Mark crouched slightly, his grin growing.
“Yes! Papa and I watched a game together!” Nico said proudly, his voice full of excitement.
Oblivious to the tension, Mark turned back to Amber, his charm still in full force. “I’ve got to say, I was starting to worry about you. Thought maybe your evil ex–husband had, I don’t know, buried you somewhere in the Alps, and I’d never see you again!”
Amber forced a polite smile, though her stomach tightened. She could feel Luca’s presence like a tangible weight behind her, his silence more menacing than any words.
Before Amber could get a word in, Luca’s voice cut through the air, low and sharp like a blade. “I’d still prefer it if you never got to see her again.”
Amber froze, her key hovering over the lock, and Mark’s confident grin wasered as if someone had just popped his balloon. His gaze darted to Luca, sizing him up.
“You’re…” Mark’s voice faltered,his eyes questing. He blinked at Luca as realization settled in. His face growing a little red, maybe with embarssment.
“Yup,” Luca replied, his tone like the snap of a mousetrap.
“Thought so.” Mark’s forced smile turned into an awkward grimace as he began to backpedal–literally. “Well, uh… bye! Gotta go!”
And with that, the suave, charming neighbor turned tail and darted into his apartment like his hair was on fire. The door slammed behind him with an almost comedic finality, leaving the hallway in stunned silence.
“Wow,” he remarked, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “So, the whole building has a stellar opinion of me. Good to know.”
Amber didn’t respond. Her focus remained fixed on the lock as she finally managed to turn the key. With a soft click, the door opened, and she stepped inside, flicking on the lights.
The apartment greeted them with its cozy familiarity. Luca followed, carrying the luggage. He set it down by the door, then scooped Nico up from his perch in Amber’s arms and placed him gently on the sofa.
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10:23 Fri, Feb 13 BBD
Chapter 154
4,73%
Amber disappeared into the kitchen, her footsteps quick and deliberate. A moment later, she returned with a glass of water, her gaze softening as she approached her son.
“Come now, darling,” she said, her voice sweet but firm. “Mummy will give you a bath, and then you can change into something comfortable
and take a little nap.”
“Nooo!” Nico protested, crossing his arms and pouting dramatically. “Papa’s here. I get to play when Papa visits. I’m not sleeping!*
Amber sighed, casting a glance at Luca, who had paused mid–shoelace. His face tightened, the weight of Nico’s innocent words striking him like
a punch to the gut. The boy’s tone was cheerful, but to Luca, it sounded like a quiet rebuke–a reminder of all the times he hadn’t been there,
hadn’t shown up as a father should.
But what shone through even more clearly was Nico’s love. It was there, pure and untainted, in the way the little boy beamed at him, despite
everything.
Luca managed a small smile, though his chest ached. “Papa’s going to be here always now, Piccolino,” he said softly, cupping Nico’s cheek. “So, nothing special about it anymore. Which means you still have to take your bath and nap. How about Papa helps you with that, hmm?”
Nico’s eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Really? Papa’s giving me a bath?”
Amber blinked, momentarily stunned. The excitement in her son’s voice was heartbreaking. Something as mundane as a bath shouldn’t have
been so extraordinary.
“I’ll take care of it,” Luca said, The little boy giggled as Luca knelt to remove his tiny shoes, his movements tender and precise, though his jaw
remained tense.
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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.
