Chapter 157
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Luca stood over him for a moment, brushing the boy’s curls back gently. His heart swelled with a mix of love and guilt. He hadn’t been around
as much as he should have, but he was determined to change that now.
Quietly, he backed out of the room, pulling the door to a crack. With Nico finally asleep, Luca headed back to the kitchen and groaned at the sight of the sink. The dishes stared back at him like a challenge he didn’t want to take on.
He sighed, rolling up his sleeves. “I need a housekeeper,” he muttered to himself, grabbing a sponge and some soap. As he scrubbed at the stubborn grease on a frying pan, he couldn’t help but imagine Gabriella’s disapproving look.
It was almost nine, and Luca couldn’t shake the gnawing worry building in his chest. Amber was still not back, and the longer he waited, the heavier his thoughts became. What errand could possibly take this long? He tapped his fingers restlessly against the arm of the couch, his gaze darting to the clock every other second.
By 9:15, his patience wore thin. He had already called her phone more times than he cared to count, and each unanswered ring only deepened his unease. Was she stuck somewhere? In trouble? He started pacing the small living room, weighing whether he should call the police or get in the car to look for her himself.
His internal debate ended when headlights illuminated the street outside, Luca froze, his heart racing as he watched a taxi pull up. The moment he saw Amber step out, relief washed over him. But something was off.
It wasn’t just the lateness of her return. It was her.
She moved differently, her steps slow and deliberate, like she was carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. And as she came closer, he saw it–her hair, or what was left of it. Shaved close to her scalp.
Luca stood frozen, his breath catching in his throat. It wasn’t just the hair it was the expression on her face. She looked fragile, like glass about to shatter. The spark in her eyes had dimmed, replaced by an emptiness that made his chest ache.
Without thinking, he closed the distance between them, wrapping her in his arms the moment she stepped through the door. He held her tightly, his hand rubbing soothing circles on her back, but she didn’t respond. She stood stiffly, unyielding, like she didn’t know how to accept
comfort anymore.
“Is Nico in bed?” she asked, her voice flat, almost mechanical.
“Yes,” he replied softly, his arms reluctantly loosening their hold. She nodded, brushing past him and disappearing into her bedroom without
another word.
Luca stayed rooted in the spot, staring after her. The room felt suffocating the walls closing in as he tried to process what he’d just seen. This wasn’t Amber–at least, not the Amber he knew. The chemo hadn’t even started, but the fight was already changing her.
He sank onto the couch, raking a hand through his hair as his mind spirale. He couldn’t just sit by and watch this unfold. But he didn’t know how to stop it, how to shield her from what was coming.
Later, he went to check on her, but her lights were off. Not wanting to disturb her, he grabbed some blankets and pillows and made himself as comfortable as possible on the couch. As he lay there, staring at the ceiling, he made a mental list: a better place for them to stay, a housekeeper, a car–no, cars. Maybe a pool and a garden for Nico to play in He wanted to give them everything they needed, everything they
deserved.
1/2
1074 Fm, Feb1BBD:
FmFeb 13
Chapter 157
Sometime efter midnight, he was terred awake by a exreum. He shot up, her pounding, and ran to Amber’s room.
The sight made his stomach drop she was thrashing in her bed, caught in the grips of a nightmare. Her cries were desperate, her voice breaking as she alumnded and cursed at unseen demons
“Ambert” be called, rushing to her side. Its graided her shoulders, trying to wake her, but she didn’t respond. Her trembling and thrashing only
Left with no other choice, Lasa climbed onto the bed, pinning her gently her cheeks, her temple, her throat, murmuring words of comfort. “It’s okay
firmly to keep her from hurting herself. ife pressed soft kisses to amors. It’s okay, I’m here, You’re safe, I’ve got you?
slowly, the fight left her body. Her cries turned into quiet sobs, and then ence, She was still shaking when her eyes fluttered open, wide and
“Luca?” she whispered, her voice raw and trembling.
“I’m here,” he said softly, brushing her damp hair back from her face,
She clung to him like a lifeline, burying her face in his chest. He held her tightly, his heart breaking at the vulnerability she rarely showed, “Go back to sleep,” he urged gently, his voice low and soothing
“I can’t,” she said, her voice cracking: “L… I need something, I just can’t can’t stop thinking about it. About everything.”
Her words tumbled out in a rush, and then, suddenly, her gaze snapped up to meet his. Her eyes were startlingly clear, a spark of something raw and desperate shining through.
“Luca?” she said again, this time almost hesitantly, her cheeks turning a set shade of pink.
“Hmm?” he replied, his hand still stroking her hair absentmindedly,
“Does your offer…” She swallowed hard, her voice dipping into a whisper. From the doctor’s office… does it still stand?”
It took a moment for her meaning to sink in, but when it did, his hand stilled, his breath catching. The blush that crept from her cheeks to her throat made her look shy, almost delicate,
And it took him a while to understand, that she was asking for Sex!
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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.
