Luca’s jaw tightened, the muscles clenching so hard it felt as though his teeth might crack under the pressure. His narrowed eyes burned with frotrafis darting toward the glittering lights of the grand hotel they’d just left. He could still hear Colette Angelis’s sharp words echring in his mind, her smarg tone slicing through his composure like a blade. If there was anyone who could make his blood boil with just a few well placed words, it was her. That churp tongued woman had been a thorn in his side since the days when Amber was still his wife.
Amber.
The name alone was enough to send a dull ache to his chest, one he quickly attributed to the void Nico’s, his son’s absence left in his life. That was the only reason. The only reason. He clenched his fists tightly, as if that would somehow banish the thoughts that threatened to creep in, the memories of the past that refused to stay buried.
Beside him, Carlotta stepped closer, her presence a calming balm to the storm brewing inside him. She wrapped her shawl tighter around her shoulders, her delicate frame shivering slightly in the cool night air. Without hesitation, Luca shrugged off his coat and draped it over her, his movements brusque but
laced with care.
“I’m sorry, Luca,” she murmured, her voice soft and laced with regret. “You were right. I shouldn’t have insisted we come here. It was a mistake.”
Her apology only deepened his frustration, though not with her. She had done nothing wrong, yet here she was, bearing the brunt of Colette’s venom.
“You have nothing to apologize for,” he said firmly, his voice low and controlled, though the edge of his anger was still unmistakable. “This is on me. I should’ve anticipated this. Colette Angelis has never let go of the idea that I’m some sort of monster. She’s still holding onto the past, still clinging to Amber’s side of the story as if it’s the only one that matters.”
Carlotta sighed, her breath visible in the chilly air. “She was Amber’s friend, Luca. It’s natural for her to be protective. But I didn’t expect her to be so…
hostile.”
Luca let out a harsh laugh, devoid of humor. “Hostile is putting it mildly. That woman has a tongue sharp enough to cut steel. And she wields it with the precision of a master swordsman.”
Carlotta gave him a sad smile, reaching out to place a hand on his arm. The gentle touch was enough to steady him, her presence a reminder that not everyone saw him as Colette did.
The car finally pulled up, the sleek vehicle gliding to a stop in front of them. Luca opened the door for Carlotta, waiting until she was settled inside before sliding in beside her. The silence in the car was heavy, not uncomfortable but charged with unspoken thoughts.
It was Carlotta who broke the quiet, her voice tentative. “Luca, can I ask you something?”
He glanced at her, his expression softening slightly. “Of course.”
She hesitated, as if choosing her words carefully. “Do you ever wonder what would’ve happened if… if Amber hadn’t left? If she were here now?”
The question hit him like a blow to the gut. His hand clenched against his thigh, his breath hitching as he turned to look at her, his brow furrowed. “What?”
“I mean…” Carlotta’s voice faltered for a moment, but she pushed on, her gaze steady despite the unease in her tone. “You loved her once. You married her. Surely, there must be times when you wonder how your life would’ve turned out if she hadn’t walked away.”
Luca’s jaw tightened, his frustration bubbling to the surface once more. “Why are you asking me this, Carlotta?” he demanded, his voice clipped. “Do you think I haven’t made it clear that I’ve moved on? That she has no place in my life anymore?”
1/2
11:22 pm G P P P
Chapter 67
Carlotta held his gaze, unflinching. “I’m not questioning your feelings for me, Luca. I’m just asking do you ever wonder? That’s all.”
He exhaled sharply, leaning back against the seat as he ran a hand through his hair. “That chapter of my life is coer he said finally, bus to renture “Whatever I once felt for Amber… it’s gone.”
Carlotta nodded slowly, but as the cat glided through the streets, her thoughts lingered on his non–answer. He hadn’t denied wondering. He hadn’t denied imagining the life that might have been.
And as she watched the tension in his profile, she couldn’t shake the feeling that the past wasn’t as distant for Luca as he wanted to believe
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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.
