Chapter 17 - LUCA CHOOSES THE CHILDREN
The Moretti Global board called an emergency meeting.
Several directors believed Luca’s personal scandal had become too damaging.
Others believed he had used company resources improperly while investigating Evelyn.
The company’s share price had fallen twelve percent.
Every financial publication in America had an opinion.
Luca attended the meeting.
I did not.
What happened inside reached the press later.
A director reportedly told him the company required his full attention.
Luca asked one question.
“Would you say that to a father whose children were in danger?”
The room went silent.
The director tried to explain that Luca’s circumstances were unusual.
Luca interrupted.
“No.”
He placed a document on the table.
“You mean inconvenient.”
He announced that he would remain executive chairman but appoint a temporary chief executive to handle daily operations.
For the first time in his career, Luca voluntarily gave away control.
The decision shocked everyone.
It did not shock me.
He came directly from the meeting to Emma’s school recital.
He arrived three minutes before the curtain opened.
No press conference.
No celebration.
Just a father sliding into the empty chair beside me.
“Did you save my seat?”
“No.”
He looked at the seat.
“It appears saved.”
“It appears you got lucky.”
He smiled.
Emma stepped onto the stage.
She spotted us immediately.
Her entire face lit up.
Luca’s hand tightened around the program.
I watched him instead of her for one second.
There were tears in his eyes.
Real ones this time.
Afterward, Emma ran toward him.
“You came.”
“I told you I would.”
“You’re always working.”
“Not tonight.”
She threw her arms around him.
Eli joined them reluctantly.
Then not reluctantly.
I stood a few feet away.
Something inside me shifted.
Not because Luca was rich.
Not because he had publicly defended us.
Because he had finally understood the simplest promise a child could ask from a parent.
You came.
That night, the twins asked Luca to stay for pizza.
I agreed.
After they went to sleep, he helped me clean the kitchen.
“You know we have a dishwasher.”
“I’m trying to appear useful.”
“You’re doing badly.”
“That seems to be a theme.”
I laughed.
He stopped.
“What?”
“I haven’t heard you laugh like that around me in years.”
The room changed.
I placed a plate on the counter.
“Don’t make this bigger than it is.”
“I’m trying not to.”
He stepped closer.
I should have moved.
I did not.
“Nia.”
My name sounded different in his voice now.
Less certain.
For once, Luca Moretti was asking without demanding.
He touched my cheek.
I let him.
Then he kissed me.
It was brief.
Soft.
Nothing like the dramatic reunion people online would have imagined.
I pulled away first.
“We cannot pretend seven years disappeared.”
“I know.”
“We cannot do this because we have children.”
“I know.”
“We cannot do this because you feel guilty.”
“I know.”
I stared at him.
“You keep saying you know.”
He smiled faintly.
“I’m trying to improve.”
I almost kissed him again.
Then my phone rang.
My attorney.
I answered.
Her voice was urgent.
“Nia, we have a problem.”
“What?”
“Evelyn’s team found a document from the twins’ birth.”
My stomach tightened.
“What document?”
“A form where you intentionally left the father’s identity blank.”
I closed my eyes.
May you like
I remembered signing it.
And I remembered why.
