Chapter 13 - THE RECORDING
Nobody spoke while the recording continued.
Helen’s voice came next.
“What if she contacts him directly?”
Evelyn answered.
“Then we make sure she believes he rejected her.”
My hands started trembling.
Luca stopped the recording.
He could not continue.
I could.
“Play it.”
“Nia.”
“Play it.”
He pressed the button.
Helen asked about Alessandra’s payment.
Evelyn laughed.
“His mother only wants the girl gone.”
Girl.
I had been thirty.
Evelyn continued.
“She does not understand the larger problem.”
“What larger problem?”
“If Nia gives him a child, he will never emotionally leave her.”
The recorder crackled.
Then Evelyn said the sentence that ended any remaining doubt.
“I can compete with a wife.”
A pause.
“I cannot compete with the mother of his children.”
I covered my mouth.
Luca stood completely still.
I had seen him angry.
I had seen him cold.
I had seen him ruthless.
This was different.
He looked destroyed.
The recording proved Evelyn had planned for the possibility of my pregnancy before our divorce was even final.
She had not merely exploited circumstances afterward.
She had anticipated them.
Prepared for them.
And built safeguards around Luca to make sure my children never reached him.
The evidence went to police.
Because Helen had participated in stealing medical information and attempting unauthorized contact with Emma, prosecutors began examining the entire scheme.
Evelyn’s attorneys changed strategy immediately.
They offered cooperation regarding financial misconduct.
But Evelyn refused to admit involvement with my pregnancy letter.
Then Graham provided a second piece of evidence.
An old backup drive.
On it was a scanned copy of my original letter.
The metadata showed Evelyn had opened the file fourteen minutes after Graham scanned it.
There were no more reasonable explanations.
Luca filed for divorce.
He also filed a civil action against Evelyn and several people involved in the interference.
I did not join his lawsuit.
Not yet.
My focus remained Eli and Emma.
But the children were beginning to understand more.
Emma asked why Luca still went home somewhere else at night.
“Because this isn’t his house.”
“Could it be?”
I nearly dropped the laundry basket.
“What?”
“His house.”
She pointed around the temporary residence.
“He’s here all the time.”
“That doesn’t mean he lives with us.”
“Why not?”
“Because adults are complicated.”
Emma considered that.
“Adults make things complicated.”
I laughed despite myself.
“Yes.”
She was not wrong.
Later, Eli sat beside Luca on the back steps.
I watched through the kitchen window.
“What did they talk about?”
I asked Luca afterward.
“He asked if I was going to disappear.”
My chest tightened.
“What did you say?”
“I told him no.”
“You cannot promise children things you may not control.”
“I can control this.”
He looked at me.
“If you decide you never want me romantically again, I will still be their father.”
That mattered.
More than he knew.
He stepped closer.
“Nia.”
I knew what was coming.
I shook my head.
“Don’t.”
“I still love you.”
“Luca.”
“I am not asking you for anything.”
“Then don’t say it.”
“I need you to know.”
I looked into the eyes I had once trusted with everything.
“Love was never our only problem.”
“I know.”
“Trust was.”
“I know.”
“And you do not rebuild seven years in seven weeks.”
“No.”
May you like
He nodded.
“But I can start with tomorrow.”
