Weeks passed, turning autumn into the crisp chill of early winter.

Life began to settle into a new, extraordinary rhythm. Luca didn't rush things. True to his word, he respect my boundaries completely. He didn't demand overnight visits or force the children into his high-society world. Instead, he integrated himself seamlessly into ours.

Three days a week, the billionaire owner of Moretti Global could be found parked outside Lincoln Park Elementary in an unassuming SUV, waiting to pick up Eli and Mara from school. He attended Eli’s youth soccer games, sitting on the cold aluminum bleachers in a simple hoodie, cheering louder than any other parent. He sat on the floor of my living room every Tuesday evening, helping Mara with her reading homework while patiently answering Eli’s endless questions about how airplanes and buildings were constructed.

Slowly, the ice around my heart began to thaw.

One rainy Friday evening, after the twins had fallen asleep upstairs, Luca remained in my kitchen. He was helping me wash the dinner dishes—a simple household chore he insisted on doing himself every time he visited.

“You don't have to wash those, Luca,” I said, leaning against the counter with a cup of tea. “My housekeeper comes tomorrow.”

“I want to, Nia,” Luca replied, rinsing a plate under warm water. “I spent six years living in a sterile penthouse where people did everything for me. Doing dishes in your kitchen makes me feel like a human being again.”

I smiled softly, watching his broad shoulders move under his dark sweater.

“How is the court case going?” I asked.

Luca set the plate on the drying rack and turned off the faucet. He wiped his hands on a towel and leaned against the sink, facing me.

“Eleanor pled guilty yesterday,” Luca revealed quietly. “Her attorneys struck a deal with the prosecutor to avoid a public trial. She was sentenced to three years of probation, mandatory psychological therapy, and a permanent restraining order keeping her away from our family.”

I took a sip of my tea, digesting the news. “How do you feel about it?”

“Relieved,” Luca admitted, walking over to stand opposite me at the kitchen island. “And free. For the first time in my life, I don't owe anyone anything. The company is stable, the board is fully aligned, and my life is finally my own.”

He looked at me, his dark eyes burning with that familiar, intense warmth that used to make my breath catch when we were younger.

“Except for one thing,” Luca added softly.

My heart began to beat faster. “What’s that?”

“I still haven't won back the woman I love,” he whispered.

Luca stepped around the island, stopping right in front of me. The scent of rain, cedarwood, and his familiar cologne enveloped my senses. He reached out, his long fingers gently brushing a loose strand of dark hair away from my face.

“Nia,” Luca murmured, his voice thick with raw devotion. “I see the way you look at me when I’m playing with the kids. I know you still feel what we had. I know I hurt you terribly, but every single day I spend with you and the twins reminds me of what life was supposed to be.”

“Luca... we’ve been through so much,” I breathed, my pulse racing. “It’s terrifying to open that door again.”

“Then don't open it all at once,” Luca whispered, leaning down until his lips were just inches from mine. “Just let me hold your hand while we walk through it together.”

He didn't force the kiss. He waited, giving me absolute control.

Looking into his eyes—the eyes that had haunted my dreams for six years—I let go of the past. I reached up, placed my hand on his jaw, and closed the distance between us.

The moment our lips met, a surge of overwhelming emotion swept through my chest. The kiss was slow, deep, and filled with six years of yearning, forgiveness, and unspoken devotion. When he pulled back, his forehead resting against mine, his dark eyes were shining with pure joy.

“I’ve missed you, my sweet Nia,” Luca breathed against my lips. “More than words will ever be able to say.”