The jet was fancy, quiet, polished, just like him.
I took the seat by the window and turned my face away the moment I sat down. The city disappeared beneath the clouds and only then did the tears come.
I cried into the sleeve of my coat, shoulders shaking, careful not to make a sound.
I refused to give him that.....
I felt him pass me once.... Then again....
Why the fuck is he watching me? I thought bitterly.
I wiped my face quickly when a shadow stopped beside me.
"Ma'am?" the hostess said gently.
I straightened immediately, blinking away the evidence and forcing a smile that felt like glass cutting into my face.
"Yes?"
"You haven't touched your meal."
Her tone was very polite and slightly nervous.
"I'll eat later." I replied softly.
"No!" The word slipped out of her before she caught herself.
She froze, panic flashing in her eyes. Then she leaned closer and whispered voice trembling.
"Please ma'am...…. Please eat something."
I frowned slightly.
"Why are you so worried?"
Her eyes flicked past me, towards him.
"Mr. Marchetti said if I don't make sure you're properly taken care of, I'll be dismissed." she whispered urgently.
"I have two children and I'm a single mother. Please ma'am, I can't afford to loose my job."
Something cold twisted in my chest and I turned slowly to him.
He sat at the far end of the cabin, one leg crossed over the other, laptop open.
As if he felt my stare, he lifted his head and our eyes locked.
His face was blank, stoic, but his mouth...… just barely..... curved.
A quiet, victorious acknowledgment.
I looked away immediately, rage flooding me so fast it made my hands shake.
That bastard!
I turned back to her and nodded, pasting the smile back on my face.
"It's fine," I said.
"I'll eat."
Relief crashed over her face.
"Thank you ma'am. Thank you so much," she whispered bowing her head slightly before hurrying away.
I picked up my fork with trembling fingers, I glanced back at him one last time.
He was already back to his laptop as if nothing had happened.
As if he hadn't just reminded me again that even my refusal had limits now.
I turned toward the window, jaw clenched, forcing the food down my throat while the clouds swallowed my hometown whole.
..........
I stood in front of the house, my chest rising too fast, fingers trembling around my phone. Alessandro let me go in first, probably to get my self together before he came in.
We're here, I texted my mom.
I hadn't even locked my screen when the door flew open.
"Mama—"
I didn't finish the word.
I collapsed into her arms like my bones had forgotten how to hold themselves together. The tears came hard and ugly, my face pressed into her wrapper, her familiar scent wrapping around me like a shield.
"Oh, my baby…" she whispered pulling me inside immediately, shutting the door behind us with quiet urgency.
"It's okay....You're home."
I sobbed uncontrollably, years of fear, hiding, strength I didn't even know I'd been carrying cracked open all at once as she held me, one hand stroking my hair, the other firm on my back like she was grounding me to the earth.
I told her what happened already and she's been taking it surprisingly well than I thought.
Her face didn't harden, It didn't fall apart either. she wiped my tears with her thumbs and smiled sadly.
"We have waited for this day," she said quietly.
"Lorenzo has also waited for this day. "
I nodded tearfully cos regardless of the terms. This has been my sons dream and I would be the most selfish mother to refuse him of this.... It had to be done....
She cupped my face.
"This is not the end my child this is a crossing."
A knock came at the door.
She glanced toward it, then back at me, a knowing smile tugging at her lips.
"Go and get my grandson ready, let me speak to his father."
"Mom are you sure...…"
"I am very sure," she said firm now.
"Go."
I nodded and climbed the stairs on shaky legs every step heavier than the last.
Alessandro's POV
My chest felt... wrong, tight, empty. All at once.
I had faced boardrooms, enemies, guns, but none of that prepared me for this door.
It opened...…..
Lauretta stood there...…
She looked older, softer, but still strong. I expected anger, hurt, coldness,Accusation. Instead, her face broke into a warm smile.
"Alessandro." she said stepping forward.
Before I could react she wrapped her arms around me.
It stunned me. I hugged her back automatically, something tight in my chest loosening without permission.
"You've grown into a fine man." she said pulling back to look at me.
We sat...
She poured tea like this was any other visit, like my world wasn't balancing on a thread.
"I know you are angry." I said after a moment, my voice steady even if I wasn't.
"And you have every right to be."
She shook her head.
"Anger wastes time and we have lost enough already." She replies calmly.
I looked down.
"I know I don't understand everything yet and I know you may not agree with my decision but I will never hurt her nor my son."
She watched me carefully.
"I will take care of them," I continued.
" I've also made some arrangements for help here. I know you won't leave your land or your farm, so I made sure you won't be alone."
Her brows lifted slightly.
"You did all that?"
"Yes."
She studied me for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
"Honestly my son, I don't need anything from you." she said gently.
"I just want them to be happy, Just...… help my children find peace….. Together or apart."
Then she reached across the table and took my hand.
"I know this hurts." she added softly.
"But you are a father now and fathers do hard things."
My throat tightened.
"You will take good care of them," she said with quiet certainty.
"I know you will."
Upstairs, I heard a small laugh, a child's voice and my heart raced.
She squeezed my hand once more.
"Go," she said.
"Your son is waiting."