Chapter 17 - A NEW CHAPTER
One year later.
The summer sun shone brightly over the rolling hills of our estate in Lake Forest.
The Vance-Moretti Foundation had officially opened three new shelters and community health centers across Chicago, providing free healthcare, legal support, and fertility resources for thousands of women in need. I served as the active chairwoman, turning the pain of my past into a beacon of hope for others.
Luca had stepped back from the daily grind of Moretti Global, appointing a trusted executive board so he could spend his mornings cooking breakfast with the kids and his evenings taking us on weekend trips.
I sat on a wooden bench under the shade of an oak tree in our garden, watching Leo and Maya riding their bikes along the paved pathway, Marco watching over them with a proud grin.
Luca walked out from the main house, holding two glasses of lemonade. He wore a simple linen shirt and trousers, looking relaxed, happy, and younger than he had in years.
He handed me a glass and sat down beside me, wrapping his arm around my shoulders.
"How is the foundation report looking?" he asked, pressing a kiss to my temple.
"Better than expected," I smiled, leaning into his side. "We helped over two hundred families this month alone."
"I'm proud of you, Nia," Luca murmured, his thumb stroking my shoulder softly. "You've changed so many lives. Including mine."
I turned my head to look at him, reaching up to rest my hand against his cheek. "We built something good out of the ruins, didn't we?"
"We did," Luca agreed, his dark eyes shining with deep contentment. "And it's only the beginning."
I took his hand, placing it gently over my stomach.
Luca froze.
He looked down at his hand resting on my belly, then looked up at my face, his eyes widening in shock and overwhelming wonder.
"Nia?" his voice cracked. "Are you...?"
I smiled, tears of pure joy glistening in my eyes as I nodded. "Three months. Healthy, strong, and completely natural."
May you like
Luca let out a ragged, breathless gasp. He slid off the bench onto his knees in front of me, burying his face against my stomach as he wrapped his arms around my waist, holding me with a reverence that brought tears to my eyes.
"Thank you," he whispered repeatedly into the fabric of my dress, his shoulders shaking with emotion. "Thank you, my love..."
