Chapter 9 - SHADOWS OF THE PAST
The fallout from the press conference was swift and catastrophic for the Shaw empire.
Within forty-eight hours, Victoria Shaw was summoned by a grand jury, several state political figures severed ties with the family, and Shaw Holdings saw its stock value plummet by forty percent. Julian Vance was arrested at O'Hare International Airport attempting to board a flight to Dubai.
Despite the victory, the atmosphere at Luca’s suburban estate remained quiet and guarded.
It was midnight. The twins were fast asleep in their guest rooms. I walked down the dim hallway to the glass-walled study, where a single lamp illuminated Luca sitting behind his mahogany desk, staring at a glass of whiskey he hadn't touched.
"You should sleep," I said softly, standing at the doorway.
Luca looked up, his dark eyes shadowed with exhaustion. "I don't think I've slept a full night in seven years, Nia."
I walked in and sat in the leather chair across from him. "The press is backing off. The lawyers say the custody paperwork is solid. You did what you promised."
"It doesn't fix what I broke," he whispered, leaning his elbows on the desk and rubbing his face with his hands. "Every time I look at Leo and Maya, I see seven birthdays I missed. Seven Christmases. First steps, first words... I wasn't there because I was too blind to trust the woman who gave me everything."
"Luca..."
"I let a snake convince me that you didn't love me," he looked at me, his voice cracking with a raw, agonizing remorse that chilled me to the bone. "I stood in our kitchen and told you I didn't love you because I was too cowardly to admit I felt like a failure as a husband. I broke your heart to protect my own pride."
Silence hung thick between us. For seven years, I had hated him for those words. But looking at him now—stripped of his arrogance, carrying the crushing weight of his own regret—I realized the anger I had held onto had finally turned to ash.
"I didn't keep them from you out of revenge, Luca," I admitted quietly. "I kept them away because I was terrified you would treat them the way you treated me when things got hard. But seeing you with them this week... I know I was wrong about that."
Luca reached across the desk, his large hand trembling slightly as he placed it palm-up near mine.
May you like
"I don't expect a second chance at us, Nia," he said softly. "Just let me be their father. And let me protect you."
I looked at his open hand, hesitated for a second, and slowly slid my fingers into his.
