Chapter 15 - The Truth About Matteo’s Mother
Before Elena made her decision about Florence, there was one final truth to uncover.
Marco Bellini walked into a police station voluntarily.
No weapons.
No lawyer.
No attempt to escape.
Inspector Romano called Luca.
Elena went with him.
Bellini looked older than she expected.
Not powerful.
Not frightening.
Simply exhausted.
"You threatened Elena," Luca said.
Bellini nodded.
"I did."
"You manipulated Matteo."
"Yes."
"Why should I let you speak?"
"Because Sofia asked me to."
Luca froze.
Bellini placed a sealed envelope on the table.
"Six years ago."
Luca stared.
"You're lying."
"I wish I were."
Inside was a letter.
Sofia's handwriting.
Luca recognized it immediately.
He couldn't open it.
Elena did.
Sofia had written to Bellini after discovering his brother's involvement in the clinic.
She knew Marco was connected to dangerous people.
But she also knew he feared Vittorio.
She asked him to help expose the network.
Bellini agreed.
Then failed.
After Sofia died, guilt consumed him.
But instead of coming forward, he became obsessed with punishing the Santoro family.
His guilt turned into hatred.
"I convinced myself Luca was responsible," Bellini said.
"You were part of it."
"Yes."
"You targeted my son."
Bellini closed his eyes.
"Yes."
"And Elena."
"Yes."
Luca leaned forward.
"Then don't pretend Sofia excuses you."
"I'm not."
Bellini looked at Elena.
"I wanted you frightened enough to leave."
"You almost got Matteo killed."
"The car wasn't mine."
Elena frowned.
"What?"
"I told Matteo where to find Sofia's grave. That was unforgivable."
He looked toward Luca.
"But I did not send the car."
"Who did?"
"Vittorio's man."
Luca's face hardened.
Bellini continued.
"They were supposed to collect Matteo."
"And the driver?"
"Panicked."
Elena remembered headlights.
The frozen child.
Her body moving before thought.
One more second—
She pushed the memory away.
Bellini looked at her.
"You destroyed everything by being there."
"Good."
For the first time, he smiled sadly.
"Yes."
He confessed fully.
Threats.
Surveillance.
Bribes.
Contacts.
The hospital infiltration.
The letter in Matteo's room.
Enough to send him to prison for years.
"Why surrender now?" Luca asked.
Bellini looked at Sofia's letter.
"Because she was right."
"About what?"
"She said if we used children to settle the sins of adults, none of us deserved the future."
Luca looked away.
Bellini was taken back into custody.
Outside, Elena found Luca standing beneath the same kind of rain that had fallen the night they met.
Gentler now.
"You okay?"
"No."
She moved beside him.
"Good."
He glanced over.
"Good?"
"If you said yes, I'd worry."
He laughed quietly.
They walked toward the car.
"Luca."
"Hm?"
"What was Sofia really like?"
He thought.
"Stubborn."
"Sounds terrible."
"Impossible."
"Poor you."
"She would hate you."
Elena looked offended.
Luca smiled.
"Because she would recognize herself."
"That's better."
He became serious.
"She wanted Matteo away from all this."
"And now?"
"Now he will be."
"What happens to the legitimate businesses?"
"Independent management."
"And the villa?"
"I may sell it."
"Matteo loves that house."
"He loves people inside it."
Elena smiled.
"You really have changed."
"No."
He looked at her.
"I'm changing."
That distinction mattered.
At home, Matteo was drawing.
He held up a picture.
Three people.
A tall man.
A woman.
A small boy.
And an enormous dog none of them owned.
"Who's that?" Elena asked.
"Our dog."
"We don't have a dog."
"We should."
Luca muttered, "Absolutely not."
Matteo looked at Elena.
"See? He needs you."
Elena laughed.
Her Florence letter remained upstairs.
Friday was tomorrow.
At dinner, Matteo asked casually,
"Are you moving away?"
Elena stopped.
Luca looked at him.
"Who told you?"
"I heard Nonna."
Elena sighed.
"Maybe."
Matteo put down his fork.
"For how long?"
"I don't know."
"Forever?"
"No."
"Do you love us?"
The question was too direct.
Children were cruel that way.
Elena looked at him.
"Yes."
"Then why leave?"
Luca spoke gently.
"Because loving people doesn't mean giving up everything you wanted before you met them."
Matteo frowned.
"That's stupid."
Elena covered a smile.
Luca sighed.
"It becomes clearer when you're older."
"No."
Matteo looked at Elena.
"Papa was sad before you."
Luca became still.
"And I was sad."
"Matteo—"
"And you're happier here."
Elena swallowed.
"Sometimes."
"Then stay."
She reached across the table.
"Life isn't always that simple."
"Why?"
No adult at the table had an answer.
That night Elena stood outside Matteo's room.
Luca joined her.
"Don't stay for him."
"I know."
"Or for me."
"I know."
"Choose yourself."
Elena looked at him.
"What if this is myself now?"
Luca didn't answer.
Neither did she.
Because she still didn't know.
The following morning Elena packed a suitcase.
Matteo cried.
Lucia hugged her.
Luca carried the suitcase to the car.
No argument.
No command.
No demand.
At the gate Elena turned.
"You're really letting me go."
Luca looked hurt.
"You taught me I have to."
She kissed him.
Long.
Quiet.
Then got into the car.
As Palermo disappeared behind her, Elena cried for the first twenty minutes.
She had chosen Florence.
Not because she loved Luca less.
Because she needed to know what remained of Elena Rossi outside Luca Santoro's world.
May you like
And Luca, for the first time in his life, loved someone enough not to stop her.
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