Chapter 8 - THE WOODEN BOX
My hands trembled as I picked up the envelope. It was sealed with a drop of purple wax. The lavender scent was unmistakable.
“She wrote this to me?” I asked, my voice barely a whisper.
“Read it,” Luca said, taking a sip of his hot chocolate, his eyes fixed on the countertop.
I broke the seal and unfolded the thick stationary.
Dear Hannah,
If you are reading this, it means I am gone, and the darkness I feared has reached our door. I am writing this to you because out of everyone in this massive, guarded house, you are the only one who looks at my daughter and sees a child, not a pawn.
Luca is a good man, but he is blinded by the code of his family. He won't see the snakes in the grass until they bite him. I am leaving him the proof he needs to clean his house, but I need to leave Lily something far more important.
I need to leave her a mother.
Tears blurred my vision. I blinked them away, continuing to read.
Enclosed in this box are legal documents. They give you full guardianship of Lily in the event of my death, overriding anyone else in the family, including Carmine. I have already funded an account in your name to ensure you and your own mother never have to worry about money again. But my deepest hope is that you don't take the money and run.
Please, Hannah. Stay. Protect her. Love her. And tell Luca to wake up and see the family he has right in front of him.
With all my gratitude,Elena.
I let out a shaky breath, placing the letter on the counter. Underneath the envelope in the box was a stack of legal documents, signed and notarized, and a bank book.
“She knew,” I whispered. “She knew Marco was going to kill her.”
“She knew I wouldn’t be enough to protect Lily’s heart,” Luca corrected softly. He looked up at me. “She was right. I almost let Vanessa destroy her out of a misguided attempt to keep the peace. I almost let Marco destroy everything.”
He stood up and walked around the island, standing in front of me.
“I’m not asking you to be my wife, Hannah. Not like that. But I am asking you to be my partner in raising her. No more wearing a maid’s uniform. No more worrying about rent. You are the head of this household now. If you want it.”
It was the most staggering reversal of all. I wasn't just a bystander anymore. I was holding the keys to the kingdom.
“I don't know how to navigate your world, Luca,” I admitted.
“I’ll handle my world,” he promised, his voice fierce. “You just help me make sure Lily has a world worth living in.”
I looked at the letter. I thought of the little girl upstairs who had clung to an oversized sweater because it was the only piece of love she had left.
“I’ll stay,” I said.
A small sound came from the doorway. We both turned.
Lily was standing there in her pajamas. She was holding the cream cardigan in her hands, but she wasn't wearing it.
“Did the bad man go away?” she asked, her voice sleep-heavy.
Luca walked over and picked her up, holding her tightly against his chest. “Yes, little bird. The bad men are all gone. They’re never coming back.”
Lily looked over his shoulder at me. “Are you staying, Hannah?”
“I’m staying forever, sweetie,” I smiled, tears finally spilling over my cheeks.
May you like
Lily rested her head on her father’s shoulder. “Good.”
She looked down at the sweater in her hands.
