Page 111 of Mafia Shade's Reluctant Bride
I didn’t think I could hold it in anymore. I was so overwhelmed, happy, and thankful for this moment, for this family. It felt like everything we had ever gone through, all the pain and all the struggle, had led to this—this perfect, beautiful moment.
And as the crowd cheered and the music swelled, Lorenzo kissed me, and it wasn’t just a kiss—it was everything.
*****
I still remember the night Lorenzo’s mother called us. The phone rang quietly in the stillness of our home. Lorenzo had just tucked Matteo into bed, and I was in the kitchen, preparing dinner, when I saw the caller ID. I could tell something was wrong. The way her name blinked on the screen made my heart skip a beat.
“Lorenzo, it’s your mom,” I called out softly. I had spoken to her often since the wedding. We went visiting, but life had moved fast, and we were wrapped up in our own little world. Tonight, there was something about the way her name flashed on the phone that made me pause.
Lorenzo picked up, his usual confident expression faltering when he heard her voice. I could tell by the way he stood still, eyes closing for a moment, that he was bracing himself for something he knew was coming.
“Mom, what is it?” he asked, his voice low.
I didn’t mean to eavesdrop. But somehow, the weight of the moment pulled me in. I stopped chopping the vegetables, placing the knife down carefully, suddenly feeling as if the world had stilled around me.
“I’m so proud of you, my son,” his mother’s voice crackled through the phone. It was faint, as though she was speaking from a distance, but her words were clear and steady. “You’ve made your life, and you’ve made it so beautiful. And I see the love you have. I see how you take care of her and how you care for Matteo.”
Lorenzo’s hand gripped the counter. He was trying to hold himself together, but I could hear the tremor in his voice when he answered. “Mom, what’s wrong? You’re scaring me.”
“Don’t be scared, son.” Her voice softened. “I’m just so happy and so proud. You’ve made me so proud. You and Maria, and Matteo. I know now that you have everything you need. I know that you’ll take care of each other, and you’ve made my heart rest easy. I don’t want to hold on any longer. I’m ready, Lorenzo. I’m ready to rest, knowing that you’re in good hands.”
A breath hitched in my throat, and I watched as Lorenzo’s eyes welled with tears. He hadn’t said anything, but I knew that what she was saying was the final goodbye.
I could hear her breathing faintly, and I could tell she was smiling, the kind of smile only a mother gives, full of warmth and unconditional love. “Maria, darling,” she whispered, as if speaking to me directly, “take care of my son. Take care of him, as you always do. And remember, it’s not just him you have. You have each other. Don’t ever forget that.”
I felt the tears well up, but I didn’t move. I stayed there, silently, my heart aching as I watched Lorenzo struggle to find his words. Finally, he spoke, his voice thick with emotion.
“I love you, Mom,” he whispered, his words barely audible, “I always will. Thank you for everything.”
The line went silent. And just like that, Isabella Bianchi, who had been a quiet, steady force in his life, was gone. The nurse, who must have been standing there with her, confirmed it minutes later. The world had shifted again, and this time, it was something we couldn’t control. It was something we had to accept. She had fought in pain for so long and held on with the suffering for us.
Lorenzo stood there, holding the phone, looking out of the window at the quiet street below. I walked to him quietly and wrapped my arms around him. He didn’t say anything, but he didn’t need to. I could feel his heart breaking in his chest, feel the weight of all the years of guilt and love he’d carried for her.
“It’s okay, Lorenzo,” I whispered, “she’s at peace now.”
He nodded slowly, his body shaking, and I just held him tighter, letting the silence stretch between us, letting him breathe. He needed to grieve, and I needed to let him. And we would do that together.
EPILOGUE
A few years passed. Our lives changed in ways I could never have imagined. We were a family now, truly, a family.
Lorenzo had thrown himself into the business, always making sure it was legitimate and focused on building a better future. And together, we did that. We built a future not just for Matteo but for the little girl who had recently arrived in our lives, our daughter, Isabella.
She was tiny but full of life. She had Lorenzo’s eyes, but she was all me in her expressions. And every day, I looked at her and thought of all the ways we’d worked to make this future possible.
Matteo had grown so much in the past few years. He was as smart as a whip but still had that goofy, carefree attitude. And while he was technically Lorenzo’s son, he had always been my child. The bond we shared was inseparable. And Lorenzo—well, he was absolutely smitten.
Luca and Kayla, too, were doing well. Luca had married Kayla, and the two of them had taken over the family business, keeping things running smoothly. Luca had grown into a responsible, thoughtful man, completely unrecognizable from the reckless guy he used to be. And Kayla was just as fierce as ever. She was the glue that held everything together, and I loved her for it.
One evening, we all gathered at our house to celebrate. The children were running around, playing while the adults shared stories and laughter. I was sitting with Kayla, enjoying a glass of wine, when Lorenzo walked over and plopped down beside me.
“You’re beautiful,” he whispered, his voice low enough that only I could hear.
I raised an eyebrow. “You’ve seen me in worse states.”
He chuckled, his fingers brushing against mine. “But this is different. You’re my wife now. My beautiful wife.”
I rolled my eyes, but there was a smile tugging at my lips. “Isabella is only four months old, and you’re already hitting on me like we’re in our honeymoon phase again. There is no way I am letting you go down there again.”
