The next morning, I was on a flight to Italy. I had patients to see. Jet lag was already kicking in, but I pushed it aside. I had a job to do.
When I met with her, we talked about remission, her current treatments, and the plans moving forward. I reviewed her chartsand made sure her doctors were aligned with the plan. It was a tough case, but she was strong. It was inspiring, honestly.
Afterward, I headed to another patient—Maria Delgado. She had a rare form of cancer—Chordoma, a tumor affecting the spine and skull. We talked through her treatment options, considering all angles. I gave her some advice on her ongoing care, letting her know I’d ensure her doctors do everything possible to manage her condition.
The day stretched on, and I couldn’t shake the weariness of the flight. But something was pulling me forward. I was heading to Tuscany to see Nina. I had a gift for her, something I thought she might like.
I reached her boutique and immediately felt the energy inside—busy, bustling, chaotic. I didn’t see her in the front, so I walked past the racks, heading toward the back office. As I did, I ran into Inaya. She raised an eyebrow when she saw me.
Great.
“What are you doing here?”
I rolled my eyes and walked right past her. I wasn’t in the mood for small talk, especially not with her.
I found Nina in her office, and for a moment, I stood there in the doorway, taking her in. She was wearing a pink pantsuit that fit her like a glove, her natural hair pulled back in a ponytail. Damn, she looked gorgeous. It was almost like the whole room faded when she was in front of me.
“Ronan…” Her voice pulled me out of my daze. She looked up at me with those eyes that always saw right through me. “What are you doing here?”
I barely found my voice, sputtering my words as I handed her the box. “Here.”
She looked at it, then back at me, a little confused. “What is it?”
I smiled, feeling a rush of warmth as I looked at her, memories flashing in my head. “Three years ago today, you opened yourboutique.”
“Huh?” She blinked. “No, it’s Friday.”
I shook my head. “That’s the grand opening anniversary. When you stood at the front of this place in that yellow floral dress, it was three years ago today.”
She gazed at me, a hint of disbelief wavering in her eyes. “But you weren’t even there.”
I couldn’t stop the words from spilling out. “You didn’t see me. But I was always there, Nina. I was always watching, always supporting you.”
Her eyes softened, and she looked at the box in her hands, clearly processing. Slowly, she unwrapped it, and she gasped when she saw what was inside—a picture collage. The first image was of her standing in front of the boutique on opening day, the second was from her second anniversary, in almost the same spot. But the third space was blank, waiting for a picture from this year.
She looked up at me, her mouth slightly open. “How do you have this?”
I stepped closer, my heart thumping in my chest. “I told you, Nina,” I said, my voice a little hoarse, “I know everything. I was always there, whether you knew or not.”
She didn’t say anything at first, only stared at me, as if trying to process it all. But I could see the shock and disbelief in her eyes.
I watched her for a few moments, her hands gently holding the collage. “Grazie,” she said softly. “This is...”
I shook my head, almost instinctively. “Niente che tu non meriti, tesoro.56”
Her lips parted in surprise, and I added, “Three years in the business and you’re killing it.”
She shrugged, brushing it off with that humility that used to drive me crazy. “I’ve had some help,” she said, trying to downplay it. “A lot of help.”
I leaned forward, staring at her. “You’re letting the impostor syndrome talk.Youdid this.Yourtalent, not anyone else’s.Youare the magic.”
She peered at me for a moment, like she was trying to take it all in, before her lips curled into a soft smile. “Thank you, Ronan.”
Before I could respond, her phone rang, pulling her attention away from me. “I’ll be back in a minute.”
I nodded, sitting down in the chair, feeling a little more at ease now that the tension had loosened between us. I ran my fingers over the armrest, looking around her office, feeling a calm settle over me for the first time since yesterday.
The door opened, and I froze, expecting to see Nina walk back in. Instead, it was Alejandro.
