They laughed softly. The kind of laugh that breaks you more than tears.
“Gabri...” He turned to her sister. “Keep loving your girls. But remember yourself too. You are more than their mother. You are a brilliant lawyer. And, for the love of God, divorce Roberto. You deserve so much more.”
Her eyes widened in pure shock. In those days, they’ve never openly spoken with him about what was going on between Gabriella and Roberto. But Antonio Moretti knew, he knew his daughters like the back of his hands. He didn’t need to say anything, because he felt everything.
Gabriella just nodded, her chin firm.
“You’re right,” she whispered. “I’ll call my lawyer tomorrow.”
“Aren’t you your own lawyer?” Sofia asked, brows raised.
“To be a fucking scientist, sometimes I wonder how you even function in real life,” Gabriella muttered.
“María, amore mio,” their father said next, taking their mother’s hand, ignoring their bickering. Tears shimmered in her eyes, but she kept herself composed. Her mother had always been a rock. She truly didn’t understand where her crying like a baby came from. Even though her parents always pushed her to keep her tears flowing, never shaming her, they were not people to show emotions. Not as much as she did. And even in a situation in which her husband was going to die, her mother kept her chin high, her smile soft, yet her brown eyes shimmered.
Her father continued. “I’m sorry to make you go through this. You deserved better. If one day the chance comes, and you find love again... marry. Please.”
“Ya tengo todo lo que necesito,” her mother whispered, stroking his cheek. She had everything he needed. “Mi familia. Mi amor. No necesito nada más.” Her family. Her love. She didn’t need anything more.
Her voice was firm, but her chin started to wobble. She meant it. But they all knew what he meant too. When he left, it wouldn’t be the same. Nothing would.
After a long silence, his voice returned.
“Ah, Sofi.Drop that TerraVive merda.You don’t need them. You never have. You’re capable of building anything, on your own.”
Sofia gave a soft smile. “They already dropped me, Papà.”
“Not officially. Make a statement. Use me. Use my death, if you must. Get the world on your side.”
“Papà...” she whispered.
“Do it, Sofi. It’s my last wish.”
She rolled her eyes, but tears gathered again.
“In truth,” he added, voice breaking, “my real last wish is selfish. Don’t forget me. Don’t forget me like in that movie Coco.That’s my worst nightmare.”
“Mai, papà. Non ti dimenticheremo mai.”
They all whispered it. Promised. How could they ever forget the man who showed them what love looked like?
Silence settled again, thick and sacred. His breathing grew slow. Gentle, as he drifted to sleep.
Maybe, she thought, just maybe, it wasn’t tonight. Maybe it was another false alarm. Her mother beckoned them gently back to bed, and Sofia let herself believe it for a moment longer.
But in the morning, he was gone.
56
ILIAS
Everywhere, Everything (with Gracie Adams) – Noah Kahan
The days followingAntonio’s death were charged with silence, hugs, and memories. Even though he hadn’t been part of most of them, listening to José remember Antonio and the way he’d spoken Spanish so badly thirty years ago, or Maria recount how their love story began, or Sofia and Gabriella sharing childhood moments—core memories of Antonio that had shaped their lives—helped him understand the man who had given him peace of mind right before leaving.
When he mentioned his conversation with Antonio to Sofia, she’d only nodded and said it was probably the kind of talk he’d wished someone had given him after his own father died. His relationships with his father hadn’t been perfect, and his father leaving Antonio the house in Bogliasco had forced him to question more than a few things about what they’d meant to each other.
Antonio had given him exactly what he’d needed before returning to Imsouane, before facing Azul and whatever Thomas was trying to do to tear down Ghita’s dream. Because now he could finally admit it out loud: he didn’t care about Azul, but since Ghita was involved, he would help her. Because if there was someone who had stayed with him in those terrible days, it would have been his cousin. It was the least he could do.
