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“Perfect,” Nicholas replied, clapping Riccardo on the shoulder. “I knew I could count on you two.”
Nicholas scanned the party. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” Nicholas murmured by my side, his arm wrapping protectively around my waist. “Seeing everyone enjoying themselves.”
“It is,” I agreed, leaning into him.
Soon, it was time to open presents. We all gathered around Abby and Jocelyn, our laughter mingling with the soft music playing in the background. Jocelyn sat beside her daughter, a proud smile on her face as Abby decided which gift to open first. “You open them all, honey,” Jocelyn said.
Abby’s eyes widened. “It’s like Christmas all over again!”
Abby tore into the gifts, quickly discarding the boring gifts like a new vacuum, or a state-of-the-art mixer. Jocelyn, however, was almost brought to tears by the generosity of her friends.
“More books!” Abby exclaimed, her eyes lighting up with excitement as she held up a beautifully illustrated copy of “Alice in Wonderland.” I chuckled at her enthusiasm, remembering my childhood love for escaping into new worlds through pages filled with words.
I watched with amusement as Abby’s expression shifted from boredom to delight when she came across a gift meant specifically for her – a paint set complete with brushes and an easel. Her squeals of joy echoed through the room, bringing genuine smiles to everyone’s faces.
As the evening began to wind down, guests slowly trickled out of the house, leaving behind warm memories and well-wishes. The atmosphere had been transformed into one of comfort and safety, a testament to the resilience and strength of the women who now called this place home.
“Jocelyn,” I said softly, taking her hands in mine, “if you ever need anything – anything at all – please don’t hesitate to come to me. We’re family now, and we’ll always be here for you and Abby.”
“Thank you, Liliana,” she replied, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “You have no idea how much that means to us.”
“Believe me, I do,” I assured her, squeezing her hands gently. “We’ve both struggled through dark times, but there’s always hope for a brighter future. And remember, even though we may live in a world dominated by men, we are strong women capable of overcoming any obstacles thrown our way.”
Chapter 17
Nicholas
Iwas immersed in the paperwork scattered across my office desk when the door opened, revealing my radiant wife Liliana and her best friend Sophia. I gazed at their beaming faces as they entered, a stark contrast to the tension that usually filled the room.
“Nicholas, we’re going out to shop for the baby,” Liliana announced, her deep brown eyes reflecting a spark of excitement.
“Darling, in the past six months, our baby has been bought, gifted, or made absolutely everything she could possibly need,” I replied with a hint of amusement. “What else could you possibly find to purchase?”
Sophia stepped forward, her enthusiasm infectious. “There’s a new shipment of baby linens coming in at Pottery Barn, and the store manager is offering us a sneak peek.”
I laughed at their need for more baby things. “All right, have a good time, just don’t overdo it.”
“Thank you, Nicholas.” Liliana’s smile warmed my heart as they left my office, leaving me alone again with the unrelenting pile of documents.
Once they were gone, I found myself distracted by thoughts of Liliana. Her beauty seemed to have intensified now that she was about to give birth. In these moments, my priorities shifted, and I realized that the wellbeing of my family held far more weight than any empire I sought to expand.
I had assumed Sophia would have moved out by now, but as I looked back on the time they’d spent together, I couldn’t deny the happiness Sophia brought Liliana.
My moment of reflection was interrupted by a knock on my office door. “Come in,” I called out, wondering who it could be.
Riccardo, my childhood friend and right-hand man, entered the room with an oddly nervous expression on his face. It was unusual for him to look so uneasy; this man had been through countless dangerous situations alongside me, always maintaining his composure.
“Hey, Nicholas, can we talk?” he asked hesitantly, running a hand through his dark hair.
“Of course, Riccardo. What’s up?” I replied, trying to keep my tone casual despite my growing concern.
The creases in his forehead deepened as he shifted his weight from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable. Seeing him like this made my stomach churn with unease. Was something terribly wrong? Had our enemies discovered some weakness they could exploit? Or was it more personal - perhaps Riccardo wanted to quit? The thought of losing him filled me with dread; our loyalty to each other was unbreakable, and without him, navigating the treacherous waters of the underworld would become infinitely more challenging.
“Nicholas, I...” he trailed off, swallowing hard as if trying to find the right words. “I think it’s time I... um... made some changes in my life.”
“Changes?” I echoed, my heart sinking as I braced myself for whatever news he was about to deliver.
“Riccardo,” I said, my voice tense as I studied his expression. “Just say it.”
