A few years later, at the International Youth Science Innovation Awards, Luca stood tall in his suit on the bright stage. When they handed him the gold trophy, the hall erupted in applause.
Beaming, the host handed him the microphone as well. “Mr. Rossetti, would you like to say a few words?”
Luca talked into the microphone, and his clear voice rang steadily through the hall. “I want to say thank you to my mother. She’s my greatest role model.”
I smiled and applauded as my eyes drifted down to my phone. A news alert flashed on the screen.
“The Holloway family of Southern Silenzio has begun liquidating assets and core businesses to cover mounting debts. Insiders reveal toxic tensions and bitter fights between Don Rafael Holloway and his wife.”
An attached photo showed him disheveled, hollow–eyed, and unkempt. Natalia stood beside him in a stained dress, screaming hysterically at him.
swiped the notification away.
When the ceremony ended, Luca bounded down the steps toward me with his trophy. “Mother, I did it!”
“You’ve always made me proud,” I said, ruffling his hair and taking the heavy trophy from his arms.
Just as we turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of a familiar figure in the corner, who seemed to be Rafael.
He looked even more haggard than the last time we met and was dressed in a rumpled suit. Staring at us with vacant eyes, he
seemed too terrified to approach, yet too stubborn to leave.
Following my gaze, Luca looked over and frowned. “It’s him again.”
Rafarl opened his mouth as if to call my name, but the words died on his tongue. In the end, all he could manage was a thin,
broken smile.
I looked away and adjusted Luca’s bow tie before taking his hand in mine. “Come on, sweetheart. Your father made dinner
reservations, and he’s waiting for us.”
“Okay!” Luca’s grin widened as he turned around in light, cheerful steps, his polished shoe tapping against the floor. He didn’t spare the figure in the corner a second glance.
Late spring in Montrava was all golden light and warmth as sunlight pooled over our shoulders. Now, we had a new life stretching ahead, bright and promising.
The End
