Chapter 9 - The Lake Forest Sanctuary
The Moretti estate in Lake Forest was a sprawling, seventy-acre private compound surrounded by twelve-foot stone walls, security gates, and sweeping views of the private woods.
For the first time in weeks, as the iron gates clicked shut behind our convoy of armored SUVs, I felt the heavy, suffocating weight in my chest begin to lift.
The children loved the estate instantly. The massive grounds offered endless space to run, a heated indoor swimming pool, and a private library filled with hundreds of children’s books.
For two weeks, the world outside ceased to exist.
Evelyn Shaw was formally indicted on multiple felony counts, including attempted grand assault, stalker harassment, and corporate espionage, her father’s media empire completely collapsing under the weight of Luca’s legal countersuits.
On a warm Friday evening, after the kids had fallen asleep in their grand second-floor bedrooms, I walked out onto the stone terrace overlooking the illuminated gardens.
The night air was crisp, carrying the scent of pine and fresh earth.
I heard soft footsteps behind me. Luca stepped onto the terrace, holding two glasses of sparkling water. He wore a dark navy cashmere sweater and trousers, looking relaxed, younger, and entirely stripped of the corporate armor he usually wore.
He handed me a glass, his fingers briefly brushing against mine.
"The kids were talking about building a treehouse tomorrow," Luca said softly, leaning his arms against the stone balustrade, looking out at the woods. "Leo wants it to have three floors."
I smiled, taking a sip of water. "He gets his grand architectural ambitions from you."
"And Maya insisted that the treehouse must have pink curtains," Luca added, a soft, genuine laugh escaping his lips. "She gets her fierce negotiation skills from her mother."
We stood in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the gentle rustle of the wind through the trees.
"Nia," Luca spoke quietly, turning his body to face me. "Arthur finished the final drafts for the trust funds today. Everything is secured. You have full, independent legal authority over their assets until they turn twenty-five."
"Thank you, Luca," I said sincerely. "You've been... amazing these past few weeks."
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Luca stepped closer, his dark eyes searching my face with a deep, aching intensity that made my heart beat faster.
"I didn't do it for the legal papers, Nia," he whispered, reaching out, his long fingers gently tucking a stray lock of hair behind my ear. "I did it because I spent five years living in an empty castle, thinking I had everything, when in reality, I had lost the only thing that ever mattered."
