Chapter 5 - The Man Who Couldn’t Buy Forgiveness
Three months passed.
Matteo changed quietly.
No flowers worth thousands.
No jewelry.
No grand public apologies.
He simply began showing up.
When Nora had a follow-up appointment, he texted:
Would you like me there?
She answered:
No.
He replied:
Okay.
When she reopened her art studio, he didn't send reporters or champagne.
A package arrived containing the cheap brushes she had used when they first met.
Inside was one sentence.
You painted better when nobody was watching.
Nora laughed despite herself.
She texted him.
That might be the nicest insult you've ever given me.
His response came immediately.
I'm improving.
Their conversations slowly returned.
Then one evening Nora visited the mansion.
Matteo was cooking.
She stopped in the kitchen doorway.
“You cook?”
“No.”
“That looks dangerous.”
“It is.”
Smoke rose from a pan.
Nora laughed.
Matteo turned.
For several seconds, neither spoke.
He switched off the burner.
“What are you doing here?”
“I wanted to talk.”
He pulled out a chair.
Nora sat.
Matteo remained standing.
“Sit down.”
He obeyed.
She almost smiled.
“I've been thinking about coming home.”
Matteo's expression changed.
“But.”
His hope disappeared.
Nora continued.
“If I come back, things change.”
“Anything.”
“No.”
She pointed at him.
“That's exactly the problem.”
Matteo frowned.
“I don't want ‘anything.’ I want specific things.”
“Tell me.”
“No Claudia in our marriage.”
“Done.”
“No humiliating me in front of your people.”
“Never again.”
“When I tell you something is wrong, you listen.”
Matteo's eyes lowered.
“Always.”
“And your work doesn't get every version of you that's awake while I get whatever is left.”
He nodded.
“Fair.”
Nora leaned back.
“You're agreeing too quickly.”
“I've had three months to prepare.”
That made her smile.
Then Matteo became serious.
“I have one condition.”
Nora raised an eyebrow.
“You're negotiating?”
“One condition.”
“What?”
“If you ever feel the way you did that night again, you call emergency services first.”
She stared at him.
“Then call me.”
His voice cracked slightly.
“And I don't care if I'm standing in front of the President. I answer.”
Nora reached across the table.
Her fingers touched his.
“Okay.”
Matteo looked down at their hands.
“Does this mean you're coming home?”
“It means we're trying.”
His thumb moved carefully across her fingers.
“I'll take trying.”
---
A knock interrupted them.
Enzo entered.
He stopped when he saw Nora.
“Mrs. Vellini.”
“Enzo.”
He looked between them.
“Should I come back?”
“Yes,” Matteo said.
“No,” Nora said simultaneously.
Enzo smiled.
“I've missed this.”
Matteo glared at him.
“What?”
Enzo handed over a folder.
“Claudia.”
Nora's expression changed.
Matteo opened it.
Inside were financial records.
Enzo spoke quietly.
“She wasn't only interfering in your marriage.”
Matteo's eyes narrowed.
“What did she do?”
“She diverted foundation money through three shell companies.”
Nora stood.
“How much?”
“Nearly two million.”
Matteo closed the folder.
Nora looked at him.
“What are you going to do?”
“The money goes back.”
“And Claudia?”
“Lawyers.”
Nora blinked.
“Lawyers?”
Matteo looked almost offended.
“You asked me to become civilized.”
“I didn't say civilized.”
“You strongly implied it.”
Enzo laughed.
Matteo pointed toward the door.
“Leave.”
“Yes, boss.”
Enzo disappeared.
Nora looked at Matteo.
Then she laughed.
A real laugh.
Matteo stared at her.
“What?”
“I forgot you could be funny.”
“So did I.”
May you like
And for the first time since the night she collapsed, the mansion felt slightly less cold.
---
