That secret was mine. Buried deep in the past. Exactly where it needed to stay.
I drew in another breath and lifted my chin, summoning the determination I’d built over those five years.
“It doesn’t change anything,” I said firmly, looking straight at Renata even though my hands still trembled at my sides. “I don’t care who they are or how big they think they are. They can’t just come here and destroy everything. We fight. Like we planned.”
All three women nodded, though they kept shooting discreet, worried looks my way. I had to be strong. I had to stay steady—no matter what that name had done to the careful balance I’d maintained for years.
I curled my fingers into fists, hard enough to feel my nails bite into my palms.
It didn’t matter that it was his company.
It didn’t matter that the past was knocking on my door again with relentless force.
I would not let Enrico Ferrara—directly or indirectly—take anything from me again.
Nothing.
“Hey,” Júlia said gently, cutting through the heavy silence. “How about we leave this for tomorrow? Today is dog-party day and kid-cupcake day. We deserve a few hours without that shadow hanging over us, don’t we?”
We all murmured agreement, even though I knew that shadow wouldn’t disappear so easily. Júlia was right—there was nothing we could solve right then, in the park, surrounded by laughing children and happy dogs.
I inhaled slowly, pushed the worry back—temporarily—and looked at Clara and Theo again. They were running across the grass together now, bright and uncomplicated joy in motion.
That was my priority.
That beautiful, happy little girl was the only thing that truly mattered.
And I would do absolutely anything to protect her—whatever it cost.
“Mommy!” Clara called from across the park, waving enthusiastically with Theo at her side. “Come play with us!”
I smiled immediately, warmth flooding my chest.
“I’m coming, baby!” I called back, running toward her and letting myself believe—just for a moment—that everything would be okay.
Because for her… I would make it okay.
***
“And then the princess finally reached the top of the enchanted tower,” I whispered dramatically, changing my voice as I read the last lines of Clara’s favorite bedtime story.
She stared at me with total focus, gray eyes wide with fascination and anticipation, as if she weren’t hearing it for the hundredth time.
Snuggled under the blankets in her small bed, surrounded by a kingdom of stuffed animals—and with Theo curled peacefully at the foot of the mattress, nearly asleep too—my daughter hugged her plush unicorn to her chest. Her little fingers played absently with its colorful mane.
“And up there, at the very top, she found the treasure she had been searching for,” I continued, pausing for dramatic effect. “But it wasn’t made of gold or precious jewels…”
“It wasn’t?” Clara whispered, leaning forward like I was about to reveal the secret of the universe.
I shook my head, smiling softly.
“No. It was something much more valuable. It was a chest full of courage, love, and hope. A treasure she would carry forever in her heart, no matter what happened.”
Clara sighed contentedly and sank back into her pillow, a peaceful smile spreading across her delicate face.
“That’s my favorite part, Mommy,” she said sleepily, yawning right after.
“Mine too, princess,” I murmured, closing the book gently and placing it on the nightstand.
