Chapter 613: Don’t Make This Awkward

She looked smaller and more fragile.

It frightened him.

Carol crossed the room and stopped in front of him. She placed both hands on his chest first, as if reassuring herself that he was still there, then lifted them to hold his face. "You’re too good for all of us."

Luca’s expression immediately became uncomfortable. "Mum... don’t make this awkward."

"Shut up and hear me." Carol sniffled and tightened her hands against his cheeks. "I’m so sorry I put you in this life." Her eyes filled again. "I sent word to your father. I brought you into his world. I thought I could handle it, and by the time I realised what it would cost you, it was already too late."

"I don’t regret it."

"I know." Carol nodded quickly. "I know you don’t."

Luca had never blamed her. He had simply adapted and learned to thrive inside the very world she had wanted to save him from.

"But sometimes," Carol continued, "I think about what your life could have been. What if you had been a surgeon? Or... or an architect. Something normal. Something that didn’t require blood on your hands and a target on your back." Carol brushed her thumbs over his cheeks. "I think about you coming home tired because you spent all day saving lives instead of worrying about who is trying to take yours."

"I think about you worrying over stupid things. Whatever normal people complain about. And sometimes I wonder if you would have been better off." Carol swallowed. "I wonder if you will be happy."

"Mum, I am happy," Luca said. "It is the way it should be."

Carol searched his face for some hidden misery. "You have the biggest heart."

Luca immediately grimaced and took several steps away. "Okay, Mum!" he snapped. "It’s getting even weirder. Will you come home now so I can take care of you?"

"I’m not staying anywhere near your father, Luca! I mean it."

"I know you do, but you both still have to talk."

"No, we don’t."

"Yes, you do." Luca rubbed a hand over his face. "I’m tired of being the emotional board between both of you."

Carol folded her arms across her chest. "I’m not going."

Luca slowly raised one brow. "Do you really think I cannot lift you out of this room?"

Carol’s mouth fell open. "Luciano Genovese! I am your mother!"

"Find another excuse."

Her eyes widened further when Luca started rolling up his sleeves. "Oh, don’t you dare."

"I’m giving you the opportunity to walk."

"You will not put your hands on me like I’m some sack of rice."

Luca took one step towards her.

Carol pointed at him. "Don’t. Luciano. Fine!" she threw her hands up. "You really are a diavolino!" She turned sharply and stormed towards her luggage.

Luca stopped.

The word went straight through him.

His steps faltered as a rush of memories hit him at once.

Carol was still muttering under her breath as she reached for her bag, unaware for a moment that Luca had stopped behind her.

"She would have helped me raise a perfect diavolina," he murmured.

She turned slowly. "Luca..." she immediately understood what she had done. "I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories."

"No, no." He shook his head. "I think of her all the time anyway." he gave a faint smile, though there was sadness underneath it. "It’s just... no one has called me that in a very long time. It sounded like music when she said it."

She remembered that too.

The way Nonnina had adored him. The way Luca, for all his sharp edges even as a child, had somehow melted around her.

"She loved you terribly," Carol said.

Luca smiled faintly. "She spoiled me."

A small laugh passed between them.

Carol looked at the man he had become.

At the son who still carried love somewhere inside him despite everything this life had turned him into.

"Yeah," she said quietly. "She would have raised your daughter just as perfectly as she did you."

Luca smiled and nodded.

The thought of Nonnina with his daughter stayed with him.

"Does Vee know about what lies in store for the future? Or do you still have the same plan of having me raise her in Singapore?"

That plan felt like it belonged to another lifetime now. Back when Luca had believed he could build some invisible wall between his children and the world the dangers surrounding them.

"This isn’t something we can shield our child from. I am going to be Don," Luca continued. "Our children will be raised to understand our way of life."

The shawl slipped from Carol’s hands. "I’m so sorry, Luca. You have no idea how sorry I am. I know this is your life and I know Veronica understands what she married into." She swallowed. "But do me one favour. Do not parent like your father."

He sighed. "I’ll promise whatever you want me to promise if I can just get you out of this hotel room and back home."

Carol then deliberately slowed down. "I’m old. I need to take my time now."

Luca’s face went completely blank.

Carol reached slowly for another piece of clothing as if she had suddenly developed arthritis in every joint.

"Old my fucking ass." Luca stepped forward and started grabbing things she had and started shoving them into the small bag she had brought.

"You cannot fold clothes like that."

"I’m not folding anything."

"I can see that!"

He continued packing.

Within seconds, Luca zipped the bag shut.

"There." He picked up the bag. "Can we go now?" Luca turned towards her.

Carol had a mischievous smile on her face.

He narrowed his eyes immediately. "I swear to God, if you give another excuse..."

She let the silence stretch just long enough to irritate him further. "Fine!"

Carol finally started walking towards the door.

"Mum?" Luca called with a sigh.

Carol turned back.

"Your shoes?"

She looked down at her bare feet. "Oh. Forgot about that. They should be on the other side of the bed."