Epilogue 2
By the time night falls, the mansion is far louder than it usually is.
Alexander and his secretary, Nisha, somehow end up staying for dinner after Ruhi insists they should.
Apparently, my wife has decided our home is now a social gathering place.
Idiots can’t even leave a married couple alone.
Nonno isn’t here tonight. He left earlier for some “important business,” despite the doctor clearly telling him to slow down. His health hasn’t been the best these days, but he refuses to listen to anyone.
Stubborn old man.
Now the dining table is filled with food, conversation, and unnecessary chaos.
Ruhi sits beside me with Laksh sleeping peacefully in her arms, while Lucas is in a small cradle beside the table.
Leo is lying under the table like the self-appointed security chief of the mansion.
Across from us sit Alexander and Nisha.
And for the past ten minutes…
Alexander has been staring at her more than he has been eating his food.
It’s painfully obvious.
Nisha, on the other hand, is trying her best to ignore him while eating quietly.
But Alexander doesn’t seem interested in letting that happen.
“You know,” he suddenly says casually, leaning back in his chair, “you should smile more often.”
Nisha slowly lifts her eyes from her plate.
“I do smile.”
“No, you threaten people.”
Ruhi laughs softly beside me.
Nisha sighs.
“That’s because I work for you.”
Alexander grins.
“That sounds like a personal problem.”
Nisha puts her fork down and looks at him with a completely unimpressed expression.
“If you say one more ridiculous thing tonight, I will resign.”
Alexander smirks.
“You threaten to resign at least three times a day.”
“And yet you still haven’t learned.”
Ruhi suddenly leans forward slightly, clearly enjoying the interaction.
“Wait,” she says curiously. “Are you two… dating?”
The moment the question leaves her mouth, Nisha nearly chokes on her water.
“WHAT?”
Alexander, however, leans back in his chair with a slow, amused smirk.
“Dating?” he repeats thoughtfully.
He glances at Nisha, clearly enjoying the situation far too much.
“Hmm.”
Nisha looks absolutely horrified.
“No.”
Alexander rests his chin on his hand, watching her reaction with clear amusement.
“I mean,” he says casually, “it wouldn’t be the worst idea.”
Nisha stares at him like he just suggested something illegal.
“It absolutely would.”
Ruhi looks between them with a small smile.
“I don’t know… the chemistry is there.”
“There is no chemistry,” Nisha says immediately.
Alexander chuckles.
“Oh, there’s definitely chemistry.”
“There is tension,” Nisha corrects coldly. “Because you’re annoying.”
Alexander raises an eyebrow.
“Annoying but charming.”
“Just annoying.”
Ruhi laughs again.
Even I have to hide a small smirk.
Alexander suddenly leans slightly closer to Nisha.
“You know,” he murmurs teasingly, “if we were dating, I’d be a very good boyfriend.”
Nisha looks at him slowly.
“You would be unemployed.”
Alexander pauses.
“Okay, that’s a fair point.”
Ruhi giggles beside me while gently rocking Laksh.
Meanwhile Lucas suddenly starts making loud baby noises from his cradle.
Alexander looks at the baby.
“See? Even he agrees with me.”
Nisha rolls her eyes.
“I’m fairly certain he’s crying because he heard you speak.”
Alexander places a hand dramatically over his chest.
“That hurts.”
“You’ll survive.”
The table fills with quiet laughter.
I glance at Ruhi beside me as she smiles softly at the twins.
For a moment, the chaos of the conversation fades into the background.
This house.
This family.
Even these idiots at my table.
Somehow… it all feels right.
The table fills with quiet laughter.
Ruhi gently rocks Laksh in her arms while Lucas makes small sleepy noises from the cradle beside the table. Leo remains under the table like a loyal guard, occasionally lifting his head whenever someone moves.
For a moment, everything feels normal.
Warm.
Peaceful.
Then my phone buzzes on the table.
The sound immediately pulls my attention away from the conversation.
I glance at the screen.
One of my men.
They rarely call unless something important has happened.
I pick up the phone and answer.
“What is it?”
The moment the voice on the other side speaks… something cold settles in my chest.
“Boss… Nonno collapsed.”
My grip tightens around the phone.
“What?”
“He had a sudden heart attack. We rushed him to the hospital.”
For a second the entire room seems to go silent around me.
My heart starts pounding harder.
“How bad?”
There’s a pause.
Then the answer comes quietly.
“He’s in critical condition.”
The words feel like a punch to the chest.
I stand up so suddenly my chair scrapes loudly against the floor.
Everyone at the table looks at me.
Ruhi’s smile disappears instantly.
“What happened?” she asks softly.
I don’t answer her immediately.
My mind is still processing the words.
Heart attack.
Critical condition.
Nonno.
The man who raised me.
The man who taught me everything.
“Which hospital?” I ask into the phone, my voice now cold and controlled.
The man quickly tells me the name.
“We’re on our way,” I say before ending the call.
The moment I lower the phone, Ruhi is already standing.
Her eyes search my face.
“Lorenzo…”
“Nonno had a heart attack,” I say quietly.
Her hand immediately flies to her mouth.
“Oh my God.”
Alexander’s playful expression disappears instantly.
“When?” he asks.
“Just now.”
Nisha stands up as well, her expression suddenly serious.
“Is he stable?”
“He’s in critical condition.”
The room falls silent again.
For a second no one moves.
Then Ruhi quickly hands Laksh to me while she gently lifts Lucas from the cradle.
“We’re going,” she says.
“You just had surgery months ago,” I tell her automatically.
“And he’s your grandfather,” she replies firmly.
There’s no argument left after that.
Alexander grabs his keys immediately.
“I’ll drive.”
Nisha is already picking up her coat.
The twins start making small noises as if they can feel the tension in the room.
Leo stands up too, sensing something is wrong.
Within minutes the peaceful dinner is forgotten.
We rush toward the door.
My chest feels tight the entire way.
For the first time in years…
I’m afraid.
Not of enemies.
Not of war.
But of losing the one man who has always been there.
And as we rush into the night toward the hospital…
I realize something I’ve never said out loud before.
I’m not ready to lose him.
The drive to the hospital feels endless.
Alexander drives faster than usual, the car cutting through the empty night roads while silence fills the vehicle. No one speaks.
Ruhi sits beside me in the backseat, Lucas in her arms and Laksh resting against my chest. The twins are unusually quiet, as if they can sense the heavy tension around us.
My jaw remains clenched the entire way.
Nonno cannot die.
Not like this.
Not yet.
When we finally arrive at the hospital, everything moves quickly. Nurses and doctors rush through the hallways while the sharp smell of antiseptic fills the air.
One of my men is already waiting near the entrance.
The moment he sees me, he straightens.
“Boss.”
“Where is he?” I ask.
“ICU.”
We walk quickly through the long corridor. Ruhi stays beside me, her hand resting gently on my arm while Alexander and Nisha follow behind us.
When we reach the ICU floor, a doctor approaches us.
He looks tired.
Serious.
And that expression alone makes something in my chest tighten.
“Mr. De Romano?” he asks.
“Yes.”
“Please come with me.”
Ruhi’s fingers tighten slightly around my sleeve, but she nods when I glance at her.
“I’ll be right here,” she whispers.
I nod once before following the doctor into a quieter hallway.
He stops near a large window overlooking the ICU ward.
For a moment he doesn’t speak.
Then he sighs.
“Your grandfather suffered a massive heart attack.”
My hands slowly clench into fists.
“We managed to stabilize him temporarily,” the doctor continues, “but his heart is very weak.”
“How weak?” I ask quietly.
The doctor hesitates.
And that hesitation already tells me the answer.
“I’m sorry,” he says gently. “At this stage… there’s very little we can do.”
The words feel heavy.
Like they’re pressing against my chest.
“You should prepare yourself,” he continues softly.
My throat feels dry.
“For what?”
The doctor’s voice becomes quieter.
“For goodbye.”
The hallway suddenly feels colder.
For a moment I don’t say anything.
My mind refuses to process what he just said.
Nonno is the strongest man I know.
He survived wars.
Enemies.
Betrayals.
He cannot just… disappear.
“You can see him now,” the doctor adds gently.
I nod slowly.
Then I walk toward the ICU doors.
Through the glass I can see him lying on the hospital bed.
Machines surrounding him.
His chest rising slowly with the help of oxygen.
The man who once looked invincible now looks… fragile.
For the first time in my life…
Nonno looks old.
Behind me I hear Ruhi’s soft footsteps as she approaches.
Her hand slips quietly into mine.
And for the first time since the call…
I squeeze her hand tightly.
Because suddenly…
I feel like a child again.
The ICU room is quiet except for the soft beeping of the machines.
Each sound echoes in the silence like a slow countdown.
Nonno lies on the hospital bed, the oxygen mask covering part of his face while several wires are attached to his chest. His skin looks pale under the harsh white lights.
For the first time in my life…
He looks fragile.
Ruhi stands beside me, holding Lucas while Laksh rests against my arm. Alexander and Nisha remain quietly near the door, giving us space.
I step closer to the bed.
“Nonno…” I call softly.
For a moment nothing happens.
Then slowly… his fingers twitch.
My breath catches.
His eyelids move slightly before opening halfway.
His eyes are tired, but the moment they focus on me, a faint smile appears.
“Lorenzo…” he murmurs weakly.
I move closer immediately.
“I’m here.”
His gaze shifts slowly toward Ruhi.
And then toward the babies.
For a moment his eyes soften in a way I have rarely seen before.
“Family,” he whispers.
Ruhi steps forward slightly so he can see them better.
“These are your great-grandsons,” she says gently.
Nonno studies their tiny faces with quiet pride.
“Beautiful boys,” he breathes.
Lucas suddenly makes a small baby sound, and for a brief second Nonno chuckles weakly.
Even now… he finds humor.
Then his gaze returns to me.
“Come closer,” he murmurs.
I lean down beside the bed so he doesn’t have to strain his voice.
His weak hand slowly reaches for mine.
Even now… his grip is firm.
“You did well,” he says quietly.
My chest tightens.
“You built everything… protected everyone… just like I taught you.”
I shake my head slightly.
“You’re not going anywhere,” I say.
He gives me a knowing look.
“Don’t lie to yourself, boy.”
My jaw clenches.
Nonno sighs softly before continuing.
“For years I worried about you,” he admits. “You were too cold… too angry… too alone.”
His tired eyes move toward Ruhi again.
“But now…”
A faint smile touches his lips.
“You have her.”
Ruhi’s eyes fill with tears, but she stays quiet.
“And them,” he adds, glancing at the twins.
His hand squeezes mine again.
“You have your family.”
My vision starts to blur slightly.
“I can finally die peacefully,” he whispers.
Something in my chest cracks.
“Don’t say that,” I say quietly.
But my voice is no longer steady.
Nonno studies my face for a moment.
Then he does something he hasn’t done since I was a child.
He gently pats my hand.
“Be happy, Lorenzo,” he says softly.
That simple sentence…
Breaks me.
The tears come before I can stop them.
I lower my head slightly as my shoulders shake.
I haven’t cried in years.
Not when enemies died.
Not when blood was spilled.
Not when I built this empire.
But now…
Standing beside the man who raised me…
I can’t stop.
Nonno watches quietly as I wipe my face with my hand.
A small proud smile appears on his lips.
“Good,” he murmurs weakly.
At the door, Alexander looks away quietly.
Even Nisha’s eyes are slightly red.
Ruhi gently places her hand on my back.
And for the first time in a long time…
I allow myself to cry.