Epilogue
The dining room in the Costa mansion is alive with laughter. The table is piled high with Nonna's lasagna, garlic bread, and red wine. The air is thick with warmth and love.
I'm nine months pregnant, my belly so huge I can barely reach my plate, but I'm glowing. I'm surrounded by Luciano's family, his two sisters, his mom, and his Nonna, who's beaming at me like I've handed her the moon.
Luciano is at my side, his hand resting on my thigh under the table, his dark eyes soft and protective, checking on me every five seconds like I might vanish.
Three years after our wedding under the Northern Lights, we've built a life free of Ciara's poison, Marino's cruelty, and my BPD mood swings have been overcome by therapy.
I still can't believe how far I have come.
Nonna suddenly raises her glass, her wrinkled hands steady, her eyes twinkling as she looks at me.
"To Aurelia, carrying the next Costa," she says, her voice strong and proud. "You're a blessing, cara. And this baby? She's gonna be as fierce as her mama."
I blush, laughing, my hand on my belly, feeling a kick that makes me grin.
"Thanks, Nonna," I say, my voice warm. I glance at Luciano, who's smiling, but his eyes are all worry, like he's calculating the distance to the hospital.
"Let's hope she gets her dad's charm too." I add.
One of his sister's snorts, tossing her dark hair. "Charm? Luciano's more like a guard dog, growling at anyone who gets near you," she teases while Luciano rolls his eyes. His hand squeezes my thigh, playful and possessive.
"Hey, I'm a damn good guard dog," he says, smirking and leaning in to kiss my cheek. His stubble grazes my skin, making my heart flip. "Gotta keep my girls safe."
I laugh, but one of Luciano's sisters gasps, pointing at me, her eyes wide.
"Aurelia, you peed yourself!" she says and the table erupts into chaos. Luciano's mom chokes on her wine while Nonna cackles.
But I freeze, feeling the warm rush, the tightening in my belly, and I know.
This isn't pee.
"Oh, shit," I say, laughing despite the shock, gripping Luciano's hand. "My water just broke."
The room explodes into chaos. Luciano is on his feet, face pale, eyes wild, already in full panic mode.
"Fuck, okay, baby, we're going. Right now," he says, voice sharp, scooping me up like I'm glass, even though I'm perfectly capable of walking. "Mom, grab the hospital bag! Nonna, call the doctor!"
"Luciano, calm down, I'm fine," I say, giggling, but he's not listening. He carries me to the car, his hands trembling, jaw tight, muttering about traffic and timing contractions.
His sisters trail behind, laughing, shouting advice, while Nonna yells, "Drive safe, you maniac!"
I'm torn between amusement and the growing pain, because this man is a worrywart mess, and I love him for it.
The hospital is a whirlwind. Nurses, monitors, Luciano holding my hand. His voice is steady through my contractions, telling me I'm strong, that he's got me.
"You're doing so good, Principessa," he says, his eyes locked on mine. But I see the fear, the love, and it carries me through the pain.
When our daughter arrives, tiny and perfect, with dark curls and a cry that fills the room, I'm sobbing, exhausted, overjoyed.
But Luciano... he's a fucking wreck.
He's holding her, tears streaming down his face, more than mine. His big hands are gentle, cradling her like she's the world.
"Noemi Costa," he whispers, voice breaking, looking at me, tears falling freely. "She's... fuck, she's perfect, baby."
I laugh, tears in my eyes, reaching for them. My heart is so full it hurts.
"Luciano Costa, you're crying more than me," I tease, my voice shaky, stroking Isabella's tiny hand. "Big tough guy, undone by a baby."
He chuckles, wet and joyful, sitting beside me. Noemi in his arms, his free hand brushes my hair back.
"Yeah, well, my girls got me," he says, grinning, tears still glistening. He kisses my forehead, then hers. "You and Noemi. You're my everything."
I lean into him, our daughter between us. Her warmth and his love are wrapping us tight.
The past is out of reach.
This.
This family. This laughter. This is love.
In the end, marrying my brother's dangerous best friend wasn't the mistake I thought it would be, it was the beginning of everything.