Chapter 7 - Emma Refused Luca’s Apology

Three days later, Luca came to the townhouse alone.

No guards inside.

No suit jacket.

No ring box.

Emma noticed all three.

The boys were building a city from wooden blocks.

Leo had decided Luca’s tower needed a prison.

“For bad guys,” he explained.

Luca looked at Emma.

“Reasonable.”

She almost smiled.

Almost.

After the boys went upstairs with Rosa, Luca stayed by the window.

“I’m sorry.”

Emma did not answer immediately.

“For what part?”

“For believing you left.”

“You had evidence.”

“Bad evidence.”

“So did I.”

“I accused you in the bathroom.”

“You corrected yourself.”

“Too late.”

Emma looked at him.

“This is not going to be fixed because DNA says you’re their father.”

“I know.”

“You don’t know them.”

“I know.”

“They don’t know you.”

“I know.”

“They are not four missing pieces you can put back into your life.”

Luca’s expression tightened.

“I know.”

She folded her arms.

“Stop saying that.”

He nodded.

That surprised her.

Then he asked:

“What do they like?”

Emma blinked.

“What?”

“Matteo. Leo. The others.”

“Enzo and Nico.”

He repeated the names.

“What do they like?”

So she told him.

Matteo hated tomatoes but loved tomato sauce.

Leo slept with a light on.

Enzo collected train tickets.

Nico cried when dogs died in movies and denied it afterward.

Luca listened.

No phone.

No interruption.

No attempt to turn facts into ownership.

Emma’s anger did not disappear.

But something inside it shifted.

Then Luca took an envelope from his pocket.

She stiffened.

He noticed.

“It isn’t money.”

He placed it on the table.

Inside were legal documents.

Not custody papers.

A waiver.

Luca would make no paternity announcement, no school change, no residence demand, and no legal custody filing without discussing it with Emma first.

She stared.

“You had lawyers draft this?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“Because everyone else has been making decisions for us.”

Emma looked at him.

“And this is you deciding not to?”

“Yes.”

A small voice came from the stairs.

“Are you our dad?”

Both adults turned.

Nico stood halfway down.

He had heard enough.

Luca did not move toward him.

He looked at Emma.

She nodded once.

Luca crouched where he was.

“Yes.”

Nico considered that.

“Do we have to call you Dad?”

Luca’s face changed.

“No.”

“What do we call you?”

“Luca is fine.”

Nico nodded.

Then:

“Can you make pancakes?”

Emma laughed before she could stop herself.

Luca looked alarmed.

“No.”

Nico sighed.

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“Then you need practice.”

For the first time, the future felt difficult instead of impossible.