Chapter 15: The Man from Before
236 Words
The man stepped closer, his gaze flickering between Emilia and Luca.
“Matteo,” Emilia breathed.
Luca stiffened. Matteo. He had never met him, but he knew the name. The man Emilia had almost built a future with.
Matteo’s expression was unreadable. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
Emilia forced a smile, but Luca could see the tension in her shoulders. “Neither did I.”
Matteo glanced at Luca, his eyes narrowing slightly. “And you are?”
Luca extended his hand, his grip firm. “Luca Moretti.”
Recognition dawned in Matteo’s expression. “Ah. The Luca.”
Luca felt the weight of that the—as if he were nothing more than a ghost from Emilia’s past.
“I should go,” Matteo said after a beat. “But it was good seeing you.” His eyes lingered on Emilia for a moment longer before he nodded and walked away.
As soon as he was out of sight, Emilia let out a slow breath.
Luca studied her. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, but the way she clenched her hands told him otherwise.
“Did you love him?” Luca asked before he could stop himself.
Emilia hesitated. “I tried to.”
Luca’s chest ached.
And for the first time, he wondered if he had already lost her before he even had the chance to win her back
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