In a twisted way. Noemi had to thank Alessio for burning all his bridges.
When she’d first received news of his “death,” she’d suffered a complete nervous breakdown, occasionally mistaking his brother Marco for her husband. To force her to accept reality–or maybe just to protect his cover–Alessio had sworn before the entire Moretti family that he was forever Daniela’s husband. Ho
even burned every document proving he was Alessio Moretti as a symbolic
gesture, claiming it would help her accept that her husband was truly gone.
Now there was no proof, no witness, no evidence that Marco Moretti was actually Alessio.
If he ever tried to reclaim his identity, he’d either be committed to a psychiatric ward or imprisoned for fraud. Either path led to destruction.
And for Noemi, it meant freedom from any future claims on her life.
Hearing this, Cosimo’s tension melted away.
He remembered Alessio as a brilliant strategist, always three moves ahead. How ironic that the great tactician had trapped himself with his own schemes, all for a twisted love triangle.
Perfect, he thought. He can never take her back now.
From this moment forward, Noemi belonged to him alone.
His smile returned, and he interlaced his fingers with hers.
“Cosimo,” she said firmly, “I’m choosing to marry you and start fresh. Everything from my past is dead to me. I won’t look back for anyone. But I need you to understand–if you ever betray me, I’ll disappear. You’ll never-”
He pulled her into his arms, cutting off her warning. The scent of his cologne mixed with sea air, and despite herself, she relaxed against his chest.
“Noemi, I’ve loved you for ten years. Waited all this time. Nobody knows better than me how precious this chance is–how much courage it took for you to leave your past behind.” His voice was steady, certain. “I’ll spend my life loving you, protecting you. Never hurting you.”
“Words are easy,” she murmured against his shoulder.
Chapter
“I know. You’re just starting to trust me. Your heart’s still guarded. But we have a lifetime ahead. I’ll prove myself every single day.”
H
His quiet confidence touched something in her frozen heart–like sun breaking through winter ice, coaxing green shoots from barren earth.
Her eyes stung with unexpected tears. Instead of speaking, she wrapped her arms around his back. holding tight
He released her gently, then grabbed their luggage with one hand while keeping her fingers laced.
with his other.
“Ready?” His smile held infinite patience.
Ready for a new life. With him.
“Yes.”
She smiled back–a real smile this time.
He guided her aboard the yacht, protective but not possessive.
The engines roared to life. Waves churned behind them like white fingers waving goodbye to the
harbor.
Noemi and Cosimo stood together at the stern, watching Sicily shrink into the distance until it vanished completely.
The past was gone. The future stretched ahead, bright with possibility.
For the first time in months, Noemi felt something besides pain.
2022 C
