Everyone knew it - the high-society elite, the tabloids, even the most obscure celebrity in Rome - that Luca De Santis, the dashing CEO of De Santis Investment Bank, hadn't married for love. Not her, not Amber, the penniless American intern who'd made the grave mistake of falling into his bed and getting pregnant with his child. It was whispered in the grand halls of Italian society, echoed by his ruthless mother, who never failed to remind Amber of her "fortunate accident" that had thrust her into this world of opulence.
From the day they wed, Luca's family loathed her. She was the outsider, the scandalous mistress who had torn him away from the beautiful and adored Carlotta Fiorentino, the heiress who everyone believed was destined to be Mrs. De Santis.
But the final blow was watching him retreat entirely - not just from her, but from their son, Nico. So, Amber did the only thing she could. She left. Packed her bags, took Nico, and fled back to the States. Luca barely batted an eye. And within weeks, he was back with Carlotta, the woman everyone believed he should have been with all along.
Now, four years later, Rome buzzed again with wedding excitement. Luca was set to marry Carlotta, and this time, it was going to be a royal affair - a spectacle that would unite two of Italy's most powerful families. The wedding of the century, everyone called it.
But Amber was back. With their son. In Rome.
Mommy! Mommy! Luca's here!" I looked up from placing the candles on the cake and looked up to see Jonah running into the kitchen.
Behind him Luca strolled in with a mischievous smirk on his face.
I resisted the urge to jump him considering the fact that a certain someone was in the room.
"Luca!" I said and he pulled me into a hug.
"What are you doing here?" I hissed in his ear.
"What does it look like, love. I'm attending little Jonah's birthday party." He said and squeezed my ass when Jonah wasn't looking.
We pulled away with me glaring at him.
"I'm so happy that you're here, Luca!" Jonah said excited,
Luca smiled down at him and picked him up.
"Damn, you're getting big." Luca groaned,
I rolled my eyes and went to pick up the cake.
"That's because today is my sixth birthday!" Jonah said,
"I would prefer that you didn't use that language around my son." I looked to see Micheal walking into the kitchen.
He had a serious look on his face as he glared at Luca.
Luca became serious and set Jonah down.
"You must be Micheal. We never formally met before. Jonah's dad and Charli's ex-husband." Luca said smirking.
"Luca, stop it." I said between clenched teeth as I walked over to him.
"Yes and you must be Luca. Jonah speaks a lot about you." Micheal said his jaw clenching.
I gripped his arm and he grabbed my hand and squeezed it.
Micheal glared at him which only made Luca's smirk grow.
"She's mine now and soon... Jonah will be my stepson." Luca said,
Micheal growled angrily and charge after him.
"Holy shit!" I cried out as Luca dodged the punch and threw one back.