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Ana, her face radiant with joy, looked up at me, her eyes mirroring the love and wonder in my own. "We did it, Lorenzo," she said, her voice trembling with happiness. "We created this."

In that moment, amidst the chaos and the joy, the fear and the love, I understood something profound. I had once built an empire on strength and fear, but I finally found my true power. Not in dominance, but in love, in family, in the tiny, perfect beings cradled in my wife's arms.

I brusheda finger over Isabella's button nose, identical to Ana’s, as my thumb grazed her pouty lips, a miniature version of her mother's. "Just look at them, Ana. You did that."

Despite the exhaustion etched into her features, there was a glow about her that seemed to illuminate the room. Her gaze met mine before falling to Luca, who was nestled against Ana’s chest. He was the spitting image of me, even in his sleep.

"I love you, Mrs Ricci," I confessed for the umpteenth time today. "Now I have the life I have, I know I’ll never be able to live without it. Without the three of you."

“And I love you, too,” she whispered. “You're an amazing father already. They’re lucky to have you.”

My throat tightened, a lump forming that threatened to choke me. I’d always prided myself on my strength, my ability to remain detached, to make the tough decisions. But in this moment, with my family cradled in my arms, I felt a different kind of strength, a strength born from love and vulnerability.

Isabella, sensing the shift in atmosphere, stirred in my arms, her tiny fists balling up as she let out a soft gurgle. I smiled and gently rocked her, my hands surprisingly gentle as I soothed her back to sleep.

"She's stubborn," I observed, my voice laced with amusement. "Just like her mother."

Ana laughed, a soft, melodic sound that filled the room with warmth. "And Luca's got your determination," she countered, her gaze softening as she looked down at her sleeping son. "They’re going to be a force to be reckoned with."

My gaze shifted between my children. A surge of protectiveness washed over me, a primal instinct to shield them from the world's harsh realities.

"They’ll have the best of both of us," I said firmly. "And they’ll have the love and support of a family who will always be there for them."

As I held Isabella closer, the fear of losing this newfound happiness outweighed everything else. I would protect my family with every fibre of my being. Not out of duty, but out of a love that had blossomed in the most unexpected of places.

The future, once shrouded in uncertainty, stretched before us, bright and full of promise. Together, we would face whatever challenges lie ahead, our love a beacon guiding us through the darkness. We had found not only love in each other, but a home, a sense of belonging, and a future worth fighting for.

Epilogue

The past fiveyears flew by in the blink of an eye, but many things remained the same.

Mine and Ana’s love for one another was stronger than ever.

Isabella had grown into a sassy five-year-old. She always had something to say just like Ana did. She inherited her eyes, two wide sapphires always sparkling with happiness. She might have looked cute and dainty, but she could throw one hell of a punch. Although, Luca knew about that more than we did.

The older Luca got, the more he looked like me. One thing was for sure, he was a character, always finding ways to make the household laugh. But above all else, he was always there for his sister. He enjoyed spending most of his time with her. Their bond was unlike anything else.

“So, what do you think?” Red asked as he tried to capture my attention. All I heard was the familiar sound of heels coming down the stairs. “Lorenzo, will you fucking listen to me?!” Red waved in my face. He hadn’t realised that my five-year-old daughter had heard his beautiful vocabulary.

“Oh, Uncle Red said a swear!” She giggled. “Wait till I tell Mama,” she teased. She wouldn’t, but it was funny to see Red sweat a little.

“You don’t need to do that, Bells. I’ll add a dollar to the swear jar.” Red rummaged in his pocket to pull out a dollar.

“How about you just give me the money, and I won’t tell Mama at all? If you put it in the swear jar, she’ll know someone swore.” She smiled sweetly, as if butter wouldn’t melt.

Oh, she was good.

“Fine, come and get it.” He held out the money to Bella, who wobbled all the way over to him wearing her mama’s shoes.

“Like taking candy from a baby.” She laughed, and it was the cutest sound I’d ever heard. No wonder everyone was wrapped around her finger.

“You’re just like your father,” Red huffed.

“Mhm.” She turned to me as Red walked towards the kitchen.

“You’re lucky I love you, Bells,” he called, causing Bella to clap her hands before she shoved the dollar in my pocket for safe keeping.

She was a beautiful little girl. Freckles decorated her nose and cheeks, and her ash blonde hair was like Ana’s. She wore a crisp white dress that had layers upon layers of tulle.