Page 89 of Wrong Pawn. Right Capo.

Chapter thirty

Elena

It’s been three weeks since the nightmare with the mayor. Three weeks of peace so unfamiliar that it felt like living on a new planet.

The mayor has been convicted for the murder of the prosecutor, defamation, and multiple counts of corruption. The man who impersonated Adriano to commit the murder has also been convicted.

Enzo is now fully recovered and is already intensifying his efforts to restore the Rossi Mafia.

And Adriano? He keeps surprising me with the man he’s becoming.

Change doesn’t happen in a day… hell, in three weeks, but his willingness to learn, unlearn… and care for me has been nothing short of intentional. It still feels a bit foreign—the stone-cold Adriano doting on me, but obviously, the series of past events have made him more receptive to his feelings.

He’s rapidly becoming a steady presence—my safe space. Somehow my world has stopped turning… in fact, now it’s spinning faster than ever.

The Elané Paris and London launches were a resounding success. The Limited Edition Serum Collection and the Bloomsbury Powder Palette and Setting Spray Duo sold out within three hours!

The servers crashed, the waitlist was longer than I’d anticipated, and the metrics? The ones I always obsess over? Well, they were progressive curves that felt like a dream come true. Four years of hard work and belief in myself have almost paid off. Almost, because the goal still remains: a spot on the Forbes 30 Under 30 list.

Still, tears well in my eyes at the thought that the hustle which had begun four years ago with a loan from Bella and a resolve to be my own person, is now internationally recognized.

“So, let me get this straight.” Annora interrupts my thoughts, excitedly. The moment I filled her in on everything, and she realized she could finally come see me, she took the chance.

Now we’re in a spare room, in Enzo’s mansion, which I converted into my office. Puddles lies asleep below the window. Mood boards hang across the walls, layered with color palettes and magazine clippings.

“The one who threatened to tear you apart, the one you called a monster, is now fixing dates and giving you gifts?”

I smile, tracing the rim of my glass filled with orange juice. It’s been my craving the last few weeks. “Yup.”

Annora still couldn’t believe that Adriano was now a man who showed such sweet gestures.

“Feels like something I’d read in a romance book. That man has truly found redemption.”

My smile widens as I think of the previous night, when he had a nightmare about his mother’s death. I was at his place, and he’d woken up drenched in sweat, but instead of pushing me away, he pulled me closer. I’d soothed him until we both fell asleep.

After I finally told her about everything, Bella had said forgiveness happens gradually, and that’s how she’d forgiven me. That night, a part of me forgave Adriano.

“H-He’s just a complicated… damaged man.” Annora wiggles her brows.

“And you’re the beauty to his beast. A beast who, according to you, does justice to your little Miss Elena.” She gestures vaguely toward my crotch.

“I hope you guys are being careful anyway because you know, you have a resident in there,” she says, now pointing to my stomach.

When Annora first visited two weeks ago, I instantly knew I was in for laughs, weird talks, and well… a little scolding.

My hand instinctively lowers to my tummy. After checking in with the doctor, I found out I’m seven weeks pregnant. And I haven’t skipped my prenatals since.

Though I haven’t told Adriano about the baby yet. I just don’t want to drop the bomb when it looks like we’re finally progressing. Or maybe I want him to choose me for me, and not because I’m carrying his heir.

“We’re being careful.” My cheeks flush.

She stares at me for a while then gives a genuine smile. “You’re happy. Like really happy. And I’m happy that you’re happy.”

I don’t hold back my laughter. “Thank you.”

An hour later, she leaves, planning to scheme another epic outing to celebrate my recent success. We’ve been celebrating for three days now.

Everything feels perfect… except for the fact that when I’d asked about her mother’s condition, Annora had responded positively… but with a stutter and a look that negates her response. I wonder why she doesn’t want to let me in.