Page 171 of Flawed

It's the most important revelation besides learning about Zara I'll ever hear. It chokes me up.

She's finally mine. After all these years, we can finally have a life together.

And I vow to make sure I never hurt her again.

30

Chanel

Three Months Later

"Mom!"Zara calls out.

I turn from the mirror, peeking around my hair stylist. "Wow! You look beautiful!"

She beams. Her black maid of honor dress fits her perfectly, hugging the curves that keep getting more prominent. She drags a chair next to the vanity and holds an envelope toward me. She chirps, "This is for you!"

"What is it?"

She smirks. "It's from Dad."

I snatch it out of her hand but don't open it.

"Aren't you going to open it?" she questions.

Happiness fills me. My dreams are all coming true. Zara has her father in her life. She's returned to the sweet girl I raised.

I attribute it all to Luca. Shortly after we moved in with him, she copped an attitude with me about not having a credit card. When we were arguing, he came into the room and firmly barked, "Zara, my office. Now."

Her eyes widened. He'd never spoken to her in that tone before. She opened her mouth to speak.

Luca pinned his disapproving gaze on her.

She snapped her mouth shut and went into the other room.

He stepped in front of me, kissed me, then declared, "I'm handling this. I booked you and Zara a day at the spa with Pina. My driver is downstairs. Go have fun with Pina. Zara is staying here."

I stared at him, surprised about the spa day and about how she didn't argue. I shouldn't have been. He constantly spoils us. Yet he's always firm with Zara whenever she hints at disrespecting me. It always stops her in her tracks, but her insistence she has a credit card had come back with a vengeance. And it was the first time she'd brought it up when Luca was home.

He motioned for me to leave. "Go. Have fun. I'll have dinner ready when you get home."

I hesitated, glancing at the office. I questioned, "Are you sure you don't want me to stay and deal with this issue?"

He grunted. "No. I can handle this. Enjoy your time with Pina." He kissed me again, guided me to the door, and waited until I was inside the elevator.

When I returned from my relaxing day, Zara was nowhere to be seen.

"Where is she?" I questioned.

His face hardened. He answered, "In her room without any electronics, thinking about all the opportunities and material possessions she has."

I gaped at him.

He dumped a steaming pot of ravioli into a strainer and chuckled. "Why do you look so shocked?"

I muttered, "She's going to be moody for a week."

"Did you want me to let her get away with talking to you like that?"

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