Page 173 of Flawed

Thank you for rising above our past and giving me everything I could ever want.

Forever yours,

Luca

I takea tissue and dry my eyes, grateful I don't have makeup on yet. Then I reread the letter several times. I pull myself together, go out into the other room, and stick the letter into my overnight bag.

"What did it say?" Zara questions.

Pina laughs, ordering, "Mind your own business, nosey!"

"Hey! I'm not nosey!" Zara claims.

"You are totally nosey!" Pina declares.

I kiss Zara on the cheek. She's the same height as me now, and I'm still trying to get used to it. "Not telling."

We spend the rest of the time getting ready, laughing, and enjoying each other's company.

When I finally walk down the aisle, Luca's glistening eyes lock on mine. He grins so big, my heart soars higher.

My father and I stop in front of Luca. Dad hugs me and kisses my cheek then leans into Luca and states, "I give you my most precious gifts. Don't mess it up."

I groan internally, but I'm not surprised. The relationship between my parents and Luca is good now. But my father will always be overly protective of Zara and me.

Luca's face turns serious. He nods, replying, "Thank you. I won't."

Dad gives him one final look then kisses my cheek. He joins my mother in the pew.

Luca takes my hands and murmurs in my ear, "Forever, stellina."

I gaze at him and reply back, "Forever."

And everything I've ever wanted has somehow become my reality.

EPILOGUE

Luca

Three Years Later

"And this year'svaledictorian is Zara Marino," the principal announces.

The auditorium erupts in applause, and pride expands in my chest. I cheer and glance at Chanel. She's beaming, as are her parents.

The applause dies down, and everyone sits. I slide my arm around my stellina and kiss the side of her head. She glances at me, and I wink.

My gorgeous daughter squares her shoulders and locks eyes with her mother then me. I swallow the emotions threatening to overpower me.

Zara is almost a replica of Chanel when she was eighteen. I've had difficulty keeping her focused and her mind off of boys. While supportive of my protectiveness, Chanel has to remind me every now and then that I can't lock Zara up and throw away the key.

I always threaten I can.

My daughter decided she didn't want a long speech. She fretted for weeks about what to say.

I kept telling her to listen to her heart and it would come.

She called me yesterday. I was at Angelo's. She informed me she figured it out and said, "Mom said I can hang out with Zach tonight."

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