No More Lucky Star novel Chapter 21

Chapter 21

The last three days felt like the most normal thing in the world.

Morning walks around the block, Trevor making sandwiches for lunch while Isabella played with her toys, evenings sprawled on the couch watching whatever cartoon she picked out. It was exactly what Talin had always imagined a real family would look like.

But she couldn’t help noticing Trevor looked like hell. His skin had this ashy, gray tone, and more than once she caught him bolting to the bathroom right after meals.

Finally, she had to ask. “Are you sick or something?”

Trevor actually had the nerve to smile. “Worried about me?”

Talia shrugged, keeping her voice matter–of–fact “Not really. Just wondering if Isabella and I should get out of here early so we’re not in your

way”

“No.” The word came out sharp and final. “We had a deal. One month means one month.”

Since he was being stubborn about it, Talia let it go. They were almost done anyway.

On their final day together, Trevor got completely dressed up–expensive suit, hair styled like he was going to a business meeting–and took them to some ridiculously fancy restaurant downtown

He’d rented the entire top floor. Halfway through dinner, he pointed toward the floor–to–ceiling windows.

“Check that out.”

Talia and Isabella both turned just as fireworks started exploding across the Manhattan skyline, painting the night in brilliant colors.

Trevor asked over the noise, “You remember what today is, right?”

Talia glanced at her phone. Their anniversary–the day they’d made things official all those years ago. She used to circle this date on her calendar, plan special dinners, get excited about it for weeks.

That felt like a different lifetime now.

“Nope,” she said simply.

Something sad flickered across Trevor’s face, but he just nodded. “That’s fine. Last time anyway”

When the fireworks ended, he slid some legal documents across the table. Talia skimmed them and saw “Asset Transfer Agreement” at the top.

“What’s this about?”

“Everything goes to you and Isabella.”

His voice was steady, like this was no big deal. “Don’t fight me on this, Talia. She’s my daughter. Who else would I leave it to?”

“Just sign it. I’ve got more money than I know what to do with anyway.”

After some back–and–forth. Talia signed. If he wanted to set Isabella up for life, whatever. She’d manage it until Isabella was old enough to handle it herself.

As they were finishing dessert, her phone buzzed. Luigi.

“Wrapped up my business here. Flying back tomorrow if you want to travel together?”

She typed back quickly: “Perfect See you at JFK.”

23:10

You Wanted Her Happy WITH MY GLORY? I Made You Childless WITH YOUR BLOODLINE

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Chapter 21

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That night, after Isabella had completely crashed from all the excitement, Talia was almost asleep when she heard her bedroom door op

quietly.

She kept her breathing steady but watched through barely–open eyes as Trevor’s s

silhouette moved toward the bed.

He leaned down and pressed the gentlest kiss to her forehead–so light she almost didn’t feel it.

Then he moved to Isabella’s side and did the same.

He stood there for what felt like forever, just watching them. Talia was starting to get annoyed when he finally crept back out.

The next morning. Trevor drove them to the airport in complete silence. The sun was just coming up, painting everything golden.

Luigi was waiting at departures, and the moment he saw them, he took Talia’s bags and wrapped his jacket around her shoulders when the morning wind picked up.

Trevor watched the whole interaction without saying a word. For once in his life, he was completely quiet.

He just stood there as they walked toward the terminal.

Talia was almost at the gate when something made her turn around one last time. Trevor was still standing in the exact same spot, hands in his pockets, looking smaller somehow than she remembered.

She’d seen the medical files he thought he’d hidden–stomach cancer, stage four. Five years of destroying himself had finally caught up with him.

He’d destroyed his health over the past five years. But that was his choice, his consequences to deal with

Everyone had their own path to walk, their own choices to live with. This was his

As she linked her arm through Luigi’s and headed toward their new life, Talla felt something she hadn’t experienced in years–complete peace

with the past.

Isabella bounced excitedly between them, chattering away in her mix of English and Italian.

“Mamma, quando arriviamo a casa? I want gelato! And I want to see Bianca! Is she gonna remember me? Oh, and can we make pasta again? The

kind with the–come si dice–the little shells?”

Luigi chuckled, ruffling Isabella’s hair. “Certo, principessa. Bianca has been waiting for you. She’s been so sad without her favorite little friend.”

“Really? Davvero?” Isabella’s eyes went wide with delight

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