The Five Years He Missed Chapter 11

The Five Years He Missed Chapter 11

Elena’s POV

The next day, I walked into the flower shop and worked as usual.

Outside the shop stood a familiar figure, his gaze fixed intently on me. My hands paused for a moment, but I quickly resumed working, just as if I hadn’t noticed anything.

Until the manager couldn’t help but speak up. “The man outside… that’s Mr. Gambino, isn’t it? What is he doing here? He’s not here to make trouble for you, is he?”

I could see the worry and unease written all over the manager’s face. These days, the manager had helped me so much—I couldn’t let him be frightened on my account.

“Probably not.” I sighed and rose to my feet. “I’ll go out and take a look.”

The snow had stopped, leaving a thick blanket of white covering the ground. He stood motionless in the snow, staring at my face with an almost greedy intensity.

“Mr. Gambino, is there something you need?” I asked, my tone polite and distant.

Pain surfaced in Dominic’s eyes. Unable to control himself, he reached out and took hold of me. “Elena—don’t speak to me in that tone…”

I used a little force to pull free. “Then what tone should I use?”

“The same as before, alright?” Dominic’s voice was urgent—if you listened carefully, it even trembled. “I know now—everything from five years ago was orchestrated by my mother and Brianna. I—”

Meeting my cold stare, he suddenly couldn’t continue. Dominic steadied himself. “We can talk about us later. Just let me see Luca, alright? I want to apologize to him myself. No matter what, I am still his biological father.”

I looked at him with surprise. “Mr. Gambino hasn’t gone looking for Luca himself?” If he had sent anyone to search, they would have discovered long ago that Luca was already gone.

Dominic gripped my hand again, this time with such force I couldn’t easily break free. His eyes were earnest. “Five years ago, I wronged you both. Before you forgive me and agree to let me see Luca, I won’t go searching for him. I know I was wrong—please, just give me a chance to make amends.”

His eyes were so gentle. It reminded me of the day I told him I was pregnant. We’d just returned from our honeymoon then—I started feeling unwell the moment we got off the plane. We rushed to find a doctor for an examination and only then discovered I was carrying a child.

It was the first time I’d seen Dominic wear that expression—so soft, so careful. He touched my belly and said, “We’re going to have a baby! Listen carefully, little one—you have to listen to your mommy from now on…” “If it’s a girl, will you still love her?” “Of course.” Dominic spoke as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, then turned back to the child in my belly. “Little one, if you’re a girl, Mommy will spoil you like a princess. But in Mommy’s heart, your daddy will always be the most important. You can only come second, alright?” I burst out laughing.

Afterward, Dominic was true to his word. He gave Luca the very best of everything. Mrs. Gambino hinted openly and covertly that she wanted a grandson to inherit the Gambino family, but Dominic blocked every attempt. “Our Luca is going to do whatever he wants with his life. He doesn’t necessarily have to inherit this cesspool of a mafia.”

I thought those days would last much longer. I never imagined it would only be four years.

At these memories, my expression loosened. I even managed a smile. “Alright, Mr. Gambino. I’ll take you to see Luca.”

Hope surged in Dominic’s eyes. I asked the manager for time off, and he hastily agreed. I led him all the way to the public cemetery. I could feel his emotions shifting—from initial excitement to, at last, a deathly stillness.

On the black and white photo set into the headstone, a four year old boy smiled with innocent radiance. Even ravaged by illness, his eyes still sparkled with hope.

Dominic stood frozen on the spot.