Chapter 19 - THE BREAKFAST TABLE
Three years after the plot, Luca married Elena.
Not because Sofia demanded it.
Though she definitely encouraged it.
They married because somewhere between arguments, school pickups, therapy appointments, and Luca learning how not to solve everything with money, Elena fell in love with him again.
Their wedding was small.
Sofia carried flowers.
Marco cried and denied it.
Alessandro gave the toast.
He kept it short.
“Trust is not inherited.”
“It is built.”
“Luca and Elena learned that better than anyone.”
“To them.”
That was enough.
Afterward, Sofia found Alessandro near the garden.
“You didn’t dance.”
“I don’t dance.”
“That’s sad.”
“I survive.”
“Same thing?”
“No.”
She grabbed his hand.
“Come on.”
He refused.
She pulled harder.
A feared man who once commanded rooms with a glance was dragged toward a dance floor by a ten-year-old.
Marco laughed until Alessandro threatened to fire him.
Nobody believed the threat.
The following morning, everyone ate breakfast together.
Bread filled the center basket.
Butter sat beside it.
For years, Alessandro had avoided butter entirely.
Sofia noticed.
She took the dish.
Spread a little across a piece of toast.
Then ate it.
Alessandro stared.
She pushed the dish toward him.
“Your turn.”
Luca groaned.
“Sofia.”
“What?”
“Don’t pressure people.”
“I’m not.”
She looked at Alessandro.
“You don’t have to.”
That mattered.
He picked up the knife.
Spread butter across warm bread.
Then stopped.
The room went quiet.
Alessandro almost laughed at himself.
He took a bite.
Nothing happened.
Of course nothing happened.
But his throat tightened anyway.
Sofia smiled.
“Good?”
Alessandro swallowed.
“Very.”
Elena looked away to hide tears.
Luca reached beneath the table and squeezed her hand.
For everyone else, it was breakfast.
May you like
For Alessandro, it was the first time he had willingly eaten butter in three years.
Sometimes victory looked remarkably ordinary.
