Chapter 21 - A Final Warning Letter Arrives
Late one quiet autumn evening, as Luca checked the perimeter cameras of their home, he noticed an envelope on the porch.
It bore a prison return address from a state correctional facility located hundreds of miles away in rural Florida.
He brought it inside, cutting open the paper seal under the warm glow of their entryway chandelier lamp.
Inside was a short, handwritten note from his mother, expressing a belated, desperate plea for forgiveness and financial help.
Luca read the words once, feeling neither anger nor sadness, only a quiet, absolute indifference toward the sender.
May you like
He walked over to the fireplace, tossed the unopened letter directly into the glowing flames, and watched it burn.
He turned off the lights, looking out over the peaceful lake horizon with a heart full of absolute peace.
