Chapter 6

"Want to talk about it?" Leonardo offered, his tone gentle yet firm.

Luca shook his head, leaning against the kitchen counter. "Not really," he muttered, staring at the floor. The events of the day replayed in his mind, each one adding to the heavy knot in his chest.

Leonardo stepped closer, his expression softening. "Is this about Luna?"

Luca's eyes snapped up, narrowing slightly. "How did you know?"

A faint, bitter smile tugged at Leonardo's lips. "You forget, older brother. I notice things. And it's hard not to see how you look at her."

Luca remained silent for a moment, then sighed deeply. "It's just... everything feels like it's falling apart."

Leonardo's eyes filled with empathy. "Luca, you can't control everything. Sometimes, you just have to let things unfold."

"I can't do that," Luca replied, frustration tingling his voice. "I care about her too much."

Leonardo placed a reassuring hand on Luca's shoulder. "Maybe, for now, you should step back. Give yourself some space to think."

Luca stared at his brother, the fight draining out of him. "Maybe you're right," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'm just... tired."

Leonardo nodded. "Get some rest. We have dinner with the Laurier family tonight. It's going to be a long evening."

With a final, weary nod, Luca headed to his room, the weight of his emotions pulling him down. He needed time to figure things out, but for now, he would give in to the exhaustion and hope that clarity would come with the morning light.