Beneath Her Bastard Boss

Chapter 144

Chapter 144

“Papa.”

She turned to face Luca when she heard his voice.

She had expected to see Luca with his father, sort of bracing herself to meet the man who hadn’t wanted her in his son’s life. What she hadn’t expected was that he’d be alone and staring directly at the man beside her.

The man with the cane.

The man she’d just spent the last few minutes chatting with.

Her breath caught as realization finally settled in.

“Oh, you’re Luca’s father.”

Nick arched one amused brow at her. “You didn’t know? Does my son not take after his old man?”

Sutton’s face flushed.

“No. I didn’t know.”

She turned fully toward him now, awkwardly rising from the bench. “I… I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to-”

Nick waved a hand easily, still seated. “Don’t be silly. You were kind, and you should never be embarrassed about being kind.”

He reached for his cane and used it to leverage himself upright. Luca stepped forward quickly, automatically steadying him with a light touch, one hand on his father’s elbow.

Nick shook his head but allowed it.

“I told her I’d had surgery. Didn’t say who I was,” Nick said, glancing toward his son. “Your woman is bossy, Luca. I would watch that.”

“She scolded you,” Luca said, shooting Sutton a teasing glance.

Nick chuckled. “She did. Little fire in her, this one.”

Sutton tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “You were reaching for your cane. I wasn’t going to just stand around and let you fall on your face.” She hadn’t even known Luca’s father was in the hospital. When the hell had that happened? Wait until she got Luca alone.

back a smile. “That does sound like

serious now. “You care about people, and it

a pause. Then Nick reached for her hand and took

people,” he said softly. “I see

Sutton’s chest at the

judged you without knowing. Or rather, I judged what I thought you were. And caused both you and Luca a

the words. She hadn’t expected this first meeting to go like

you,” she said after a heartbeat, That means more than

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Chapter 144

quietly nearby, watching the moment unfold between them. She could see he was happy with the outcome of

hadn’t just tolerated Sutton. He respected her. He saw her kindness without pedigree or titles, without her last name attached to anything. Just

more than

Enough rebellion for one day. only cleared for short walks, and if

take you back,” Luca offered

eyebrow. “Now you’re

in shock,” Luca muttered with a

hall. She walked with them slowly, lingering as they turned toward the wing that housed Nick’s

the nurse’s station spotted them and came around

let us know, Mr. De Santis,” she said

party.”

under his

on your own. I was just about to send out a

Luca muttered as he crouched

not alone… My future daughter–in–law had me under control,” Nick murmured jokingly. “I was worried she was going to crack the whip. A

Sutton chuckled. “Behave yourself.”

meet

room and under the nurse’s watchful eye, Luca returned to Sutton, falling into step beside her without a

room and helped her lower onto the bed. He set her water

the visitor chair close,

into the quiet: “He’ll be

nodded, his voice low. “He’s lucky. Very.

her again. She wouldn’t say it out loud, but today

realized.