He reached across the table and squeezed Matteo's hand.
"She loves you, Matteo. Maybe she just didn't know how to find her way back to you."
Matteo lowered his eyes to the message once more.
"I never thought I'd see her name on my screen again," he said quietly. "She was the last person I ever expected to congratulate us."
Adrian smiled warmly across the table. "I'm happy," he said. "It means she still cares about you."
Matteo turned to him, a faint smile touching his lips. "She said she's proud of me," he murmured. "She's proud of the man I'm becoming, Adrian. Maybe… this is the life she always wanted for me."
Adrian reached across the table and took his hand. "Every parent wants their child to be happy," he said. "Of course she wants the best life for you. And I think seeing you happy is all she's ever wanted."
A small smile tugged at Matteo's lips. "I don't think I'm ready to reply to her yet," he admitted. "But… I'm glad she reached out."
