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I wonder if that’s the reason why Enzo was interested in me in the first place. Because I reminded him of his late wife.
“I miss her whenever I come back here.” Luciana looks at the pond. “I think that’s why I never want to visit much.”
Her admission breaks down my resolve, and I push my own issues aside for a moment. “I’m sorry, Luciana. It must have been really difficult losing your mother so young.”
“I’m not trying to complain, because some people have it a lot worse, but when I see how far the company has come, I just know that she would have loved every moment of this. Everything would have been perfect if cancer hadn’t taken her so soon.”
My breath hitches. Enzo never really told me how his wife died.
I put my hand on her arm. “I’m sure she must be proud of you, wherever she is.”
“It’s weird, you know, how this works. One moment someone is here, and then they’re gone to a place where there’s no return from.” Luciana’s lips curve downwards. “But the love we have for them remains. Most of all, Dad. He loves her the most, and he always will.”
I know her words aren’t out of malice, but they slice through me all the same.
Enzo will always love her. What he had with me was nothing more than a distraction to a grieving heart. I just took it too seriously and fell for him.
But this has to stop now. If there was any doubt before, Luciana’s words just made the decision for me. I know what I have to do, as painful as it may be.
I lose track of Luciana’s conversation and almost don’t register when Enzo joins us.
“Everything okay?” His gaze darts between the two of us. He seems worried, as if he suspects me of telling Luciana something I shouldn’t.
“I’m leaving tomorrow,” I blurt out. Since he’s so concerned about not letting his kids know, I should ease his mind and take myself out of the picture altogether.
“Oh, no.” Luciana hugs me warmly. “But I only just started to get to know you.”
I nod, stiffly, and look over at Enzo.
He hasn’t said a word.
“Well, it’s been great knowing you,” Luciana says, and looks over at her dad.
He hasn’t moved at all.
“Um, I’ll maybe leave you both alone for a moment. I’m kind of intruding here.”
She drifts off, and I’m left facing Enzo. It’s the first time we’ve had a moment alone together in a while, and my memory flashes to the times we spent together, heat rushing to my cheeks.
If only things could have been different.
“Aren’t you going to say anything at all?” I ask, frustrated by his silence.
“Good luck." There’s a flash of emotion on his face, but he quickly replaces it with cold nonchalance.
“I guess this thing between us…” I pause, trying not to be too emotional. With how stoic he’s being, I’d only look like a fool. “It was…”
“Well, it’s out in the open now,” he responds, “I saw the video today.”
“Right, yes.” I nod, feeling silly.
He only cares about appearances.
“You shouldn’t worry much. People are pointing fingers at me. It’s not ideal for reputation if I want to be taken seriously as a wine influencer. You know better than me how much brands care about that.”
I want him to saysomething,anything that lets me know that this meant more than just a fling to him. But our conversation is strictly business.
“We’ll do our best at our end to make sure there’s no damage to your career. I can put out a statement if you like.”