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“I wasn’t there,” Louisa mumbles, tightening her arm around me. “But Nonno said he was.” She lowers her voice. “He said you broke Valentino’s heart.”
Her words make me sob again.
“I’m just going to keep my mouth shut from now on,” she says.
I completely understand how Valentino feels because I suffered terribly when I thought he was with Nina or that lap dancer. I want to make it better. I know I can. I just have to get out of this hospital and face him again.
In the back of my mind, a little voice is scolding me for being so careless.
You promised you would never hurt him with Thomas again, and yet, days later you get into an accident on your way to see Thomas.
I know how it must look, but all I can do is hope he trusts me enough to believe me when I tell him the truth.
I’m forced to stay in that hospital for one week before I’m allowed to leave. During this time, neither Nonno nor Valentinocome to visit. I’m not really worried about my grandfather, but as I travel back to my marital home, I’m suddenly anxious about meeting Valentino.
My mother said he wanted me to get my things and move out, but I don’t intend to move out. I will grovel if that’s what it takes for him to take me back. I have already lost a child and I will not lose him too, not for anything in the world, and certainly not because of Thomas. All I want is his trust and forgiveness.
Half an hour later, I walk towards the front door, my heart thudding wildly in my chest. For the first time, I’m scared to confront Valentino, and that bothers me. Thankfully, the door is unlocked, so I walk in without knocking. I start walking towards the steps, but I hear a sound behind me and whirl around to see Valentino sitting at the dining table, his eyes on me.
“Hello, Francesca.” He smiles coldly. “How are you? You look good.”
I panic because whenever he’s calm and detached, it’s harder to reach him. I prefer an angry, raging Valentino over this cool and detached one.
“Valentino.” I start to walk towards him.
“Stop.”
I instantly halt at the ice in his voice.
“I asked you a question. How are you?”
“I’m fine. You didn’t come to see me.”
“There was no need,” he says. “I was hoping we could make a clean break.”
“Break from what?” My body feels numb.
“Vance has already taken your things back to your house. You probably missed him on the way here.”
“My things are not here?”
“Nope.”
“Valentino…”
“Come on, Francesca.” He rises to his feet and walks slowly towards me. “Let’s not pretend that this isn’t what you want. I’m giving you what you always wanted. The opportunity to go out there and be free. All those who wanted you dead are gone. You can be anything you want to be or be with anyone you want to be with, and you’ll still have my protection. How amazing a deal is that?”
Tears slip down my face, but Valentino turns away from me.
“I don’t want to be anything without you, Valentino. Please.”
“That’s not true,” he says, his back to me. “I’m done, Francesca. I’m letting you go.”
“Please.” I walk towards him and touch his arm. He tenses before jerking away like he’s afraid I would contaminate him. It hurts even more than his rejection.
“Valentino,” I whisper.
“We lost our baby!” His voice breaks. “We lost our baby, and I know it’s not your fault, but I can’t help but blame you. The lane to Westside is a lonely one; they never would have been able to get you if you went straight to your mother’s house. You chose to go and see him after you promised to never hurt me with him anymore.”