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Ysabel had a hard time thinking straight. Ynez's betrayal cut her deep, and while nothing would ever make her hate or stop loving her sister—-

Perché, Ynez?

Why was it so easy for the other girl to keep hurting her?

"You understand then, why I have chosen you?"

Ysabel bit her lip hard.What was the right thing to do here?Five years ago, she and Massimo could've had...something.But there was no knowing if what they had that time could've led to somethingmore.

Ynez and Massimo, however...

The two already had a relationship that went on for years. Was it right for Ysabel to destroy that, just for the sake of 'something' she and Massimomighthave had in the past?

"Do you love my grandson, Ysabel?"

Ysabel was flustered by the unexpected question."Signora..."

"I need you to answer me truthfully,per favore.Are you or are you not in love with Massimo?"

Ysabel had never dared to ask herself these things, and she realized now why that was.

"Yes," she choked out.

Foolish or not, shehadfallen in love with Massimo that night, and she had stayed in love with him all these years.

"Then take this chance I am giving you to steal his heartback."

La Strega'simperious tone almost had her smiling. She might've even responded with a cheeky salute to it under normal circumstances. She could've really, if only those same words didn't make her own heart ache.

The Marchetti matriarch was not one to use words lightly, and so with Massimo's own grandmother saying very clearly that Ysabel was to steal Massimo's heartback...

Did that mean it had been the same for him, five years ago?

Had he also fallen in love with her that one night?

"I hope you say yes,signorina—-"

Ysabel shook her head at Cattleya's show of formality. "Please just call me Ysa."

"I appreciate the offer,signorina,but it is not proper to do so."

Potenziana shook her head when she saw Massimo'sfidanzataopen her mouth to argue. "It is no use insisting otherwise with this stubborn child, Ysabel. If I cannot change her mind, no one can."

The grumpiness of the older woman's tone had Ysabel biting back a smile. Who knew someone likeLa Stregacould be so...well...cute?

Cattleya pursed her lips at being described as stubborn. "May I remind both of you—-"

"No, you may not."La Stregaand Ysabel ended up saying the same thing at the same time, and it was Cattleya's turn to swallow back a laugh when she saw how her employer and Ysabel turned to each other in shock.

La Strega'seyes suddenly started twinkling. "Do you know,bambina?Massimo had always been very vocal that his ideal bride was someone who was the opposite of me."

"A coward?"

Cattleya could no longer keep herself from grinning at this while her employer was visibly pleased by Ysabel's words.

"I appreciate the compliment,bambina,but actually..." Potenziana sighed as she was forced to remember the past. "I'm sure you have read an article or two about his mother?" She saw Ysabel hesitate and was not surprised by this. "You have, haven't you? And the things you read were entirely unpleasant,sì?"

"I don't believe everything I've read—-"