Page 80

Her mistake did not negate his dishonor.

He had kissed Ysabel because he desired her.

Even with everything he knew of her—-he had wanted Ysabel.

Still wanted her even, and it was this he did not understand at all.

Hai perso la testa, Massimo? Have you lost your mind?

He struggled to make sense of his attraction towards the one woman that he should have detested above all else. Maybe...maybe this had to do with the fact that he hadn't had sex for so long.

Ynez's many interviews with the press might have suggested the contrary, but the truth was, he had not touched her for over a year now, and it was yet another thing that had secretly fucked him up.

There was a time when Ynez had been the girl of his dreams, both literally and figuratively, and it was why Massimo could not understand how easily he was able to rebuff Ynez's advances, every time she invited him to bed.

The more he thought about his relationship with Ynez, the more he began to realize that it was only his stubbornness and pride that had kept him from breaking things off. He had wanted it to work because he was not used to failing, not realizing that he was only making things worse by ignoring all the red flags about their relationship.

He and Ynez should have been over years ago. But because of his refusal to acknowledge this, he had now ended up hurting Ynez even more, not only with his arranged marriage to her sister but more so were she to find out about his attraction to Ysabel.

Giancarlo was about to walk straight to the front door when he saw one of his younger brothers lounging by the bar. "Massimo?" Giancarlo was slightly puzzled at the other man's presence in the family estate. "Why are you not at the hospital?"

Massimo frowned. "Is anyone in the family sick?"

"Did you not get my text? Security informed me thatNonna,along with Cattleya and yourfidanzata,are at the hospital right now."

Massimo's blood turned cold. It was only a few weeks ago that they all had their medicals, and his grandmother's resultsshowed her to be as healthy as a horse. The same could be said for Cattleya, whose medical records were submitted to the Marchetti family for annual review. And so that only left...

Shit.

Giancarlo was not surprised to hear Massimo abruptly saying he would head over to the hospital as well.

"You can ride with me. My car is already outside waiting."

His brother was visibly tense, and Giancarlo was privately surprised by this. Massimo had rarely mentioned Ysabel Ossini to them, and in the few instances he had, it was usually with a note of disinterest or even subtle disapproval.

This time, however...

Ysabel had made an impact on Massimo, and Giancarlo was all for it. The whole family had never liked Ynez, but they had all been prepared to welcome her if she was truly the woman Massimo desired to spend the rest of his life with.

It was fortunate thatLa Stregahad ultimately decided to interfere, but as for choosing Ynez's sister to replace her...

Giancarlo was certain there was more to this story sinceLa Stregaalways had a method to her madness.

The red carpet was immediately rolled out as soon as both brothers arrived at the hospital, and Massimo and Giancarlo exchanged looks when reception directed them to the third floor. Was that not the newly built gynecology department which Cesare had donated, to ensure that Penelope had somewhere safe to go for her future pregnancy?

"I can see your brain working overtime,fratello," Giancarlo warned as soon as they were alone, "and I caution you against leaping to conclusions."

"Ma è possibile, no?" But it's possible, is it not?"Nonnaknows all that goes on in our city. Is it not possible that she was just made aware of Ysabel's pregnancy?"

"I have also read her files, Mas. There is no evidence of her dating anyone."

The same could be said for Ynez's affair, Massimo thought grimly,so was it truly not possible for Ysabel to be pregnant with another man's child?

When the elevator doors opened to the third floor, it was to see other members of their family also waiting outside Dr. Rivera's clinic.

"Do you not have classes today?" Giancarlo asked hisfidanzatawith a frown.

"La Streganever visits the hospital for anything," Sarica answered, also with a frown. "Even I'd be worried about that. Unless of course—-" Sarica looked at Massimo questioningly. "This has something to do with Ysabel Ossini?"