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Massimo had to force himself to remain still as Ynez shot him a look of despair before turning away to leave. His honor demanded that he go after her, but logic argued against this. Kindness in any form would only make Ynez hope there was still a chance for them, and that had been their problem in the first place.

Massimo's hellish mood was evident when he rejoined his family in the dining room, and it only worsened whenLa Stregapointedly asked if he had permitted Ynez to continue visiting him even when he was now engaged to someone else.

"No, I did not. But she is free to do so if she wishes. Ysabel may soon become my wife, but it does not give her any right to dictate my actions."

Seeing how the words infuriated the Marchetti matriarch, Giancarlo smoothly stepped in to steer the conversation to less volatile waters, and the tension in the room gradually eased.

Their staff had just started serving dessert when Sarica casually asked if she could invite Ysabel for coffee, and Penelope noticed the subtle change in Massimo's mood.

Although Sarica was yet to be married to Giancarlo, she had been with the family for years while Penelope had only known them for several weeks. She was new to the entire family, and perhaps that was shy she was the only one among them to realize Massimo's growing displeasure.

The Marchettis' tacit show of approval for Ysabel, as opposed to their equally courteous disinterest in Ynez, had clearly made Massimo feel he was obliged to take his ex-girlfriend's side...since no one else was doing so.

And that wasn't good at all, Penelope thought uneasily,since that might mean Massimo would never be over his guilt for breaking up with Ynez.

TUESDAYS WERE YSABEL'Sday off from work, and although she usually still woke up early in the morning despite this, today was different.

So much had happened that she inadvertently ended up sleeping in, and by the time Ysabel woke up, her mother andZioArnoldo were already gone. She sleepily shrugged into a bathrobe, but someone started knocking on their door before she could step inside the shower.

What if it was Ynez?

Her sister hadn't returned any of their messages or calls since last night, and Ynez had left her keys in the living room.

Forza, Ysabel.

It wouldn't do her any good to be scared of her own sister, regardless of how violent Ynez tended to be in her rage. She steeled herself for the worst as she opened the door—-

Huh?

Massimo stared down at her, his expression volatile, and so were the words he threw at her in a furious growl. "Porca miseria! Who did this to you?"

Ysabel belatedly remembered the ugly scratches on her face, but when she tried to instinctively cover them, Massimo reached for her hands to lower them down. "I asked you a question," he gritted out.

Ysabel avoided his gaze, saying, "Please come in." She didn't see any good in telling him the truth, especially when Massimo still tended to side with Ynez. While she did understand why that was—-his distrust still hurt, and she didn't think she could deal with even more pain at the moment.

Massimo strode past her without another word, and Ysabel felt like laughing and crying again when she felt the way her senses tingle as she caught a whiff of his aftershave. Could her flesh be any more traitorous and shallow?

This guy had already shown her a glimpse of how furious he could get on her sister's behalf. But instead of worrying over his reaction, all her body seemed to care about was how beautiful and sexy he was, and her heart even dared to skip a beat as she forced herself to turn and face him.Why do I want this man so?

Massimo's teeth clenched as he had a more thorough look at the bright red gashes marking the delicate skin of Ysabel's cheeks. He had come here, intending to demand answers—-

Why had she hurt Ynez?

Had she not promised him she had changed?

So why, dammit?

But one look at hisfidanzata's face, and Massimo had known right away that the truth he sought was more complicated than he expected.

"You still have not answered my question. Who hurt you, Ysabel?"

She shook her head, and his lips tightened. Ynez had come to him last night, sobbing her sister's name out in accusation. While hisfidanzata,even with all the ugly red lines marring her face, refused to say a word.

Ysabel couldn't help trembling as she saw him reach for her face.

His fingers grazed over a swollen bruise on her left cheek, and Massimo swore under his breath when she winced involuntarily at his touch.

"Mi dispiace."