Page 74 of Thiago

Suffocating silence followed.

Valentina looked around the room. No one spoke up for her. No one defended her.

Her chin lifted. “I see,” she said coldly, carefully placing her glass of wine on a nearby table. “I know when I’m not wanted.” She snatched up her purse and stormed out.

After a moment’s hesitation, Bruno went after her.

Rose exhaled a slow breath and reclaimed her seat beside Marissa.

Her daughter-in-law blinked back tears. “Thank you. She’s… a lot.”

Rose patted her knee. “I know, but don’t worry. We’ve got you.”

She felt Benicio’s gaze on her and looked up to see him watching her with an expression she couldn’t read. Pride, perhaps—or something much deeper.

When Bruno returned a few minutes later, Rose was cradling Liam in her arms.

“She’s gone,” he said, sounding weary.

“It’s for the best,” Benicio said.

Bruno nodded. “I’m sorry any of this happened. Are you okay,querida?” He dropped into a crouch beside his wife and lifted her hand to his lips.

“I’m fine. Though when you said your mother was dramatic, I didn’t know you meantdramatic.”

They both laughed, and Marissa leaned in, placing a soft kiss on Bruno’s lips, as if to reiterate that she was okay.

“You should take a nap. Sleep while the baby is sleeping, remember? And Theo is coming home tomorrow, which means we’ll be busier.”

Marissa looked at Rose, uncertain.

“He’s right. Take advantage while we’re here to get a few hours of sleep. I don’t mind.”

Marissa’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Thank you. I’ll take two hours, max.”

“Go,” Rose said, shooing her with one hand.

Bruno helped Marissa to her feet. “I’ll be right back,” he said.

“Don’t rush. Take a nap too, if you like,” Rose said.

When they were gone, Benicio came to sit beside Rose. He glanced over his shoulder to make sure they were alone, and then he kissed her cheek.

“What was that for?” she asked.

“You were magnificent.”

Rose’s lips curved up at the corners, and she shifted her gaze to look at the baby in her arms. “I wasn’t trying to be. I was just protecting my family.”

Chapter Twenty-Nine

The drive to the house passed in silence. One of the benefits of knowing someone for as long as Rose and Benicio had known each other—over two decades—was that words were not always necessary. They could sit in comfortable silence together.

Rose watched the city go by, fingers loosely locked together in her lap. Every now and again, she caught Benicio looking at her from the corner of her eye.

The confrontation with Valentina had happened hours ago, and she was still analyzing it in her mind, surprised by her own actions. She had always been a little intimidated by Valentina, with her big personality and biting words. Tonight, she had stood up to her and wished she had done so sooner.

Benicio was spending the night at the house with her. Monica was overseas, having been invited to promote a new resort along with other influencers. They would have the place all to themselves, except for the staff.