Page 121 of Revenge Vows

She had mentioned how he needed a strong-willed girl to be by his side and keep him focused, and I had a feeling she was talking about me.

I put my hand on his knee, trying to bridge the gap that has always been there between us. Luca, still glued to his phone, looks up and glances between my hand—now resting on his knee—and my face, like he's trying to decode some secret message.

His blue eyes are the kind that seem to pierce through to your soul, but today, they look cold and flat. It’s like he doesn’t even know me. He’s treating me like a stranger.

"What?" he asks, and I push on.

"Your Gran...Nonna…she kept talking about you while you were away. When she got sick, I spent a bunch of time with her, reading to her and hearing her stories. She had some incredible ones to tell."

He still doesn’t reply, and I pull my hand back, feeling awkward.

"Grazia was so busy with her studies, it just made sense for me to share the load of taking care of Ginny. I wanted to make sure the nurses were doing a good job." That’s probably all news to Luca.

I did spend a lot of time at the Baldini’s home in our childhood. But even now as an adult, I still do. They were more tightly knit than my own family, and Ginny had happily taken me in as more than just a friend for her granddaughter. Plus, the more I got to sneak a peek at Luca, the better.

My visits to the mansion had increased in the last couple of months, though, drawn in by the heavy reality of Ginny’s fading health. Even so, her passing was a shock. She had seemed okay just the day before she died.

“You read to her? I know her eyesight had been getting worse lately…” His thoughts seem to trail off and so does his sentence.

"I did. She loved The Secret Garden, especially," I say.

"We got really close in the last few months. She became the gran I never had growing up." I check Luca's face for some sign he's catching on, but he stays quiet, lost in his thoughts.

Just as I'm hoping to break through to him, his phone pings again, cutting our interaction short, and the last few minutes of the ride slip away in a heavy silence.

I give up and brace myself for whatever's waiting for us at the family mansion.

***

I walk into the foyer behind Luca. It's an overly dramatic entryway, the reds and golds of this room have always made me feel like I'm stepping into a game of Clue.

The rest of his family is in the kitchen, the oversized black and white tiles on the floor hurting my tired eyes.

Everyone looks up as we enter. Grazia frowns, seeing me walk in with Luca, but they’re all busy discussing arrangements for the funeral, so there isn’t much time to bring more attention to the situation —or ask any awkward questions, thankfully.

I go to pour myself some water. All the crying has dried out my throat. I hope that my eyes and face aren’t too red. Everyone is welcoming Luca back and they’re all softly offering words of comfort to each other.

It amazes me at times, how this tough, hard family can become so soft when life calls for it.

"Is there anything I can do to help with the arrangements?" I ask. The words hang in the air as I look around at the grim faces of the Baldini family.

Grazia exchanges a glance with the other family members. There's a subtle tension, a collective hesitation that lingers in the room.

Enzo speaks first, his tone guarded, "Emelia, we appreciate your offer, but these matters are usually handled within the family."

Undeterred, I persist, my voice carrying a mix of determination and vulnerability. "I understand, Enzo, but I was there for Ginny in her final weeks. I shared those moments with her, and I feel a connection to her. I want to help honor her memory in any way I can."

Luca, silent until now, finally speaks, his tone cold and distant, "This is a family affair, Emelia. Your presence here is appreciated, but we'll take care of the arrangements."

"I was there for her," I argue. "She confided in me and shared stories that were deeply personal. I just want to ensure her farewell is as beautiful as the connection we had."

"Emelia, please understand," Grazia tries to soften the blow, her big brown eyes reflecting a mix of sympathy and firmness. "These traditions have been in place for generations. It's not about your connection. It's about upholding our family customs. We all love you dearly, but this is the time for the family to grieve. I will send you the details and you can perhaps help on the day of the funeral, but for now my brothers and I will handle this."

Keeping my composure, I look at the Baldinis, head on. They're all too gorgeous to be real, and there is no such thing as an even playing field when you're up against them. They've achieved the trifecta—immense power, riches beyond your wildest dreams, and beauty that could be on the cover of GQ.

I open my mouth to try pleading with them again to be included in the funeral arrangements.

But when Luca speaks, the rejection I feel sends me out of the door and to my own home, "Emelia, we appreciate your offer, but we have it under control. Please respect our wishes."

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