Page 146 of Milo

And neither am I.

Chapter 38

Missing Piece

I wake up in an empty bed, my gaze darting to the digital clock on the nightstand. 11 p.m. I groan, rubbing my eyes. Great. I should've gotten Milo to wake me up. Why did I think I could sleep through the night?

I take a sweater off the armchair and slip it on, grabbing my phone on the way out of the bedroom. He's probably still working. Of course, he's still working.

God, when will this end? Where's the light at the end of the tunnel? I don't see it. I don't. I fucked up. I really fucked up and now he has to fix it. He has to undo all the damage I caused.

But can he?

No matter how much sway and power Milo has, some messes are impossible to clean up. He can scrub and bleach and disinfect, but my dirty actions aren't going to wash away that easily. Not when there's a mole on the loose. Not when I'm a suspect in the eyes of the family. Not when lies are spreading like a disease. Not when everyone is catching the infection.

I walk down the hallway toward Milo's office, pausing outside the guest bedroom.

"I don't know," Vittoria says in Arabic. What? "Maybe a month? Two?" I press my ear against the door. "I know. I know." She pauses. What is going on? "Yes, okay. I love you too. Bye."

Who is she talking to? And in Arabic? Oh my God, nothing makes sense. Nothing. I knock on her door. Let's see her lie her way out of this one. "Vittoria?"

"Yes?" Distant fumbling sounds from inside. "Come in." I open the door, staying out in the hallway. "Oh, Kiara. Hi."

"Hi. Were you just on the phone?"

She blinks. "Oh, yes with my sister. It's been a long time since we talked."

"Your sister?” Strike one. "Really? How's she doing?"

"Good.” She clears her throat. "She is very happy to hear from me."

"I can imagine. It's not every day your sibling rises from the dead."

"She said it was a miracle.” Vittoria sits down on her bed and flicks her nails. "A gift from God."

"A gift from someone, that's for sure," I agree, studying her movements. "Vittoria, can I give you a tip?"

Her brows pinch together as she looks up at me. "What?"

"If you want to get away with lying, you should learn how to hold eye contact for more than a second.” I lean against the door frame. "And your hands? Too much fiddling. Dead giveaway." I click my tongue. "Well actually, that could also be a sign of anxiety or nervousness but in your case? I think it's all of the above. What do you think?"

She places her palms on her knees, staring at me. "I am not lying to anyone."

I pout, shaking my head. "Remember to blink, Vittoria. Too much eye contact is also bad."

She swallows. "I'm not lying."

I sigh, tilting my head. "See? You keep saying that but it's not the truth, is it? It's almost like you're trying to convince yourself. But why? What actually happened, Vittoria? Hmm? You might as well tell me because I will find out."

She clenches her fists. "You seem to be the only one who does not believe me, Kiara."

"Because I'm objective, Vittoria. And observant, and quite frankly, more intelligent than everyone else here. I know, I know, I shouldn't brag, but it's the truth." I take a step forward. "You see, Milo, I think he only believes you because he's been eaten alive by guilt. He's unable to look past that. But me? I can see right through you. You're like the cheapest brand of cellophane. So fucking transparent."

She opens her mouth to say something, but I hold up a finger.

"I know you're hiding something, Vittoria, and it's only a matter of time before I find out what it is, and when I do—" I stop in front of her, my gaze cold. "You will regret ever lying to me and to the man I'm going to marry. You will regret causing us such a headache and you will definitely regret ever stepping foot in this house. Now—" I smile. "Is there anything you'd like to tell me while you still have the chance?"

She silently stares at me, her expression for the first time, unreadable. "No. I don't have anything to say."

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