Page 54 of Giorgio

“Stop shouting at me.”

“Jules.” His voice lowered. “Think about it. He is never going to offer you marriage. I don’t want to see you hurt. You have beenthrough so much already. I cannot bear for you to go through anything as heartrending as a broken heart and this is where it is going.”

“People change.” She whispered.

“Darling, please come home. Before it is too late.”

“It already is.” She told him hoarsely. “I keep thinking that the accident happened for a reason. We were supposed to meet. He was supposed to be driving at that precise moment I was riding my bike. It did not just happen. It was fate…”

“Are you listening to yourself?” Julian shouted. “I cannot believe this. What the hell is he telling you? Don’t you see he is just using you? You are available and conveniently in the same house. He does not have to expend any effort to have a woman in his bed.”

“Go to hell.”

“Jules…”

She hung up and sat there staring at the book in her hand. The tears were threatening. Her brother’s words were hammering painfully in her head. Her throat felt thick with fear and despair was looming.

She had not told him she was in love with him, but he knew. And no matter how much or how far the passion took them, he never said anything to her about the future. He would spend time worshipping her body, laboring over her until she was begging for release.

She knew he was affected as well, there was no doubting that. But how involved was he? He hadn’t said anything about her leaving. In a couple of days, the cast would be off her foot, and she was free to go home. But she was not looking forward to it. Each time she thought about it, she would feel the panic fluttering inside her chest.

She had wonderful visions of them getting married and having children. A boy who would look like him and a girl who looked like both of them.

He never discussed anything of substance with her and she had noticed that he asked about her life, while hardly revealing anything about his. Whenever he left the Palazzo, she found herself wondering who he was with, but she couldn’t ask him.

He made the news, and she would scour the internet looking for evidences that he was with someone else. But nothing so far. She would breathe a sigh of relief and wonder what on earth she was doing.

She jumped slightly when the door was pushed open, and Alfredo came striding in. She had little time to compose herself and knew that he probably saw evidence of the tears in her eyes.

“I am sorry, do you want to use the room?” She was surprised to see him home at this time of the day.

“No.” He stood in the middle of the room and looked around. “This was my wife’s favorite place.”

“Giorgio told me.”

Turning his head, he gazed at her thoughtfully. “I had a meeting a few blocks away and decided to come and see how you were doing.”

“I am fine.” She smiled, pleased that he took the time to check on her. “Getting better each day. I just want to say thanks for how you welcomed me into your home. I have practically taken up residence in this lovely room. Giorgio said you didn’t mind.”

He came further inside and sat in front of her.

“My wife spoiled our son rotten. She wanted more children, but almost lost her life-giving birth to Giorgio.”

“I never knew that.”

Alfredo smiled. “My son doesn’t like to talk about it.”

“He loved her.”

Alfredo nodded, his eyes on her face. “Edouardo informed me that you were given a clean bill of health.”

Her heart plummeted. “He has.”

“We will make the jet available for when you are ready to leave.”

Looking away from him, she stared at the book on her lap. His message was clear. He didn’t think she was good enough for his son. It crushed her so much, she wanted to die.

“He will hurt you piccolo,” he continued softly. “I warned him not to get involved, but he didn’t listen. You have done wonders in his life and brought joy and laughter to this household. You are kind and sweet and remind me of my darling wife.”

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