Page 130 of His Two Hidden Masks

Just be happy. This was the first time I believed my mother loved me without condition. My head was swimming. “And what of Papa?”

“Your father has a choice.” She stood. “He gives up his women or I leave him. Either way, this company is mine and I will protect it for my family, and my family is you, my darling girl.”

“I want to talk to him,” I said.

“He left this morning for Milan,” she said, her eyes glassy with tears.

“Oh, Mama,” I said.

“It’s all right. He is angry. That is his choice. I want you to focus on your future. It is time for you to do what Isabella Carmen Uzano wants.”

I threw my arms around my mother’s neck. We cried with our arms wrapped around each other.

“Learn from my mistakes,” she said. “Find your happiness and maybe, marry the right man.”

“I think I just did.”

My mother kissed my forehead, and for the first time in my life, I understood what it meant to be her daughter. I believed in her love.

31

Ifound Dylan downstairs, talking to Paolo at the front desk. I hadn’t told Dylan about anything that I’d discovered with my family. All I wanted was to crawl into bed with him and lock the door.

I wanted time in his arms, time to talk to him, time to share with him everything about my life.

Hearing my mother’s story, my memories of my parents shifted from black-and-white to color. I believed in a timeline where my family was happy before Sara.

Learning that the fairy tale story of my childhood was an illusion hurt, but at least it was the truth. I didn’t want to hide behind lies ever again.

I slipped beside Dylan and grasped his hand. The warmth of his skin calmed me. While my mind attempted to rebuild my understanding of my past, I needed to hold onto something in my present. Dylan.

“Are you all right?” he asked, turning from Paolo to look at me.

“Yes,” I said. “I’ll tell you all about it later.”

I couldn’t wait to share the truth with him, all of it. I had given him my body so many times, I wanted to give him more now. I believed he would also share his truth with me.

“And Bella, you should talk to Paolo. He has something wonderful to share,” Dylan said.

“‘Wonderful’ sounds good to me,” I said. “What is it?”

“We are all out of your candies.” Paolo crossed his arms, smiling.

“That is not possible. I prepared dozens and dozens of boxes. Check the walk-in.”

“You don’t understand, darling,” Dylan said. “They sold them all.”

“They what?” My heart pounded.

“Late last night, it started,” said Paolo. “It was a steady stream of drunken Carnival couples. First, they called, next they came to the door. Some just pounded on the windows.”

“Why would they do that?”

“They wanted your candy,” Paolo said. “They came from the ball at Doge’s palace and said there weren’t enough boxes at the venue.”

I turned and looked at Dylan. “You mentioned Bella Baci once, and there was no candy at the ball.”

“I think I said, they taste like heaven, just like you,” Dylan said. “You know there may a slogan in there.”

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