Page 96 of His Two Hidden Masks

Andiamo was closedand the kitchen staff wouldn’t arrive for another couple of hours. Roberto locked the doors behind us and I took a seat on one of the stools that faced the bar.

Roberto went behind the bar and turned on the espresso machine. “Espresso?” he asked, prepping two small cups.

“I know about your deal with James.”

He nodded while drawing the shot. “I knew you would find out.” He placed an espresso on the bar before me and drew the second. “Dylan told you?”

“I also heard you arguing with James,” I said, not wanting to bring Dylan into this conversation. “Why did you pursue a deal with Street Entertainment before we were to be married, Roberto?”

He finished the second espresso and leaned against the back bar as he took a sip. He looked tired. Bags drooped under his normally bright green eyes.

“I have known James and Dylan Street since I was a boy. All three of us were in boarding school in Germany together. I was always closer to James, and we stayed in touch even after we graduated.”

“How touching,” I said, relieved his story aligned with Dylan’s. “Get to the part where you decided to fuck over my family.”

“You have every right to be angry,” Roberto said. His admission stunned me. I’d gotten so used to being gaslit by him that I wasn’t used to him agreeing with me.

“Talk,” I said, taking a sip of my espresso.

“I reached out to James Street, because I knew that unless I found a way to bring in another investor, I was never going to be able to force your father out.”

“But we were getting married,” I said. “You didn’t need to force him out.”

“I wanted to,” he said. “I decided years ago that your father needed to pay for his mistakes. I’m just sorry you got hurt in the process.”

Roberto wasn’t throwing verbal punches. He sounded sincere and resolute. Defenses down, I wondered if we were about to have the first real conversation of our lives.

“What did my father to do to you, Roberto?” I reached across the bar and squeezed his hand. “Just tell me. I deserve to know everything.”

“You do,” he said, nodding at me. “You always did.”

“We are here now.”

He squeezed my hand back, then let it go. “You know I grew up away from Venice. My parents believed that boarding schools across Europe would provide me with a better education. I saw you and your family only on the holidays.

At least, the ones my parents decided to bring me home for. I didn’t come every year, but the weeks I spent in Venice were the best of my life. It felt like home, even if it wasn’t. I was a part of a family.” He looked up at me. “I was with Sara.”

Her name took up space between us. I imagined her pulling up a chair, elbows resting on the bar, as she leaned forward to listen to Roberto’s every word.

“Sara and I were lovers. Nobody knew. It was our secret.”

My mouth dropped open and I felt all the color in my face drain away.

“I’m sorry,” Roberto said, glancing at me. “I know it’s not easy to hear this. I used to think that the only person who mightsuspect us was you. You were just a kid, and Sara was often in charge of you, so we’d go places together.

I remember one time you caught us holding hands. I was worried you’d tell your parents what you saw. Sara was definitely worried. We had taken a day trip to Lido for a picnic. Do you remember that day?”

I shook my head, trying to recall any memory of Roberto and Sara together. Roberto claimed he loved my sister. I didn’t know how to react. As the initial shock dimmed, I realized I wasn’t surprised. Robert was confirming my suspicion that something was wrong with our relationship from the very start.

“Why did you want to marry me?” I asked. “Were you trying to replace her?”

“No, of course not,” he said, his eyes wide. “You have to believe me. Sara died and it broke me. I no longer came home to Venice. It held nothing for me but pain. After I graduated, when my family informed me of my new role supporting the Uzano Portfolio, I almost quit.”

“I thought you wanted that position.”

“I’m very good at doing what is expected of me, Bella,” Roberto said, sighing. “I did what I was told, and then I met you again. And you were fiery, beautiful, and so different than Sara, and I loved you. I really did.”

“I’m sorry I left you at the altar, Roberto,” I said.

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