Page 29 of Lorenzo & Lily

She kissed her forehead. “Thank you. Now, what would you like for dinner? Maybe some of Mama’s famous pasta?”

Liliana’s arms shot up in the air. “Yes! I like that. Can I help-ed you?”

Liliana in the kitchen meant a mess in the kitchen, and a bigger mess on her little girl. “Of course you can. Then, after we eat, you can color and take a bath, and then we’ll do some reading until the prince comes. Does that sound good?”

She nodded just as they arrived at their apartment. Lily let her down and grasped her hand again as they made their way past the unreliable elevator and up the stairs.

The apartment wasn’t in the worst part of town, but it wasn’t in the best, either. Still, other families lived in the building, too, so she felt fairly safe. It was all she could afford at any rate.

As they walked inside, Liliana running to her room to put down her things, Lily tried to imagine what Lorenzo might think as he walked in later that night. It was bright, it was cheery, and it was cozy and comfortable. It was not high society stuffy, or modern. Modern often went out the window when there was a very active child around.

Thank goodness she’d cleaned it yesterday, but a few touchups here and there might not be a bad idea. Better to clean after they made a mess in the kitchen, though. Lily walked down the short hall to Liliana’s room to help her before going to change herself.

She still didn’t know how she’d handle Lorenzo. He’d been adamant they move into the castle and – given her new unemployed state – it might make the most sense logically, but her heart was urging her against it. She’d have to face the person who drove them apart, the person who’d stated her greatest fear and said she hadn’t been worthy of Lorenzo. She still wasn’t sure she was.

Her family may have been high society, but they were steeped in scandal back in Italy. Charges of embezzlement against her father and brother years ago had urged the Italian paparazzi to descend upon her. Though she was innocent, her family had forged her name on documents which, if found, would have implicated her.

Though no one had found out, the press had laced her reputation with rumours. To salvage it, she took a volunteer position at a hospital in Valleria. It was there she’d met Lorenzo.

It was then, when she fell in love, that her entire world had changed. It had changed again when the documents had been uncovered and she’d been blackmailed into leaving Lorenzo. It changed once more when Liliana was born, and her family had finally abandoned her for good. It seemed her life was due for yet another massive turn of events.

And, just like before, she may not have a choice in the matter.

---