Page 14 of Forbidden Lord

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Matteo wrapped his arm around her back which sent goosebumps through her as he said, “Sheena is still a little shy re-meeting the boys from boarding school.”

They all went onto the patio and took a seat. A full breakfast was served. Sheena accepted the coffee as she normally had three cups in a day. After a sip for courage she met Stephano’s gaze. It was better for this moment to be over with so she could stop shaking inside. She lifted her chin and said, “That’s not it. Not exactly. But I don’t have good memories of you, Stefano.”

Stefano lowered his head and had a slight tinge of pink to his cheek as he said, “I apologize for my fifteen-year-old self. I was priggish.”

That was an understatement, but she let her resentment go. She’d stood up for herself and would make sure that no one bullied her again. As she relaxed in her seat she said, “You told Matteo and Chelsea not to talk to me because my father owned a restaurant.”

Stefano held Rossie’s hand on the table and nodded in agreement while he said, “I’ve since dined there many times, Sheena. Your father is a master chef, and I was a stuck up brat.”

“Glad we straightened that out then.” Sheena folded her napkin over her lap. There was no need to stress over what had happened anymore. She saw how stiff Matteo was beside her and patted his arm. “Matteo values his friends and I want us all to get along.”

Matteo searched her face to see if she was being genuine, then smiled at her. She wasn’t going to cry or worry about this ever again.

Chelsea’s sister coughed and spoke. Sheena realized she could have another croissant now that her stomach wasn’t in knots. Cassidy took the conversation and said, “Rosalind?”

“Yes?”

“Can we ask you about Clara now that she’s taken off with Astorre?” Cassidy asked.

Rossie seemed surprised. “What? We’re going to have lunch together.”

Chelsea passed the croissants. “They checked out this morning and said they had plans.”

“I’ll call her,” Rossie said.

Cassidy shook her head. “Please sit. Can we ask you something first?”

Rossie sounded intrigued. “Sure. What?”

Stefano and Matteo both went inside.

Sheena listened to a conversation on how Rossie’s friend Clara might be from Avce and was the perfect match, according to Cassidy’s computer system, for Astorre. When they asked her opinion, she stared at the other women blankly as she’d only half-listened, and then said, “I don’t believe in perfect matches.”

Chelsea patted her sister’s arm. “My sister’s program directed me to Alexandre. I’m sure she can tell you yours, Sheena.”

Sheena hadn’t wanted to know anything about her husband until she’d fallen for him.

Besides, who her true love might be no longer mattered. She was married to Matteo and she’d honor her commitment. “I don’t want to know.”

Cassidy shrugged. “I ran Matteo’s already in case he asked.”

Sheena’s blood ran cold, and her eyes widened. While she might not care about who hers was or wasn’t, what if Matteo thought differently? If his true love showed up, would he honor his commitment to her? From what she remembered in school, Matteo was always into joking around with his friends.

Her skin felt tight, but she placed her hand on the table and asked, “Why didn’t you tell him when Patrice left him? If this program works, as you say, then he’d have probably been happier marrying this ‘true love.’”

Cassidy’s face went red and she looked down at the table. “Because he did marry his true love.”

Impossible. Sheena sat straighter. He’d missed out on Patrice, so she repeated, “No, he married me.”

Cassidy met her gaze and didn’t look away. “Sheena, he’s your match.” Sheena couldn’t move a muscle as Cassidy explained, “I told Chelsea to include you in his wedding plans so you had a chance to talk before his marriage to Patrice—we could all see it wasn’t love.”

“That’s silly.” Sheena’s mind refused to understand.

She swallowed and fanned her face. She couldn’t quite breathe right.

“It’s true,” Chelsea said. “Why do you think I helped you walk down the aisle?”

This must be to make her feel better. Yes. That was it. She couldn’t be married to her true love.