Page 58 of Till Death Do Us Part

Iwanted to lay into Felice.

His phone pinged. He took it out of his pocket, checked the screen, and stood.

He kissed me on top of the head. “Business.”

“How long will you be gone? I need to get back.”

“Not long.” His tone was cold, and his words were clipped.

What the hell had him in such a bad mood?

He kissed Corinna on the cheek and thanked her for dinner. A minute later, he was gone.

The table seemed so big suddenly. The house too quiet.

“Mind if I use the restroom?” I stood, needing a moment to myself so I could breathe without feeling like I could hear it.

Corinna pointed me in the right direction. I found my way and was so relieved to be alone. I took as much time as I could without making it seem like I was making number two. Things were already awkward. I didn’t want Corinna to think her food was bad and I was taking advantage of her toilet, as Lo would say.

Nonna Mafalda was walking the halls with her nurse when I stepped out.

“You are beautiful,” she said to me, smiling. Gone was the curt tone of the queen. “As a princess should be. I’m a princess too. Would you like to see my quarters?”

Her nurse smiled at me, and I took Nonna Mafalda’s other arm, walking with them to her room. After a few minutes, she climbed into bed and started to snore. Her nurse said she was on a pretty good schedule, but sometimes she suffered with insomnia. I thought of Elsa and her family. Her father was in the early stages, and I knew she struggled with trying to help her mom and live a life of her own.

Pictures on a table in the hallway stopped me on my way back to the dining room. I picked one up. I was almost positive it was Felice when he was a baby. It was no surprise he was beautiful. Dark, soft hair, parted to the side, gorgeous green eyes, and a smile that could melt ice. Adult Felice’s smile had frozen over the warm, except when it was meant for me. I placed the picture back and looked at the row of them.

Felice with who I assumed was his father caught my eye.

“That’s Salvatore,” Nonna Silvia said, making me jump a little. “John’s father. Your father refused him the life saving device he created and the pills. That’s why he’s dead.”

“What?” I breathed out.

Her eyebrows rose. “You didn’t know?”

“No.”

“You can understand why Emanuele Corvo’s name is not celebrated in this house then. Your father’s sins shouldn’t fall on you, though. You didn’t deny my son.” She moved closer to me. “I like you. Don’t change my mind.”

She left me alone in the hall. I studied the picture again, wondering why my father had denied Salvatore care? Was it because of Alfonso? How ruthless would that be if Alfonso wanted it that way? His own son? And why hadn’t Felice mentioned it to me?

“You okay, honey?” Corrina stepped out of the kitchen, holding a towel.

I nodded and wiped my palms on my pants. “Felice was such a beautiful baby.”

“My only.” She smiled. “I love that you call him Felice. Sal chose the name, but everyone ended up calling him John. The English version of his middle name.”

“Giovanni,” I said.

She nodded. “You want something to drink? Something else to eat?”

I touched my stomach. “I had plenty. Thank you.” I pointed to the kitchen towel. “Could you use some help?”

“Some company would be great.”

She turned and looked at me when I started laughing. I hadn’t noticed one of the pictures until I decided to take a second look at the baby picture of Felice. Felice and Cassio stood next to one another. They looked to be around the same age. Thirteen or fourteen, maybe. Instead of Cassio giving Felice bunny ears, he was either sticking Felice or the camera the middle finger.

“That’s Cassio,” she said. “He and John grew up together. I’m pretty sure Cassio is my husband’s, but they would have killed him if they found out.”

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