Page 90 of Sins of the Son

I had always loved Cesare.

I had never stopped loving Cesare.

My eyes filled with tears. It was because I loved him that I'd left. It would hurt now. It would hurt for a while, probably forever, but I would survive.

He would survive.

We would both move on.

Not all love stories ended with a happily ever after.

Look at Romeo and Juliet. People seemed to forget they both died in the end.

Maybe ours was meant to be one of those nostalgic loves?

That all-consuming first love. The kind of love you never entirely got over. The one you never fully healed from. The one that stayed this small knife wound on your heart, that bled tiny teardrops. Not enough that it killed you, just enough that it stung every once in a while when a memory snuck up on you. The kind that caused a lump in the back of your throat before you returned to your daily routine, a little sadder for what never was. But deep down, you knew it wasn’t the kind of love that was meant to be. It was always fated to be a bittersweet memory, never a reality.

Using the corner of the towel, I wiped at my eyes before discarding it and reaching for the silk jumpsuit.

Gabriella breezed into the room.

I cried out as I reached for my towel to cover my nakedness.

Gabriella clucked. “You and Amara, so silly.”

She was holding a stunning Sabyasachi necklace. It had a massive gold ram’s head pendant and was surrounded by round orange, coral, green, and black onyx stones, as well as gold and diamond embellishments in the shape of bows.

She held it up to my neck and cocked her head to the side. “Yes. Perfetto! With your short hair and swan-like neck, of course you must wear a simple outfit with a gorgeous necklace.”

I shook my head. “Gabriella, I couldn’t possibly borrow that from you. It must cost a fortune.”

She waved her hand. “Nonsense. It cost nothing.”

“I’m fully aware of how much an authentic Sabyasachi necklace costs.”

She winked. “It was a gift from a former lover, darling. And you’re not borrowing. It’s yours.”

My mouth fell open. “Absolutely not!”

“I insist. I never wear it. I don’t have the neck for it, but you! Stunning.” She clasped her hands under my jaw and lifted my head. “You must allow me these indulgences! I have no daughters of my own. You and Amara are now my precious nieces, and I’m going to spoil you both! Now get dressed!”

I kept the towel wrapped around my middle as I pulled on the jumpsuit. I then reluctantly allowed Gabriella to hustle me over to the vanity, where she fastened the necklace around my neck.

We stared at my reflection in the mirror.

She said, “You know, Sabyasachi necklaces are often worn for Indian weddings and the ram is a symbol of courage and strength in Hindu mythology.” She lifted one shoulder. “I’m just saying.”

“I’m not marrying your nephew, Gabriella.”

She picked up a brush and slicked my hair back. “I know you usually wear it all wavy and windblown, but I think we should straighten it and have it off your face for this outfit.”

“Did you hear me?”

She pulled the brush through my damp hair as she lifted one perfectly sculpted eyebrow. “Hearing you and believing you are two very different things.”

* * *

An hour later, we headed downstairs. After Gabriella's efforts with my hair and makeup, I half expected to see photographers from Vogue waiting for me.

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