Page 170 of The Counterfeit Lover

"I'm sorry you have to deal with this," I give her a tight smile. "Anything you need, know I am here. Both Raf and I will be here to help you. If you want us to keep quiet about Michele, we will," I assure her, finally understanding her dilemma.

"Sisi wants to take me to see a doctor soon. I won't be able to hide my pregnancy for too long, but at least then she'll still think it was some boy who got me pregnant. Not…"

Before she can complete her sentence, her hand goes to her mouth, her face scrunching up in discomfort as she dashes to the ensuite bathroom, closing herself inside.

Taking a deep breath, I stand up, going to her desk and the item that had caught my eye before.

Under a few other papers and books, only the corner and a signature are visible. But as I move the other items out of the way, it's to see a drawing.

A drawing of a little girl wearing a pink dress, smiling brightly at the artist. And at the bottom…

From Michele to Venezia, the prettiest pink princess.

My eyes widen in disbelief. Hearing the water flush, I quickly take my phone out to snap a picture before I move the items back into their place and resume my spot on the bed.

"Sorry about that," Venezia apologizes. "It happens more and more often these days. I don't know how Sisi hasn't figured it out already."

"But she will soon. What are you going to do, Zia?"

"If Michele dies," her face tightens with pain, as if someone forcefully pulled those words out of her mouth. "If he's dead, then no one will care about my baby. And no one will try to take him away from me."

I ponder her words for a second.

"Do you want him dead?"

She smiles wistfully.

"Do I?" she murmurs, suddenly looking far older than her age—certainly far more mature than anyone's given her credit until now. "I reckon I do," she finally says, yet her gaze is distant.

TWENTY-FOUR

NOELLE

After Venezia refreshes herself,we return downstairs.

And as the Michele debate resumes here and there, a few things become clear.

Everyone wants Michele dead. But no one wants to take the first step andactuallykill him.

Raf, I can understand, since for all their messed up fate, they were once friends—they had a connection. But everyone else?

Sisi feels conflicted about their biological bond and now that she knows about Antonio, she pities Michele. Then there's Vlad… Well, Vlad does what Sisi says—always.

For all the messed up things Michele's done, everyone is toolenient.

The only one I'm sure would go through withactuallykilling him is my brother, since he took the offense to Yuyu personally. Though he might not have the time to actively hunt him down, if the opportunity presented itself, I'm sure he is the one person who wouldneverhesitate.

What about me?

I keep thinking about whatIwould do. For everything he's done to Raf, the answer should be an immediate yes, Iwouldkill him. But at the same time, I look at my husband and I see that whirlpool of emotions he hasn't completely set free. I see the fact that he does love his brother. And if he died—if he truly died—I fear Raf would never stop blaming himself. Not for what happened in the past, and certainly not for the information that recently came to light about the gang rape at Michele's school.

Raf is already walking a precarious line with the guilt that threatens to weigh him down. So if Michele died in less than ideal circumstances, that would all come crashing down.

I already witnessed it once, when Michele faked his death, and I now realize what should have been clear all along.

They still have a bond. Regardless of the hate, and everything that happened in between, there is still the seed of affection. And until that gets resolved, Michele can't die.

That thought slowly becomes solidified in my mind until I'm certain about my course of action.

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