37
Being months away from Milan, Sicily had a way of lulling me into a false sense of security. Maybe it was the sprawling vineyards, the serene sunsets, or the crisp breeze that smelled faintly of the sea. Whatever it was, I was enjoying being here with Mama and seldom visited by Matteo–until reality came knocking.
Or rather, stalking.
It started subtly. A glimpse of an unfamiliar car on the street below the villa. A shadow lingering too long at a
effort nearby café. By the third day, it wasn’t subtle anymore. Lorenzo was here. In Sicily. And he wasn’t making any
to hide it
I first spotted him while Matteo and I were in town, picking out tiles for the estate’s new wine cellar. Matteo, ever the attentive one, had stepped aside to take a call, leaving me free to wander. That’s when I saw him–standing across the square, leaning casually against a lamppost like I hadn’t burned every bridge between us
My stomach churned, but I refused to let it show Lorenzo wasn’t worth my anger, my fear, or even my irritation. “Aletta,” his voice called out, smooth and insistent, cutting through the hum of the bustling square.
I turned slowly, a smile stretching across my face–the kind that said, ‘You’re playing a dangerous game, and I’m
about to win.”
‘Long time no see…” he added.
“Lorenzo,” I greeted, my tone light and airy, as though he were no more significant than a passerby. “I didn’t realize you’d taken up stalking as a hobby How’s that working out for you?”
His jaw tightened. Good.
“I’m not stalking you,” he said, stepping closer. “I’m here to talk.”
“Talk?” I arched a brow, my fingers brushing idly over the edge of the tile samples. “You mean after months of blaming me for everything that went wrong in your life? I have to say, your timing is impeccable.”
“Aletta, I made mistakes, I admit!” He sounded almost earnest, but I wasn’t buying it. “I shouldn’t have let Stefania
come between us. She’s not who I thought she was.”
“Oh, don’t sell yourself short,” I said with a chuckle. “You let her come between us, over us, and all around us Truly, a masterpiece of misjudgment.”
“I was blinded by guilt,” Lorenzo admitted, running a hand through his hair. “She made me believe I owed her
something. That everything you did was to undermine her. I see it now… but I can’t undo it”
“No, you can’t!” I said sharply. “But it’s awfully convenient that you’re here now, tail between your legs, looking for absolution. Did Stefania finally show her true colors? Did the great Lorenzo Corvino finally get played?”
Before Lorenzo could respond, Matteo’s voice cut through the tension like a knife.
*Is there a problem?” Matteo asked, his tone low and dangerous as he stepped between us. The sharp intensity in his gray eyes was impossible to miss, and his entire presence seemed to darken the space.
“No problem,” Lorenzo said stiffly, his gaze narrowing as he sized Matteo up. “I was just having a conversation with Aletta.”
Matteo’s lips curved into a slow, predatory smile, but it didn’t reach his eyes. “Funny. It didn’t look like she was
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IN MINTE LIQUA HING DIIG 103
“Matteo,” I said, placing a hand on his arm before things could escalate. “Why don’t you let me handle this? I promise not to throw a tile at his head.”
Matteo’s eyes flicked to me, and for a moment, I thought he might argue. Instead, he nodded, stepping back but not without giving Lorenzo a glare that could melt steel. “I’ll be by the car.”
As Matteo walked away, Lorenzo’s gaze followed him, his expression twisting with disgust. “So, he’s the one
now?”
“He’s a lot of things,” I replied breezily, “and all of them are better than you.”
even
Lorenzo’s eyes darkened further, his voice dripping with disdain. “You let my driver replace me? Do you ev know who you’re dealing with, Aletta?”
I tilted my head, a small, amused smile playing on my lips. “Oh, I know exactly who Matteo is. Do you?” Lorenzo’s scowl deepened, but there was confusion behind it now, a crack in his arrogant facade. Before he could press further, Matteo returned, his movements deliberate as he placed himself squarely between us again.
“Still here?” Matteo said, his voice a dangerous purr. “You’re awfully bold for a man who’s lost everything.” Lorenzo bristled. “And who exactly do you think you are? You were nothing but a bodyguard. A driver”
Matteo’s laugh was low and cold, the kind that sent shivers down your spine. He stepped closer, his presence towering over Lorenzo, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper. “I’m the man who’s been protecting Aletta long before you realized she needed it. I’m the man who’s built an empire you can’t even comprehend. And I’m the man who will destroy you if you so much as look at her the wrong way again.”
The color drained from Lorenzo’s face, and for the first time, I saw something I never thought I’d see in him: fear “Matteo,” I said softly, my voice calm and steady as I placed a hand on his arm again. “That’s enough.”
He glanced at me, his expression softening just slightly before he nodded. Without another word, Matteo turned and walked back to the car. I followed, pausing only to look back at Lorenzo one last time.
“Stay away, Lorenzo,” I said, my voice firm “Because next time, he won’t stop at words.”
Lorenzo didn’t respond, his shock rendering him speechless. I turned and climbed into the car, Matteo’s hand finding mine as we drove away
–
“You didn’t have to go that far,” I said lightly, though my heart was still racing.
“Yes, I did,” Matteo replied, his grip on my hand tightening slightly. “He needed to know exactly who he’s dealing with.”
I didn’t argue. Matteo was right. And as we left Lorenzo behind, I couldn’t help but feel a small sense of satisfaction. For the first time, I wasn’t the one running. Lorenzo was.
As we drove further into the countryside, Matteo’s usual calm demeanor shifted. He glanced at me briefly, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his face. “Are you sure you’re okay?” he asked, his voice softer now
I smiled, squeezing his hand gently. “I’m fine, Matteo. Better than fine, actually. He’s the one who’ll be losing sleep tonight.”
Matteo’s lips quirked into a small smile, but the tension in his shoulders didn’t ease completely. “Just say the word, Aletta. If he tries anything else…”
“I’ll let you know,” I interrupted, my voice light. “But for now, let’s enjoy the quiet while it lasts.
And with that, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, the weight of Lorenzo’s presence fading into the distance. But in the back of my mind, I knew this wasn’t the last we’d see of him. Not by a long shot.
By the time I spotted Lorenzo outside the vineyard gates, I had to fight the urge to groan. The man was persistent, I’d give him that. The last conversation had made it abundantly clear where I stood, yet here he was
202 PM
The Second Chance for A Madaxhunaway Bride
He stood there, his hands shoved into his pockets, wearing an expression that teetered between desperation and determination. I rolled my eyes, setting my glass of wine on the table before walking out to meet him. If nothing else, I could at least put an end to whatever excuse he’d concocted this time. Or worse, I will call my mother’s guards.
for him to be thrown out of my sight.
“You’re not great at following directions, are you?” I said as I approached, crossing my arms over my chest “Stay away, Lorenzo. Did those warnings of Matteo not reach your comprehension?”
Iv like regret.
“Aletta, please,” he said, his voice heavy with something that sounded suspiciously
“Oh, forgive me for not rolling out the red carpet for the man who ruined my life, Lorenzo.”
“I didn’t come here to argue,” Lorenzo said, his voice softer now, almost pleading. “I came to explain.” “Explain?” I repeated, my brow arching “Haven’t we already been down this road? Let me guess, you finally realized Stefania isn’t the angel you thought she was Bravo, Lorenzo. Slow clap.”
“Aletta, please,” he said, stepping closer. “Just hear me out”
I sighed, more out of exhaustion than anything else. “Fine. You have five minutes. Make them count.” Lorenzo hesitated, as if gathering his thoughts, before he finally spoke. “I was wrong, Aletta About everything. Stefania… she lied to me, manipulated me. She used my quilt against me.”
I frowned. “Guilt? What guilt could you possibly have that justifies throwing me under the bus?”
“Her past,” he admitted, his voice heavy. “Her family. Your family. She made me believe she’d suffered because of you. She said you were jealous, that you were trying to push her out. I thought I was protecting her.”
*Protecting her?* I let out a bitter laugh. “No, Lorenzo. You weren’t protecting her. You were feeding your ego, convincing yourself you were some kind of savior. And in doing so, you destroyed us ”
He flinched at my words but didn’t back down. “I see that now I see what she is. But I also see what I lost. What I
pushed away.
I scoffed, shaking my head. “Is this what you think, Lorenzo? That admitting your mistakes erases everything? It
doesn’t. You pushed me away like I was nothing. And you did it for her
“It wasn’t just for her,” Lorenzo said quickly, his voice trembling. “I thought I was protecting us. Our families. She twisted everything made me believe that you…”
“That I what?” I cut him off, my voice sharp. “That I was scheming against her? That I was jealous of her? Lorenzo, you knew me. You should have known better!”
“I know that now,” he said desperately. “And I hate myself for it. Aletta, I realized it was you I truly love,” he said, his voice breaking slightly “I know I don’t deserve you, but I need you to know that.”
I stared at him, my chest tight with frustration and disbelief. Whatever he would say, I wouldn’t believe him. I’d read his diary. I’d heard him talking to Stefania about how he regretted not waiting for her. I’d seen them making out So, whatever he was feeding me now–all lies. Just justifying what he did.
“And you think I should care?” I said finally, my voice was colder than I intended. “Do you think your regret changes anything? Do you think I’m the same woman you tossed aside? Newsflash, Lorenzo. I’ve moved on.”
Before I could respond further, footsteps behind me were coming. Matteo. The temperature seemed to droch degrees.
“Am I interrupting?” Matteo’s voice was calm, but the tension radiating off him was anything but His gray eyes locked onto Lorenzo with a cold, unflinching intensity.
“Perfect timing.” I muttered under my breath, stepping back instinctively as the two men squared off.
“I see you’ve upgraded,” Lorenzo said, his tone dripping with disdain, Insulting Matteo. “The driver turned lover. Quite the fairytale.”
Matteo didn’t rise to the bait, his expression unreadable. “Still playing the victim, Corvino? You’ve always been good at spinning a story”
202 PM c c
