Chapter 49 Forty - nine

Chapter 49 Forty - nine

"I'm going to miss you," I say to Carmen for the upteenth time, holding her gaze with a sad smile.

Taking off her dark shades, Carmen smiles in return, tucking strands of hair behind her ears as she addresses me. The morning breeze blows aggressively in our faces.

"I'm going to miss you too, Liora," she adds, holding my hand in hers as she reassures, "I'll try to visit anytime I can."

"Please, do," I tease. "I don't know how long I can possibly survive in this house without you."

She chuckles heartily. "You'll be alright, trust me. Besides, you're working now. You won't be spending the whole day reading those boring-ass magazines anymore."

I let out a laugh. "So you do know they're boring."

She snickers. "Couldn't make it past the front pages while looking through them last night. Lucky you came in right on time."

We both share a laugh at that.

Withdrawing her hand, Carmen glances down at her wristwatch and frowns when she notices the time. She casts a look toward the mansion.

"What's taking him so long? I don't want to miss my flight because of him."

I glance at the house too, wondering why he's not back yet.

Lorenzo left us at the parking lot, claiming he forgot something inside. We've been waiting for his return for the past ten minutes.

Although the time he's been gone has given Carmen and me the chance to say a proper goodbye, he should be back by now.

After what seems like an eternity, Lorenzo finally reappears, striding toward us with an imposing aura. Despite the presence of Carmen, the driver, and the bodyguards, he somehow still keeps his piercing gaze fixed on me as he approaches.

Maintaining eye contact, a knot forms in my throat as everything Carmen told me last night resurfaces. Everything she claimed about Lorenzo being innocent.

I haven't been able to accept that as the truth yet since the whole story of what truly happened is still vague. But I think this morning, I'm seeing him in a different light.

Not as the cold-hearted murderer I once believed he was.

I'm jolted from my thoughts when Carmen exhales heavily. "Took you long enough. I thought you weren't coming anymore," she complains in frustration.

But her brother completely ignores her and comes up to me instead, his face etched with a brooding expression as usual.

His cologne hits my nostrils and warmth unfurls inside me.

However, my breath catches when he closes the distance between us and suddenly grabs hold of my wrist.

I want to protest and pull my hand away quickly, but I'm no match for his brute strength. Besides, his annoyed statement has me freezing.

"You forgot your ring, mi esposa," he says begrudgingly before retrieving my wedding ring from his suit pocket.

Heat floods my cheeks. He doesn't even care that the bodyguards and his sister are present. He asserts his claim and dominance anywhere he likes.

But did I forget my ring, though? No, I didn't.

I deliberately stopped wearing it, but I thought he wouldn't notice. I think he hasn't said anything about it because I've always been home. However, now that I'm working in a public place, of course he would want the whole world to know that I'm married.

A shiver courses through me as Lorenzo slides the ring onto my finger. His touch causes goosebumps to break out on my skin. My stomach curls with warmth.

I stare at him, my lips parted in astonishment.

After carefully securing the ring on my finger, his harsh grey eyes meet mine again. Then he sneers. "You're a married woman. You shouldn't forget to wear your ring when going out."

His words send unease fluttering through me. But I stare at him, too stunned to even reply.

"So this is the reason you claimed you forgot something, huh, brother?" Carmen taunts Lorenzo.

But I'm not thinking about what she just said. Instead, her words from last night replay in my head.

'He cares about you, Liora. He really does.'

He certainly has a nice way of showing it.

I huff inwardly, swallowing the lump in my throat.

Lorenzo glares at me briefly before stepping away to speak with his driver.

By the time he returns, I've managed to regain my composure.

He informs me, "He will drive you to work. I'm taking Carmen to the airport. I'll be at the office in an hour or so." He smirks tauntingly. "Think you can manage without me?"

Is this a joke?

I know he's trying to pull my leg, so I don't give him the satisfaction.

"I'll see you later then," I tell him.

He hesitates with a frown before nodding curtly. "Okay."

Turning to Carmen, he beckons for her to get into his Rolls Royce as he circles around the car to the driver's side.

Carmen comes up to me and grins enthusiastically before pressing a kiss to my cheek. Before she pulls away, she whispers in my ear.

"He's totally possessive about you, Liora. Wish you luck dealing with him by yourself. I'm out." She smirks and winks before pulling away.

A flicker of apprehension stirs within me, and I frown at her.

She laughs at my expression before embracing me once more. "Like I said, you're going to be alright."

Lorenzo blasts the car horn, compelling Carmen to step away from me. She waves at me as she makes her way to the passenger's side.

I wave back, a smile on my face even though dread churns inside me as I try to decipher what she just said.

As they drive out, I'm pulled from my thoughts when the driver comes up to me.

"Shall we, ma'am?" he asks politely.

Absentmindedly, I swallow before nodding. "Yeah."

As I trail behind him to the SUV, an emptiness settles in my chest at Carmen's departure. Sadness washes over me as I settle into the backseat, my mind occupied with thoughts of her.

I'm no doubt going to miss her a lot. It hasn't even been a day and I'm already miserable without her.

Yet, my thoughts eventually stray from her to her brother.

I heave a sigh as I stare down at my ring finger, the dazzling diamond glinting before my eyes. This is the symbol and reminder of my marriage to Lorenzo Sorrentino.

The way he came up to me earlier and slipped the ring onto my finger has me smiling despite myself.

My goodness, he's so dramatic.

I scoff, shaking my head as I admire the ring. It's beautiful, just like the necklace he gave me yesterday—which I'm currently wearing, by the way.

I know he probably would have bitten my head off too if I forgot to wear the necklace as well.

You're right, including the ankle monitor.

Everything is on me. Courtesy of my dearest husband.

Sneer.