Chapter 37 Chapter 37

Chapter 37 Chapter 37
Dante
Once I make sure Lily is fast asleep, her breathing soft, her body finally relaxed. I step out into the quiet garden. The air is still, heavy with the scent of night-blooming jasmine. I pull out my phone and call the godfather.
He answers on the first ring.
“Hello.”
“How’s Lily?” he asks immediately.
“She’s fine,” I reply, my voice low.
“Good,” he says, then pauses before continuing, “I received another coded message from Sebastian. The Bratva attacked again, but thanks to his early warning, we were able to kill them. He saved lives tonight.” He sighs. “He said he might return... but he’s not sure. And if he does come back, things won’t be the same, especially with Lily.”
I clench my jaw, saying nothing yet.
“I’ll do everything on my side,” the godfather continues. “I’ll tell the Mafia Council the Bratva took him to spare my life. They’ll believe it, everyone listens to me. But the real question is… will Lily accept him again? Legally, she’s still his wife. I never filed a death certificate for Sebastian. I was waiting for your decision, Dante.”
I take a long breath, trying to swallow the blade twisting in my chest.
“I won’t lie to you,” I finally say. “I love Lily. More than I’ve ever loved anyone. But if Sebastian comes back… I’ll tell her to go to him.”
There’s a silence.
“I’ve seen the way she still talks about him. Like she’s holding onto hope, like she believes he’s still alive out there somewhere. I can’t compete with that kind of faith. If she chooses him… I won’t stand in the way.”
The godfather exhales slowly. “Then you understand the weight of this.” His tone shifts. “If Sebastian doesn’t return… you’ll remain her husband. But if he does, the council has already chosen someone else for you.”
That catches me off guard. “What? Who?”
“You really want to know?” There’s a hint of amusement in his voice now.
“Yes, I want to know,” I snap, rubbing the back of my neck. Fuck. 
“Belladonna Torricelli.”
My stomach drops. “Lily’s best friend?”
“Yeah,” he says, clearly enjoying my reaction.
“Great,” I mutter under my breath. “Does she know?”
“Not yet. I’m waiting on Sebastian’s next message. If there’s nothing from him… I’ll announce your marriage to Lily. But if he returns…” He lets the silence speak for itself.
“Okay,” I murmur, pinching the bridge of my nose as the call ends.
The weight of the night settles on my shoulders. I glance back at the house, where Lily sleeps unaware of the storm still brewing around her.
And of the choice that may soon shatter her heart all over again.
I walk inside and settle next to lily on the bed, I smell her hair and damn she smells so good. She flutters her eyes open and smiles at me. she puts her head on my chest and sleeps.

I make us coffee while Lily sits by the swimming pool, the morning sun glinting off the water. She’s in a thin black dress, her black bikini peeking through. She looks beautiful, unbothered by the world, yet carrying something heavy inside her.
I bring her the coffee and she whispers, “Thank you.”
We sit in silence for a moment, sipping.
“I want to start writing a book,” she says suddenly.
I glance at her. “That’s a great idea.”
She smiles faintly. “About romance.”
I nod. “Of course.”
Her eyes drift toward the horizon, then back to me. “Since Sebastian died… I’ve been feeling restless. Empty. I need to put that feeling into words. Because from the first time he looked at me, I knew. He loved me.”
I listen quietly.
“He loved you, Lily,” I say gently, trying to ground her in that truth.
She turns to me, her gaze sharp now. “And you? Tell me, Dante. Do you love me?”
I pause. Then shake my head slowly. “I don’t know.”
“I need an answer.” Her voice shifts, strained and angry, something I’ve never heard from her before.
I stay silent.
Her eyes fill with tears. “I heard you last night,” she whispers. “Talking to the godfather. I heard everything.”
I freeze.
Her voice cracks. “Sebastian’s alive… and you’ve been keeping it from me.”
“I heard you say it… that you love me.” Her voice is barely above a whisper, but it’s heavy with pain. “I knew something was off all this time. You sleep beside me every night, Dante… but you never touch me. You say you want me, but you never have sex. There was something stopping you.”
“Lily…” I murmur, my throat tightening. I can see the cracks forming in her, and I hate that I’m the reason.
She sighs and looks away, her eyes glistening. “How long have you known?”
“I found out before we came to Italy,” I admit, my voice low. “I didn’t want to hurt you. I didn’t want to take away the peace you were starting to find here.”
She swallows hard, tears welling. “Will Sebastian ever come back?”
I take a breath, feeling the weight of a truth I can’t fully carry. “We don’t know, sunshine. He’s not sure himself. He’s trying… but it’s dangerous.”
She nods slowly, but her lips tremble. “Then I’ve been living in a lie.”
“I want to go back to New York,” she utters, her voice trembling with rage and heartbreak. “Now, Dante. Call the godfather, tell him to make the arrangements.”
I open my mouth to speak, but she cuts me off, eyes brimming with unshed tears.
“I can’t stay here another day. Not with you. Not in this house, not in this country. I want to go home. My home.”
She stands up abruptly, the chair screeching back against the tiles. Without another word, she storms inside, slamming the glass door shut behind her. The sound echoes through the villa, slicing through the silence like a blade.
I don’t move. I just sit there by the pool, staring at the still surface of the water. My chest feels heavy, my thoughts louder than the breeze rustling through the palm trees.
What am I doing to her?
I can’t keep hurting her like this, dragging her through shadows and secrets when all she’s ever needed is peace.
With a slow breath, I pull my phone from my pocket and stare at the screen for a moment.
Then I make the call.