CHAPTER 53
CHAPTER 53
Mila’s
The silence between us stretched, comfortable and full, broken only by the soft cooing of pigeons strutting across the sun warmed stones of the piazza. Then Jade spoke, her voice so quiet it was almost carried away by the breeze.
“To be honest, Mila, I suggested this trip to Lance.”
My spoon, filled with creamy gelato, froze halfway to my mouth.
She suggested it? The villa, the flight, this entire elaborate escape, it hadn’t been Lance’s idea at all. The fragile, foolish hope I hadn’t even admitted I was nurturing shriveled instantly.
“I saw you,” she continued, her gaze still on the distant horizon. “That day at the party. And you looked… like you were holding the weight of a world meant for other shoulders. You needed a break. From the roles, the expectations. From everything.”
I set the spoon down, the clink against the porcelain too loud. “We’d only just met,” I frowned, the confusion a knot in my chest. “How could you have seen anything?”
She turned to me then, her green eyes soft and unbearably perceptive.
“It doesn’t take long to see when someone is holding their breath, darling. You walk through rooms like a ghost, careful not to disturb the air.”
She licked the cream off her lips
. “Another truth? I was supposed to leave today. I was going to come tell you once Lance had gone. A quick, clean goodbye.”
A pause, deliberate and heavy.
“But then I saw you come downstairs this morning. I saw your face when he left. I saw that tiny, brave hope in your eyes get snuffed out, like a candle in a sudden draft. I couldn’t leave you alone in that big, beautiful, empty house.”
Her honesty was disarming
“I didn’t expect anything from him,”
I said, defending myself. I offered her a smile that felt brittle on my lips.
“That’s the agreement. No expectations. No disappointments.”
"You shouldn't settle for less Mila"
"It's not like that"
"It's like what, he shouldn't treat you that way and I will make sure as hell to set him straight" she said angrily
"You don't–"
"What were you going to say, I don't understand"
"Damn Mila I know what it's like to have an annoying husband that you can't help but feel.attracted to" she added
My eyes widened in shock, was it so obvious that I was dangerously close to falling in love.
Jade leaned forward, her tone light and it held a little mischief
“I have a hunch,” she said, “that you two are going to love each other so much it will be ridiculous. The kind of love that makes everyone else roll their eyes and sigh.”
A sharp, humorless laugh escaped me, harsh in the tranquil afternoon.
“That’s impossible....it simply cannot happen.” The vehemence in my own voice startled me.
I was trying to deny the possibility of it all Because I knew the terrifying truth, one of us was already slipping.
One of us was perilously close to free-falling, and it was me, and the thought scared the hell out of me
“Cannot happen or you are scared of it actually happening?..Should we bet?” she asked, a playful challenge lifting her brows.
“I would,” I said, forcing a lighter tone, clinging to the banter like a lifeline. “But I’m tragically broke.”
"You are good" she chuckled and stared at me for long. Her look made me self aware and I looked at her questioningly
“I know you’re curious,” she said, smoothly changing the subject, her gaze intent and knowing.
“About what?”
“My relationship with Lance. Duh.” She grinned. “Some random, admittedly fabulous young woman pops up claiming to be your husband’s aunt. That’s not an everyday occurrence.”
“No,” I agreed, a real smile touching my lips for the first time since Lance left. “It’s not.”
“I’m Lance’s father’s adopted sister. So, technically, no matter how young and fabulous I am, I’m still the aunt.”
A wistful, almost sorrowful look flashed across her face so quickly I almost doubted I’d seen it.
“Is something wrong?” I asked gently.
She shook her head, the moment sealed away. “I just miss my brother, that’s all.”
“Is he…” I trailed off, unsure. “Gone?”
“He’s not dead,” she said quickly, but her tone became evasive.
“He’s just… you know.” She waved a hand in a vague, dismissive gesture, a clear, elegant signal that the topic was buried.
As the afternoon softened into evening, the light turned thick and golden, painting the roofs of Cefalú much more beautiful.
The town looked like a dream I’d once had, perfect and serene. A dream where I lived happily with Mary.
When we finally began the walk back to the villa, the magic of the day receded with each step, replaced by the familiar, leaden weight of reality settling back onto my shoulders. The sea breeze now felt chilling.
l felt my phone buzzed in my purse, a jarring, modern intrusion. I pulled it out, the screen glowing ominously in the twilight.
A text from Cassie.
Enjoy your trip with your husband. We’ll be expecting you for dinner when you’re back. Don’t forget souvenirs for your lovely Mum and Sister"
I scoffed at the texts and rolled my eyes
I stared at the screen, the cheerful words to others would seem pleasant but I knew beneath those words, there was nothing short of hatred from her to me.
My breath hitched. Wait a minute...How? How did she know?