Alessio released her like she’d burned him, stumbling backward.
“Sorry, I…” He cleared his throat, voice rough “Daniela’s been having contractions. Wrong room. Thought you were her.”
He fled like a hunted man.
Noemi wiped his taste from her lips, the irony bitter on her tongue. Even his lies were pathetic. Broad daylight, and he couldn’t tell his wife from his sister–in–law?
After a few days, she discharged herself.
It happened to be the Moretti family’s annual Easter gathering. The moment Noemi entered the compound, a group of family wives surrounded her.
“Noemi, darling, Alessio’s been gone for months. You’re too young to be alone forever!”
“My cousin’s son just graduated from the military academy-”
Before she could mention Cosimo’s proposal, they thrust her toward a distinguished–looking man.
“This is Alessandro Ferraro, Chief Design Engineer at Beretta. He has a gorgeous penthouse in Rome, right near your old ballet studio!”
The engineer smiled warmly. “I’ve actually seen you perform-*
A fist connected with his jaw, sending him sprawling.
Gasps erupted around them.
“What the hell!” someone screamed.
Noemi looked up into Alessio’s blazing eyes.
His Armani suit was wrinkled, chest heaving. “Ladies,” he said softly, dangerously, “I appreciate your… enthusiasm. But my sister–in–law remains under Moretti protection. Anyone who approaches. her will answer to me.”
2022 O
Chapter 5
The threat hung heavy in the air.
He seized her wrist and dragged her away.
Once alone, she wrenched free. “Have you lost your mind, Marco?”
He flinched at his brother’s name.
“We’re nothing to each other,” she said, voice shaking with fury. “Who I date, who I marry–none of your damn business.”
She turned away.
CRACK.
His fist slammed into an olive tree, bark splintering, blood streaming down his knuckles.
She didn’t look back.
That night, movement woke her. Before she could reach the lamp, a whiskey–soaked body pinned
her down.
His familiar scent–then his mouth crashed onto hers, desperate and punishing.
She fought, but he caught her wrists, holding them above her head.
“Don’t leave,” he slurred against her lips, tears falling on her cheeks. “Don’t marry him. I’m begging you… I can’t breathe without you.”
“You’re Daniela’s husband!” The words tore from her throat.
“Not really… just wait… almost over…”
“Get OFF me!”
Her knee connected. He collapsed with a strangled groan.
Daniela appeared in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
Light flooded the room. Noemi turned away, hair hiding her split lip.
“Your husband’s drunk. Take him back to your bed where he belongs.”
Chapter 5
Daniela’s gaze lingered on Noemi’s bleeding mouth, her perfect nails drawing blood from her own palms.
“Come on, Marco,” she cooed, hauling Alessio up. “Let’s get you to bed.”
As she led him out, he looked back–eyes haunted, desperate, destroyed.
Noemi locked the door and slid to the floor.
Her lip throbbed, but the real agony was in her chest, where her shattered heart still somehow found
new ways to break.
