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When I climb out I wrap the towel tightly around my body and use a second towel to dry myself off. It makes me feel more secure to not be standing in this bathroom naked as the day I was born.
When I'm dry I throw on a pair of jeans from my suitcase and an oversize hoodie. I remember the days when I tried my best to look beautiful for Stefano. Those days are long gone.
I pull my towel-dried hair up into a loose, messy bun and after taking one moment to steady my thoughts, I push open the bedroom door and head downstairs towards the dining room.
Stefano is sitting at the table alone. I don't know why I expected his half brother and all of his security guards to be here too. But they aren't. It's just Stefano and me. Alone.
I hate that idea.
"Sit." He demands when he sees me hesitating at the door.
I walk in, trying to look calm and confident, taking a seat as far from him as possible.
He stares at me in silence and I begin to grow more and more uncomfortable.
Finally, the chef comes in and quietly starts placing our dinner on the table.
"Thank you," I say softly.
"A pleasure." The chef responds.
Then he leaves and we are alone again.
"I almost asked him to make calamari." Stefano chuckles. "Just to enjoy watching you suffer through it."
I pull my mouth tight, not enjoying his humor.
"How nice of you to remember that I don't like it after all these years."
"I remember everything about you, Lia. Everything."
I pick up my fork to try and distract myself and start pushing the food around my plate. But there is a question burning on my tongue and as much as I don't ever want to talk to Stefano about Elle, I have to know.
"Where is my daughter?"
"She's at the hospital. Safe. I'm busy having her room set up for her so that when she is released she will have the best care available."
I swallow hard. "She's safe?"
"On my word."
"And I can trust your word?" I blurt out angrily.
"I've never not kept my word, Amelia. If anyone here should be judged for not keeping their word it's you - not me."
I stick my fork into a crumbed mushroom and bite into it. It's delicious. I hate the fact that it's delicious because I don't want to enjoy anything that Stefano is offering. But I'm starving right now. I didn't even have time to eat breakfast and today - well today happened.
I pick up another crumbed mushroom and eat it.
"He's an incredible chef, isn't he. I remembered that your favorite two dishes he made were crumbed mushrooms and pork schnitzels. Such comfort food." Stefano chats as he eats and watches me.
"Why are you making me sleep in your room?" I ask, pushing my plate away from me once I've eaten enough.
"Because it's what I want."
"It's not what I want."
"I don't care what you want, Amelia. You are going to have to learn that. Fast. I get what I want, and you do as you are told. Those are the rules."
