Page 179 of My Husband’s New Fiancée

Dante takes the plant with a long-suffering look and places it on the entryway console.

A few minutes later, Hugo arrives.

I deliberately stay back and watch them meet.

They shake hands somewhat awkwardly. Hugo studies Dante with the suspicion of a protective older brother assessing his little sister’s new boyfriend.

And for the first time in a very long while, I see Dante looking uncomfortable.

“You’re enjoying watching him try to figure out how to behave around the other man in your life, aren’t you?”

My smile widens.

“Immensely.”

Amelia’s laughter rings through the room, light and warm.

Eventually, I take pity on Dante and walk over to hug Hugo.

At that exact moment, Andrea strolls through the front door.

“I saw lights on as I was driving by. Am I allowed in?”

I smack his shoulder.

Immediately, he clutches his chest dramatically and pretends to be dying.

Such a drama queen.

I barely have time to roll my eyes before another car pulls into the driveway.

Emotion swells unexpectedly inside me.

I’ve missed them so much.

I hurry outside to greet them.

Bernadette and Arnaud step out of the car.

They couldn’t be more different. She’s brunette and petite. He’s blond, tall, and broad-shouldered.

I hug them both in turn.

Then Bernadette studies me closely.

“You look tired. I thought you’d taken some time off.”

Shit.

I should’ve worn foundation.

Now she’s going to keep an eye on me all day.

“Valeria, get your guests inside,” Dante says. “You're not even wearing a coat.”

Damn it. They’re going to fuss over me all day.

Lunch unfolds in glorious chaos. Conversations overlap. Laughter erupts from every corner of the room. The atmosphere is warm, vibrant, achingly familiar. For a few hours, there are no investigations, no betrayals, no conspiracies. Just the people we love.