Page 31 of Banished and Pregnant by Her Sicilian Billionaire Husband

And now, Chisa was saying it was Vico, his own cousin, who was somehow the enemy?

“I’ll have your things moved to the guesthouse.”

Chisa paled.

“You’ll stay on the property. For Rica’s sake, and only for that—she has been through enough this week without losing her mother as well.” Every word came out of him flat, the way a man reads out terms. “You’ll have the whole of it to yourself. The child can come to you whenever she wants, and you may come up to the house when I am not in it. Maria will bring you anything you need.”

She was shaking her head as he said this.

“M-Marcello...”

“But you and I will not be in the same room again. Not at dinner. Not in that corridor. Not anywhere.” And this time he made himself say it to her face, the way he had promised twelve years ago over a plate of dessert, with her hands shaking round the spoon. “I never want to see your face again.”

“P-Please.”

“Now, get out.”

The words had her literally swaying on her feet. “M-Marcello—”

“I said get out, damn you!”

Chisa

I SEND A TEXT MESSAGE to Ana, asking her to please keep an eye on Rica and make sure that her granddaughter doesn’t leave her room while I pack my things.

And when I step out of my room, and I see it’s Maria once again who’s waiting for me, her eyes red-rimmed...

“Oh, signora.”

I know exactly how she feels.

It’s almost funny, really.

I think I’m really this close to laughing hysterically because this is the worst case of déjà vu ever.

As she walks with me to the guesthouse, I’m once again telling her the same thing.

“It’s okay, Maria. It’s okay.”

She shakes her head vehemently. “No. It’s not okay. It’s not.” The older woman mutters the words every so often under her breath, and when we finally make it to the guesthouse, which is located at the back of the property...

“I don’t know what’s wrong with Signor Marcello.”

“There’s nothing wrong with him, Maria.” And I’m saying this with all honesty because I finally realized the truth.

A man who can distrust me so much...can never have loved me at all.

And that’s why, as soon as the door closes behind Maria, I crash to my knees, and I’m crying.

I can’t seem to stop crying.

Because even though Ana has suddenly come rushing in, and her face crumples at the sight of me...

“Maria told me to come here.”

I know I should be strong for Rica, and that’s why I hate how I can’t seem to stop crying.

“Oh, cara.”