Page 58 of Lust and Honor

She turns as I approach, and a warm smile spreads across her face. Unlike her husband, who’s about as warm as a marble statue, Emily radiates kindness and a sense of calm that feels almost holy. She sets down her glass of red wine and reaches out her hand. I take it with a soft greeting.

She gives me a once-over and smiles. “You look stunning, Ava.”

I thank her, silently grateful for the expensive black dress hugging my body in all the right places, ridiculously expensive and apparently worth every cent. I return the compliment with a smile, and she turns to the woman beside her.

“This is Ava, Aurora’s mother,” she says. “And this is Bianca, Paolo’s wife. Paolo’s one of Carlo’s business associates.”

Bianca looks like she’s in her early forties, with elegant features sharp enough to turn heads. She’s dressed in a long turquoise gown, her jet-black hair styled into an elegant updo. She greets me warmly, asks about Aurora with genuine warmth, then politely excuses herself to join another table.

Emily takes my hand and leads me to her table. As we move between groups, I feel the weight of curious eyes on me. I don’t return anyone’s gaze. We arrive at a round table where Maxim, Carlo, and three other men are deep in conversation. Carlo acknowledges my greeting with a brief nod and goes back to speaking with Maxim.

Of the others, I only recognize Brando, Carlo’s brother. A handsome blond man who once showed up at the house unannounced, saying he wanted to meet Maxim’s daughter.

Emily signals a server to fill my glass. She lightly clinks her glass against mine and takes a slow sip.

I turn my head and feel the piercing stares of several women fixed on me. Maxim’s warning has put my mind on high alert, and I’m bracing for a potential confrontation at any moment.

Emily sets her glass on the table. “Why do you look so tense?”

“Maxim warned me about some of the women here. I keep expecting one of his lovers to come at me,” I answer honestly.

She gives me a poised smile and lowers her voice. “As long as you’re with me, You don’t need to be scared of anyone. No one here would dare mess with me.”

I let my gratitude color my tone. “Thank you, Emily.”

Glancing discreetly around, I ask, “How many women here do you think Maxim’s been with?”

Her voice takes on a playful, mischievous tone. “Take a guess!”

A mix of disappointment and jealousy surges through my veins. I sigh. “It’s not hard to guess.”

Carlo’s deep in conversation with Maxim, but every few moments, he glances at us, then at his sons.

Another wave of excited squeals erupts from the kids’ area. I turn and see Disney princesses entering one by one, making the kids lose their minds. Parents rush over to snap photos of their kids, and Emily and I join the crowd.

After the cake is cut, signaling the end of the formalities, fathers start dancing with their daughters and mothers with their sons.

Maxim kneels in front of Aurora, extending his hand. “May I have this dance, my beautiful lady?”

Aurora takes his hand, beaming as she says, “Yes, Daddy!”

He scoops her into his arms, and they head to the dance floor. I watch my daughter’s joyful face with a smile when a voice beside me says, “You have a beautiful daughter.”

I turn to see the woman speaking, and she’s stunning. Even animated Elsa would pale in comparison. Beside her stands a younger woman with vivid emerald eyes and glossy black hair.

“Thank you. That’s kind of you.”

She extends her hand and introduces herself. “I’m Viola. This is my cousin, Marta.”

I shake her hand gently. “Nice to meet you. I’m Ava.”

My brain starts doing the math. If they’re cousins, the odds of Maxim having slept with both are lower. Because if he had, they’d probably be at each other’s throats right now. Now I just need to wait and see which one turns out to be the heartbroken ex.

Marta gestures toward my hair. “You’re not pure Italian, are you?”

There’s nothing wrong with her question, but the tone? It makes me suspect she’s one of Maxim’s scorned lovers.

I keep my smile steady. “I was born and raised in Italy.”