Erica
As I pulled up to my house, I was puzzled to see Lorenzo’s car parked out front. What is he doing
here? We hadn’t made any plans to meet. I took a deep breath and headed inside, preparing
myself for whatever awaits.
When I opened the door, Lorenzo was standing in the entryway. “Erica! There you are,” he said ,
rushing over to me and wrapping me in a tight hug. I hugged him back, but it felt more like a
formality than a genuine embrace. Something felt off.
I glanced around the living room and noticed the kids weren’t bouncing around excitedly like they
normally do. In fact, they were seated quietly on the couch, barely acknowledging our presence.
That was strange
“Is everything okay?” I asked looking between Lorenzo and the kids.
“Everything’s fine,” Lorenzo assured me, but there was an edge to his voice that made me doubt
his words. “I just wanted to see you. I was disturbed about how you sounded on the phone some
days back. Is that a problem?”
“No, of course not,” I said quickly, not wanting to upset him. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. Come
on, let’s go have dinner.”
We headed to the kitchen and I started pulling together a simple meal. Lorenzo hovered close
beside me the entire time, his hand grazing my back or arm every few minutes. I couldn’t help
but feel a bit uncomfortable by his constant need for physical contact. It’s not like him.
As we ate, Lorenzo was practically glued to my side, his knee brushing against mine under the
table. The kids pick at their food, barely speaking. I tried to make conversation, but it feels
strained and forced.
After dinner, Lorenzo insists on helping me put the kids to bed. As we tucked Ethan in, he gave
Lorenzo a cool, almost hostile look. It’s not the first time Ethan has seemed to dislike Lorenzo, but
tonight it’s particularly pronounced.
Once the kids were asleep, I stepped out of the room, expecting Lorenzo to follow. Instead, he
lingers behind, and I hear him trying to engage Ethan in conversation. I can’t make out the words,
but Ethan’s tone is clipped and dismissive.
I wait for Lorenzo in the hallway, and as soon as he emerges, he pulls me close and presses his
lips to mine. I’m caught off guard by the sudden intensity of his kiss, and for a moment I find
myself responding. But then I remember where we are and gently push him away.
“Lorenzo, not here,” I whisper. “The kids are just down the hall.”
“Sorry, I couldn’t help myself,” he murmurs, his hands sliding down to my waist. “I’ve missed you
so much, Erica.”
“I’ve missed you too,” I admit, but we need to be careful. You know I’m not ready for… that… yet.”
He nods, his eyes searching mine. “I understand. I just… I can’t wait to marry you, you know? I
want us to be together, properly.”
I smile and give his hand a squeeze. “Soon, I promise. But for now, let’s just enjoy being together,
okay?”
He seems to accept that, and we head to the living room to relax for the evening. As we settle
onto the couch, Lorenzo pulls me close, draping an arm around my shoulders. I have to resist the
urge to squirm away – his touch feels almost suffocating tonight.
We chat idly for a while, but my mind keeps drifting back to Dante and the meeting I have with
him tomorrow. I haven’t told Lorenzo about my arrangement with Dante, and I’m not sure how
he would react if he knew. I decide it’s best to keep that information to myself for now.
Eventually, Lorenzo yawns and suggests we head to bed. I agree, eager to put some space
between us. As we get ready for bed, Lorenzo showers first. When he emerges, he immediately
pulls me into his arms, kissing me deeply.
I kiss him back, but I can’t ignore the nagging feeling that something isn’t right. Lorenzo is usually
so gentle and tender with me, but tonight there’s an edge of desperation to his touch. I pull away,
searching his face.
“Lorenzo, is everything okay? You’ve been… different tonight.”
He gives me a reassuring smile. “Everything’s fine, mi amor. I just… I’m so happy to be here with
you, that’s all. I can’t wait to start our life together.”
I nod, not fully convinced, but I don’t want to press the issue. Instead, I change into my pajamas
and climb into bed beside him. Lorenzo immediately wraps me in his arms, spooning me from
behind. I try to relax and enjoy the closeness, but I can’t shake the feeling that something is off.
The next morning, I’m awakened by the smell of breakfast wafting in from the kitchen. I smile,
assuming Lorenzo has surprised me with a romantic breakfast in bed. But when I open my eyes,
I’m shocked to see that the tray of food is on the floor, spilled across the carpet.
“Oh no!” I exclaim, scrambling out of bed. “What happened?”
Lorenzo emerges from the bathroom, a towel wrapped around his waist. “Erica, what’s wrong?”
“The breakfast, it’s all over the floor!” I say, surveying the mess. “I must have knocked it over
when I got up.”
“Don’t worry about it,” he says, waving a dismissive hand. “I’ll clean it up. Are you alright?”
“I’m fine, I just… I didn’t realize what time it was. I have a meeting with Dante this morning and
I’m running late.”
Lorenzo’s expression darkens slightly at the mention of Dante’s name, but he quickly smooths it
over. “Ah, I see. Well, don’t let me keep you. Go, do what you need to do.”
I give him a quick kiss on the cheek and hurry to get ready, instructing the nanny, Clarissa, on
what to do with the kids while I’m gone. As I rush out the door, I can’t help but feel a twinge of
guilt for leaving Lorenzo behind. But I push that aside, focusing on the task at hand.
When I arrive at Dante’s office, he greets me with his usual charming smile. “Erica, so good to see
you. Come in, come in.”
I take a seat across from him, trying to ignore the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach.
“Dante, I need to talk to you. This needs to be our last meeting.”
His brow furrows. “What do you mean? We still have work to do.”
I sigh, running a hand through my hair. “I know, but… things are changing. Lorenzo and I are
getting married soon, and I can’t keep coming here behind his back. It’s not right, the only reason
I am here in your office is because I want you to understand this.”
Dante leans back in his chair, his expression unreadable. “I see and what about the Gem? You
still haven’t helped me hide it.”
I sigh, feeling the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “I know, Dante. But I can’t do this
anymore. I have to put my family first.”
“I’m afraid that’s not an option, Erica,” he says, his voice hardening. “You made a deal with me,
and I expect you to uphold your end of the bargain.”
I open my mouth to protest, but the look in his eyes stops me. There’s a dangerous edge to him
that I’ve never seen before, and it sends a shiver down my spine.
“Fine,” I relent, my shoulders slumping in defeat. “I’ll keep meeting with you. But I need to be
honest with Lorenzo about all of this. He deserves to know the truth.”
Dante shakes his head firmly. “Absolutely not. You are not to breathe a word of this to Lorenzo,
do you understand? If he finds out, it could ruin everything.”
I stare at him, my anger rising. “You can’t tell me what to do, Dante. This is my life, my family. I’ll
do what I think is best.”
“I’m warning you, Erica,” he says, his voice low and menacing. “If you tell Lorenzo, there will be
consequences. Severe consequences.”
I swallow hard, feeling a knot of fear forming in the pit of my stomach. I’ve never seen this side of
Dante before, and it terrifies me. Reluctantly, I nod. “Okay, fine. I won’t tell him. But this is the
last time, Dante. After this, I’m done.”
He regards me for a long moment, then nods. “Very well. We’ll meet again tomorrow. Don’t be
late.”
With that, he dismisses me, and I hurry out of his office, my heart pounding in my chest. I can’t
believe I’ve let myself get into this mess. What have I done?
As I drive home, I try to push the meeting with Dante out of my mind and focus on Lorenzo and
the kids but the weight of the secret I’m carrying feels like a heavy burden on my shoulders. I
know I need to tell Lorenzo the truth, but the thought of how he might react terrifies me.
When I walk through the door, Lorenzo is waiting for me. “Erica! There you are. I was starting to
worry.”
I force a smile, trying to act casual. “Sorry, the meeting ran a little longer than I expected. But I’m
here now.”
He pulls me into a hug, and I can’t help but stiffen slightly at his touch. “I missed you,” he
murmurs, his lips brushing my cheek.
“I missed you too,” I say, though the words feel hollow. I pull back, needing some space. “How
were the kids?”
“They were great,” he says, though there’s a hint of uncertainty in his voice. “Clarissa took good
care of them.”
I nod, relieved to hear that. “Good, good. I’m going to go check on them.”
As I head upstairs, I can feel Lorenzo’s eyes on me, and I know he can sense that something is off
but I can’t bring myself to tell him the truth, not yet. I need to figure out how to handle this
situation with Dante first.
When I peek in on the kids, they’re fast asleep, curled up in their beds. I smile, my heart swelling
with love, these are the people who matter most to me, and I’ll do whatever it takes to protect
them.