Elodie’s POV
I was rubbing my temples, trying to figure out how to tell Liora I couldn’t co, when she spoke again.
“Daddy’s on a business trip, so it’s just and Sabina here. I’m so lonely, Mommy. Please co ho soon?”
Dante was on a business trip?
I paused, my hand stilling against my forehead.
It shouldn’t have mattered. I was going to divorce him anyway. His schedule, his whereabouts, none of it should’ve concerned anymore.
But knowing he wouldn’t be there... knowing I wouldn’t have to see him, sll Sienna’s perfu on his clothes, watch him look right through ...
It made the decision easier.
“Okay,” I heard myself say. “I’ll co back in a little while.”
“Really? Yay! Thank you, Mommy!”
The joy in her voice made my chest ache.
-----
That night, I made Liora’s favorite, sweet and sour ribs and a soup I knew she loved. She ate like she’d been starving, talking nonstop about school and her friends and so ga she wanted to play.
I stayed. One night turned into two.
It was easier without Dante there. The house felt less suffocating. Less like a prison.
Almost like it could’ve been ho, if things had been different.
On Friday morning, my grandmother called.
“Elodie, co for dinner tonight. I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
Guilt twisted in my stomach. “Of course, Grandma. I’ll be there.”
“Good. And bring Liora if you can. I miss that child.”
So that evening, I packed a bag for both of us and drove to Miller Pack territory.
The house looked the sa as always. Modest, warm, nothing like the Bellini estate’s cold grandeur. My grandmother was waiting on the porch, and the second she saw Liora, her whole face lit up.
“Oh, my sweet girl! You’re back from your trip!”
Liora ran to her, and they hugged like they hadn’t seen each other in years.So it was just the three of us, , Grandma, and Liora. No other person was ho. It was... Peaceful.
We stayed the night, and the next morning I woke up early to make hand pies, the way Grandma had taught when I was little.
She sat at the kitchen table, watching work, and I could feel her gaze, nostalgic, a little sad.
“You never used to cook,” she said finally. “Before you got married, you couldn’t even boil water without burning it.”
I smiled, even though it hurt. “Cooking helps relax. I like it.”
It was partially true. Cooking gave sothing to do with my hands. Sothing to focus on besides the constant ache in my chest.
Grandma reached over and squeezed my hand. “You’ve gained a little weight. That’s good. You were too thin last ti I saw you.”
I’d been too thin because I’d been barely eating. Too anxious, too miserable, too trapped to have an appetite.
But I didn’t say that.
We talked for a while, small talk, mostly. Safe topics. Nothing about Dante or the divorce or how my life was falling apart.
Eventually, I excused myself and went upstairs to check on Liora.
She was already awake, brushing her teeth in the bathroom.
I started tidying up the clothes she’d thrown on the floor last night, gathering them to take downstairs to the wash.
That’s when her tablet lit up on the nightstand.
A ssage notification.
I glanced at it without thinking and froze.
Sienna: Is little Liora awake? I’ll be back this afternoon. Let’s have dinner together tonight! And tomorrow, how about I take you sowhere fun?
The clothes slipped from my hands.
Sienna?
ssaging my daughter. Making plans with her.
She would be back this afternoon.
Back from where? From wherever Dante’s business trip had taken him?
Had they been together?
My stomach twisted violently.
When I ca back upstairs, Liora was already sitting on the bed with her tablet, but the second she saw , she tilted the screen away.
Hiding it.
My chest tightened, but I kept my face neutral. “The pies are ready. Co down for breakfast.”
Her whole face lit up. “Really? I haven’t had your pies in forever!” She bounced off the bed. “Yay!”
At least that still made her happy. At least I could still do that much.
-----
Downstairs, Grandma was already at the table, smiling as Liora settled into her chair.
“What would you like for dinner tonight, sweetheart?” Grandma asked. “I’ll have the cook make whatever you want.”
Liora hesitated, and I saw it, that flicker of guilt in her eyes before she turned to Grandma with a practiced smile.
“Actually, Grandma, Daddy’s coming ho tonight. I should go back and have dinner with him.”
The lie was so smooth. So easy.
My hands stilled on my coffee cup.
Grandma looked disappointed but nodded. “Oh, I see. Well, I suppose you do miss your father. It’s been a while since you’ve seen him.”
Liora nodded eagerly, playing the part perfectly.
And I just sat there, knowing the truth.
Dante wasn’t coming ho tonight. Liora wanted to leave so she could see Sienna.
She was lying to her great-grandmother. To . To everyone.
Because she’d rather spend ti with Sienna than stay here.
I should’ve called her out. Should’ve said sothing. But what was the point?
She’d just deny it. Or get defensive. Or worse, she’d admit it, and I’d have to sit there and accept that my daughter was choosing soone else over .
“It’s fine,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’ll stay here and keep Grandma company.”
Grandma turned to , surprised. “You’re not going back with her?”
“No. I have so things to take care of here.”
It was a weak excuse, and we both knew it. What kind of wife stays at her grandmother’s house when her husband cos back from a business trip?
But Grandma had never approved of my marriage to Dante. Had never understood why I’d tied myself to soone who treated like an inconvenience.
So she just smiled and patted my hand. “Alright, dear. I’m glad you’re staying. It’s been too quiet here without you.”
Across the table, Liora visibly relaxed.
She’d been worried I’d insist on going back with her. Worried I’d ruin her plans with Sienna.
The relief on her face felt like a knife twisting in my gut.
-----
When it was ti for Liora to leave, Grandma packed a huge bag of her favorite foods, cookies, pastries, little treats she’d had the cook make specially.
“Here, take this ho, sweetheart,” Grandma said, pressing the bag into Liora’s hands.
But I gently pushed it back. “Leave it for my uncle’s kids, Grandma. They’ll appreciate it more.”
“But—”
“Really. It’s fine.”
I didn’t want Liora bringing any of this back to the Bellini estate. Didn’t want Sienna seeing it and knowing Grandma had made it. Didn’t want to give her any more pieces of my life to claim as her own.
Liora looked confused but didn’t argue.
I called the estate and asked them to send a driver to pick her up. I didn’t offer to take her myself.
Couldn’t.
Because if I got in that car, if I drove her back to that house, I’d see Sienna there. Waiting. Smiling. Ready to take my daughter out for their fun evening together.
And I couldn’t watch that.
I couldn’t stand there and watch my daughter run to soone else.
So I stayed in the kitchen, cleaning up breakfast dishes that didn’t need cleaning, while Grandma walked Liora to the door.
I heard the car pull up. Heard Liora’s excited goodbye. Heard the door close.
And then silence.
Grandma ca back into the kitchen, watching scrub the sa plate for the third ti.
“Elodie,” she said gently. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing.” I set the plate down and reached for another. “Everything’s fine.”
“You didn’t even say goodbye to her.”
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