Page 99 of Savage Vows

She looks at me quizzically, and I nod, extending my hand.

Rafe’s voice is professional and warm. I vaguely remember meeting him at the funeral, and I would never have wanted to see him again under those embarrassing circumstances. I’m slightly humiliated by the whole thing. The owner of the corporation had to stop my husband from behaving like an asshat.

“Sorry for the interruption, Mrs. Moretti. I wanted to let you know all is well and that you won’t be bothered the rest of the night.”

I’m not sure how they pulled that off, but I’m grateful.

“I apologize that Matteo was able to bypass our security measures.”

Me being on a different continent barely slowed him down. A determined Matteo is a force of nature. I’m just surprised that he wasn’t able to drag me with him a second time.

“For your inconvenience, I’m offering you a complimentary week’s stay at this hotel or any other in the chain. I’ll email you the information, if that’s okay?”

“Wonderful. Thank you.” A free week? When Bella said free stay, I thought they were comping tonight’s room. But frankly, I’m surprised he didn’t kick me out for being such a problem guest.

“If there’s anything else I can do for you, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’ll include my personal cell phone number in the email. Sorry again for your inconvenience.”

He ends the call, and I look at the phone for a second, shocked.

“Matteo acts like a fool, and I get a free week’s stay?”

“A week?” she echoes. “Good. Stay here. Eat all the chocolates and macarons that you can stuff in your face while you sketch and drink the best bubbly in the universe.”

I can’t help but laugh at her. Being with Bella was exactly what I needed. And still, things hadn’t gone the way I hoped. “I’m so sorry he ruined our girls’ night.”

She scoffs. “His behavior was the reason we needed the outing in the first place.”

“True.” With a small shrug, I finish the chocolate.

“Never apologize for the way your husband acts. The Moretti men are a lot to handle.” Her expression kind, she leans forward. “You’ve been dancing around this topic all evening.”

That had been on purpose. I needed to distract myself and not let thoughts of him consume me like they have been day in and day out since the day we got married.

“Tell me everything.”

Not wanting to be disloyal or add to the family stress, I’ve been keeping things to myself. But I feel like a dam is breaking, and I’m afraid I can’t stop the flood.

“You know I never wanted this, Bella. I mean, I knew what my family was like—what this life demanded—but I thought…” I take a breath. “I thought maybe I could be different.” That the way we started would be the way we’d go on.

Bella doesn’t interrupt, and she keeps looking at me encouragingly.

“But Matteo…” How do I explain something I have trouble understanding? “He’s not just a shadow; he’s an eclipse.Everything he touches, he consumes. At first, it was intoxicating—how could it not be? He wanted me badly enough to chase me to England. He’s powerful, magnetic. But now…”

I trail off, staring at the plate of macarons from the bakery in the hotel’s lobby. Then unthinkingly I pick up another chocolate. “Now it feels like I don’t exist anymore. Like I’m just…furniture in his world.”

“You?” Bella shakes her head and reaches for a soft green pistachio macaron. “You? Furniture? Please. You’re not some pretty lamp, Alessia. You’re the whole goddamn power grid.”

Her attempt at humor coaxes a small smile from me, but it fades quickly. “He left love out of the vows, Bella. Did you realize that?” She had to have noticed. “He looked me in the eye and promised loyalty, duty, and protection—but love? That wasn’t even on the table.”

Bella chews slowly, her brow furrowing. “Everything has been kind of a blur.”

“It has.” In frustration, I shove my hand into my hair.

“You’re angry,” Bella guesses, reaching forward to refill my flute with champagne—from a bottle whose price tag had included a comma.

I protested the price, and she shook her head and told me,“It’s worth every penny. And if your husband kept you happy, we wouldn’t be here in the first place.”

I take the glass but don’t drink. Instead I trace the rim with my finger, the motion grounding me.

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