Page 130 of My Italian Love Affair

I move to stand.

“I work hard. I put in the hours, the time, the research, theeffort. And if Richard is publishing my work, it’s because it’sgood, not because of some fabricated drama that you and everyone else have decided to obsess over."

He raises an eyebrow, looking amused.

"Touched a nerve, did I?"

I don’t respond.

I just grab my bag and storm out.

*

I don't even attempt to complete any more work.

Ican't.

My brain is too clouded with irritation, too filled with frustration at the way my efforts are constantly dismissed, as though everything I’ve achieved is down to some stupid narrative people have latched onto.

So, instead, I write.

And I writea lot.

The words come fast, pouring out of me as I work on my book, finally pushing forwards with the story that has been taking shape in my mind for months,years,even.

It’s cathartic, in a way.

If I can’t control what people think of me, at least I can control the story I create.

By the time the sun starts to dip, I realise I’ve been sitting at my desk for hours. My shoulders ache, my head is foggy, and I need air.

So I reach for a light denim jacket and step out onto the streets of Rome.

The city is alive in the evening glow, and I walk aimlessly, letting the sounds and sights wash over me.

I don’t know how long I wander, but for the first time all day, I finally feel calm.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Daphne

The stadium is buzzing.

Roma have done exactly what they needed to do tonight and delivered a dominant home win that has well and truly wiped away the bitter taste of their last match, and as a result, the energy is entirely different.

Instead of frustration and disappointment, there’s elation.

Relief.

Fans are still chanting as they spill out of the stands, their voices echoing through the concourses, carrying the high of victory with them into the night.

And I’m in a much better mood, too.

Not just because of the win, but because -mercifully- Mark has been nowhere to be found.

A truly stunning development.

I adjust the strap of my bag over my shoulder and check my phone for any new messages one last time before slipping it away.

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