Page 216 of My Italian Love Affair

His tone is maddeningly innocent.

"Mark. He’s been fired. Did you -"

"Make a few calls?" Matteo interrupts, his voice turningsmooth and confident. "Sì."

I grip my phone tighter, my heart racing.

"How?"

He exhales slowly. "It’s like I said. I know people. A few journalists who were already suspicious about his bylines, a friend who works in the legal department of a rival network - and, of course, Richard."

"You called Richard?"

"Not directly," Matteo says. "But I might’ve given some helpful information to someone whodid." His voice softens. "I told you, Daphne. I wasn’t going to let him get away with it. Not after what he did to you."

Emotion surges in my chest.

It’s not just the gesture, it’s how quickly he’s made this all happen.

It’s almostinsane.

For the past two months, I’ve been dealing with Mark Chapman’s bullshit; and in under forty-eight hours, Matteo Rossi has made it all go away as though it’s nothing at all.

"I don't know what to say," I admit.

"You don't have to say anything," Matteo replies. "You just have to be happy, now. He's gone. He can't upset you anymore."

I cover my mouth with my hand, blinking back tears I didn't expect.

Gone.

Mark isgone.

"Thank you," I whisper. "I’m so - I mean it, Matteo.Thank you."

There’s a pause on the line.

Then his voice comes through, warm and reassuring.

"Always."

We end the call, and I hover there for several more minutes, the weight of everything sinking in as I stare blankly out of the window and out onto the bustling streets below.

The fear, the humiliation, the constant dread of what Mark might say or do next - it's all over.

The dark cloud that's hovered over my time here in Rome has finally lifted.

I glance toward his empty office one last time and inhale deeply.

I'm still here. He isn't.

And I’ve never felt more victorious.

Chapter Fifty-Three

Daphne

The train ride to Matteo’s is smooth and uneventful, but I spend the entire journey with nervous energy thrumming through my veins.

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