Page 77 of Own Me

Why did her mouth keep getting her into trouble? How could she be so stupid and careless as to call Boston's queen awitchto her face, which was what'strega'translated to in English?

Ysabel was ready to be punished on the spot, but the older woman merely cackled while her companion only shook her head.

"SignoraMarchetti actually takes pride in being calledLa Strega,so please do not worry about it,signorina."

Ysabel could only smile weakly, not knowing exactly how to respond. On one hand, it was nice to know that she had not inadvertently insulted Massimo's grandmother. But on the other hand, finding out thatLa Stregatook pride in being called a 'witch' only made her more formidable in Ysabel's eyes...and just as with mostfamigliabusiness, she wasn't quite sure if that was a good thing or not.

"My assistant speaks the truth, Ysabel. I am not easily offended if that's what you are worried about." The older woman's gaze then turned cunning. "But perhaps I'm wrong, and you are worried about something else? Maybe you are wondering why I chose you over your sister?"

"I know it's not my place to ask—-"

"But it bothers you all the same,sì?"

"I feel guilty—-"

"And that is quite remarkable of you," Potenziana said archly, "considering how your own flesh and blood has stolen my grandson from you five years ago."

Ysabel jerked in her seat.Stolen?

"It is unfortunate that I was only made aware of this recently. I would have rectified the situation immediately if I had known—-"

Ysabel shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand what you're saying,signora."

"Five years ago, Massimo met a girl on Halloween night. He believes that girl...is your sister."

Pain ripped through Ysabel at the older woman's words. There was a part of her that had always suspected this, but she had never allowed such doubts to take root.

"How?" Ysabel whispered.

"I'm afraid that's where I come in,signorina." It was Cattleya who spoke, and her calm voice was now tinged with regret. "I was at Mammina's a few months ago—-"

"During my shift?"

"Sì."

Her brows furrowed. "But I would've remembered..."

"I have this talent, sometimes a curse, of being really good at blending in." A slight smile touched the other girl's lips, and Ysabel couldn't help but blink as that one smile immediately transformed Cattleya's otherwise serious features into one of quiet charm.

"If you smiled like that more," Ysabel couldn't help saying, "I don't think there's any chance you'd be lost in a crowd."

Cattleya's cheeks turned pink at Ysabel's words, but the blush also gifted Potenziana's young assistant with a radiantly lovely appearance.

Grazie a Dio! Thank God!

Potenziana could now admit to herself that she still had faint stirrings of doubt about her choice, but all of those had immediately been vanquished by the simple exchange of words between Ysabel and Cattleya.

Ysabel's sister had also met Cattleya several times in the past, but Ynez had never taken the time to talk to the other girl, much less notice how Cattleya's quiet demeanor made her presence unobtrusive. In Ynez's eyes, Cattleya was paid help, and thus unworthy of her attention.

Ysabel, however...

This girl was different. This girl had a sense of warmth and empathy that women like Ynez and Massimo's mother patently lacked, and it was those qualities that made Ysabel the perfect match for her grandson.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop in your conversation," Cattleya was saying apologetically, "but I just couldn't get it out of my mind when I heard you mention attending the Marchettis' Halloween event five years ago. It is not something Signor Massimo ever spoke of in public, but the whole family knows of how he had first met Ynez in that same event."

"When Cattleya told me about this—-" It wasLa Streganow who was speaking. "I decided to investigate the matter myself, andit quickly became evident that your sister has somehow found a way to deceive my grandson about that night. But what gives me absolutely no pleasure to tell you is that she has also made every effort to poison Massimo's mind againstyou."

The silence that followed was strained, and Potenziana could see how Ysabel was struggling to find a way to justify her sister's actions to herself.

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