Chapter 68
Elodie’s POV
I was rubbing my temples, trying to figure out how to tell Liora I couldn’t come, when she spoke again.
“Daddy’s on a business trip, so it’s just me and Sabina here. I’m so lonely, Mommy. Please come home soon p>
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 me anymore.
But knowing he wouldn’t be there… knowing I wouldn’t have to see him, smell Sienna’s perfume on his clothes, watch him look right through me p>
It made the decision easier.
“Okay,” I heard myself say. “I’ll come back in a little while p>
“Really? Yay! Thank you, Mommy p>
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 some game 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 home, if things had been different.
On Friday morning, my grandmother called.
“Elodie, come for dinner tonight. I haven’t seen you in weeks p>
Guilt twisted in my stomach. “Of course, Grandma. I’ll be there p>
“Good. And bring Liora if you can. I miss that child p>
So that evening, I packed a bag for both of us and drove to Miller Pack territory.
The house looked the same 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 p>
Liora ran to her, and they hugged like they hadn’t seen each other in years.So it was just the three of us, me, Grandma, and Liora. No other person was home. It was… Peaceful.
We stayed the night, and the next morning I woke up early to make hand pies, the way Grandma had taught me when I was little.
She sat at the kitchen table, watching me 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 p>
I smiled, even though it hurt. “Cooking helps me relax. I like it p>
It was partially true. Cooking gave me something to do with my hands. Something 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 time I saw you p>
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 message 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 somewhere fun?
The clothes slipped from my hands.
Sienna?
Messaging 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 came back upstairs, Liora was already sitting on the bed with her tablet, but the second she saw me, she tilted the screen away.
Hiding it.
My chest tightened, but I kept my face neutral. “The pies are ready. Come down for breakfast p>
Her whole face lit up. “Really? I haven’t had your pies in forever!” She bounced off the bed. “Yay p>
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 p>
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 home tonight. I should go back and have dinner with him p>
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 p>
Liora nodded eagerly, playing the part perfectly.
And I just sat there, knowing the truth.
Dante wasn’t coming home tonight. Liora wanted to leave so she could see Sienna.
She was lying to her great-grandmother. To me. To everyone.
Because she’d rather spend time with Sienna than stay here.
I should’ve called her out. Should’ve said something. 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 someone else over me.
“It’s fine,” I said, forcing my voice to stay steady. “I’ll stay here and keep Grandma company p>
Grandma turned to me, surprised. “You’re not going back with her p>
“No. I have some things to take care of here p>
It was a weak excuse, and we both knew it. What kind of wife stays at her grandmother’s house when her husband comes back from a business trip?
But Grandma had never approved of my marriage to Dante. Had never understood why I’d tied myself to someone who treated me 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 p>
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 time 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 home, 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 p>
“But p>
“Really. It’s fine p>
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 someone 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 came back into the kitchen, watching me scrub the same plate for the third time.
“Elodie,” she said gently. “What’s going on p>
“Nothing.” I set the plate down and reached for another. “Everything’s fine p>
“You didn’t even say goodbye to her p>