49

ALESSANDRO

No, I didn’t believe she was forced at all.

We approached my property, and I sensed that Lorena was tense.

In fact, she was so tense, I feared she’d snap in half. The moment the car came to a halt, my Zia was at the entrance, eagerness and restlessness all over him.

I exited the car and extended my hand to help my wife who held onto her son for dear life. She ignored my hand and exited.

“Lorena, welcome.” It was hard to miss the happiness in my aunt’s voice. She gave me a nod, his face lit up like a Christmas tree. “Mia cara.”

I watched my wife in shock and disbelief. Her eyes glimmered and her lower lip trembled, as if she would burst into tears at any moment.

She would have been perfectly happy to kill me and not look back, but emotions reflected in her eyes as she looked at my aunt.

“Hello, Mrs Moravia.” Her voice shook as she greeted him.

“No, no.” I stared at my aunt who beamed excitedly and suddenly shed five years off his features. “No Zia si?”