a small cosmetics bag.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?” she said as she brushed by me without meeting my eyes.
“Okay.” My voice was wooden. I felt numb.
She went to the nightstand and grabbed her book, then headed for the door.
“Bianca, wait.”
She turned slowly, like she was reluctant to look at me. “What?” she whispered.
“This is what you want?” I asked. “You’re sure?”
“I’m sure.” Her expression was a mixture of fear and sadness, and I didn’t have the heart to make it worse.
“Can you—can you let me know when you get there?”
“Yes.” Tears filled her eyes again. “I’m really sorry, Enzo. But it’s for the best. Please trust me.”
Then she was gone.
Half an hour later, I was still sitting on the edge of the bed, drinking shitty wine and trying to tell myself she was right and this was for the best, when my phone vibrated. I looked at the screen. Usually seeing the name I’d entered for her in my contacts made me smile, but not tonight.
Old Ball and Chain: I’m home.
No, you’re not, I felt like arguing. But what would be the point?
Me: Thank you.
That was it.
No further words were exchanged between us, despite the fact that we were married, and barely an hour ago we’d been lying here drinking strawberry wine and celebrating our anniversary.
Exhaling, I took the tray downstairs, dumped out the bottle, put the wine glasses in the sink and the heart-shaped chocolate box in the trash.
Back upstairs, I undressed and went into the bathroom, where I saw the diamond earrings I’d given Bianca on our wedding day. They were back in the box, which she’d left open, sitting on the vanity.
Right next to her wedding ring.
The sight made my chest feel like it was caving in. My throat closed.
A few minutes later, I turned off the lights and got in bed. I lay there in the dark, the house strangely silent and lonely as fuck. I could still smell her. Without thinking, I took her pillow and covered my face with it, inhaling deeply.
What the hell had gone wrong? And why was I so upset about it? I hadn’t wanted to be married to her in the first place—or to anyone. All I’d wanted was to run Moretti & Sons, and now I did. The papers were signed. My dad was retiring. And even if he was a jerk about Bianca leaving and changed his mind, fuck it—Bianca was right. I could always leave Pietro to run Moretti & Sons and start my own company. I didn’t need to prove anything to anyone.
And I could still have kids someday. Hell, men could have kids into their seventies, couldn’t they? Maybe it wasn’t fair, but that’s the way it was.
Angry and sad, I turned onto my side and hugged her pillow the way I’d gotten used to holding her at night. My heart felt like someone was standing on it.
But it was done.
I’d tried my best, like she’d said. I’d tried and I’d failed, and now she wanted out.
Best to let her go.
Sixteen
Bianca
I knocked on the door of my old condo just before ten, but there was no answer. I realized JJ was probably out—it was Friday night, after all—and let myself in with the key I still had on my ring.
Shutting the door behind me, I took a deep breath, glad to discover my place did not smell like a locker room. It actually smelled sort of like my parents’ house—like lemon furniture polish and fabric softener.
I peeked into my old bedroom, which did smell more like a locker room, wrinkled my nose at the clothes thrown everywhere and the unmade bed, and backed out again.
In my old office, I pulled out the sofa bed and made it up, then brushed my teeth, happy to note that the hallway bathroom was actually clean and freshly laundered hand towels were stacked in the cupboard.
Back in my office, I took a minute to glance at all the photos on my shelf, reminding myself that I still had family and friends. I still had places and memories I loved. In a way, I still had Enzo too—at least, I hoped I did. I couldn’t bear the thought of never seeing him again, although I might have to avoid him for a while, at least until my heart didn’t feel so exposed and vulnerable. I needed some time to build those walls back up.
I dug through the small overnight bag I’d hastily packed in the guest room at Enzo’s and