The Italian's proposal

Chapter Twenty-five

Melody

Melody had been in Lucy’s studio for three days when the door rang. Her heart leapt in her chest and she was forced to shake her hands and take a deep breath. She couldn’t lose her composure, she told herself as she walked toward the door. Could it be Timothy? Had he realized that she loved him? Had he finally realized that she left because she didn’t know if he loved her?

She hasn’t heard from him in three days, not a call, not a text message, nothing to say that he was okay, that he moved on with his life. It hurt her soul to think that he continued as if nothing happened, because she was destroyed, desolate and most of all, she was alone.

On several occasions she picked up her cell phone to call him, to tell him that she would go get her things, clothes he bought her, shoes, purses, even clothes for her baby. He left one of her credit cards at her disposal, called the bank and spoke to a representative to authorize her to use it as she pleased. She kept it in her wallet, but she had no desire to call him and let him think she was calling him because she changed her mind.

And she regretted it!

She made a fool of Timothy, alone in the chapel to show his face for her regret and her leaving. He had to talk to her father, to his parents, to the press. God! She was a coward. In every sense of the word, coward, was definitely an understatement.

It wasn’t his fault that she fell in love with him. It wasn’t his fault for making her heart race by having him around. Timothy hadn’t even realized the effect he had on her.

Because even when they made love, when his hands were all over her body, when he gave her the pleasure of feeling her first orgasm, she loved him madly, and in her innocence, she believed that by not repeating that, she could save her heart.

But her heart was already compromised. In love like a stray in the woods. Blind with love for Timothy Giannato.

That’s why she was unconsciously waiting for him to come to the door, to call her, to look for her.

But nothing happened in three days.

Lucy recommended her not to read anything in the press, nor to talk to anyone. Secluded in her studio apartment, she simply cried and drank water, to have liquid in her body so she could continue crying.

She realized that she hurt a good man with her hasty decision, one who helped her and proved that money does not make people bad and ruthless, there are also people with a noble heart, and enough money to help.

She opened the door and her heart stopped beating for a second.

“Allegra. I don’t know what you’re doing here but this is not a good time,” she told her without moving from the door.

She had her pajamas on, a red tank top with little hearts on it, and pants larger than they were normally worn. But she had no desire to get dressed, hadn’t been that way since she returned from her wedding.

Her wedding.

She didn’t want to think about that one, even though it was the only thing she’d done in three days.

“I just saw in the paper that you left your wedding,” her sister was wearing a sky-blue dress and low sandals, her hair was pulled back in a stern ponytail. “Will you let me in, Mel?”

“No,” there was no use listening as Allegra wallowed in her grief.

“Mel...”

you come here? To tell me he’s the one who broke up with me? It’s been a month since you last spoke to me! A month since you preferred your husband to your own sister! It’s not fair for you

been quite unbearable for her to have to face that her whole family hated her for so long, that they didn’t seek her out, that only her

had been there for her, on the day that was supposed to be the most important

her sister whispered and for the first time, Melody noticed Allegra. She looked haggard, thinner, gaunt, dark-eyed, and at that moment, on the verge of bursting into tears. “I’m sorry Mel. I haven’t been having the best month. I’m sorry for not being the sister you deserved,

all the way

in,” she told

so convincingly, so her reaction, must have been as real as

believing you, not... not being with you in this process. You were there throughout my pregnancy, even when you knew nothing about babies, you were with me every

Allegra,” she told her

she was exhausted, she was tired of not leaving the apartment, she had barely eaten in those three days, her body was screaming for her to just stay in bed. Not to move, not to go out, not to

it was mine. I should have been there too! But I didn’t,” Allegra began to cry as she sat down beside her. “I married a thief and a cheater! He got her pregnant and planned the robbery

her sister and mother had acted less than

matter to her that others didn’t have the same way of

stroking her back. Allegra laid her head on her legs

“I was stupid...”

as she caressed her, “you were a woman in love, an inspiring wife and a perfect mother. That’s what you were. His infidelity? It’s not

to me,” she said rising from her legs and looking at her. “I’m sorry...I hate myself, for not listening to you and believing you. And I’m so selfish, that instead of asking

up from the couch and started pacing around the room. Melody wanted to stop her, but she looked like a ticking

to her, but Allegra

you!” she vociferated angrily. “You! And I

in front of their eyes, not because it’s

that she loved him, a whole month of trying to hide her feelings, and

She decided to walk away and not

yet

regret not believing you, not listening to you,” her older sister approached her again, this time, knelt in front of her and held

bad about those things a long time ago,” her eyes were beginning to leak the tears she kept holding

Don’t cry honey. Don’t cry for me. I don’t deserve

being here, that you came. But right now, I’m not the best person to raise

He seemed like a good man, and more than anything,

problem,” she told him dropping her hands and pulling her legs up, she

theft, he let him go free for you, because you

for doing so, would mean she had to tell her about

that were simply not

if you won’t tell me why you think that,” she told her, as with her thumbs she wiped away the tears she quietly had been shedding. “Don’t tell me if you don’t want to. But you must believe me when I tell you that, that man loves you. Maybe he’ s the one who

shot, and she knew

for a long time. Even if your heart doesn’t hate me, even if your mouth says you forgave me, I know for a long time you won’t fully believe what I tell you,” her sister was right, as much as she wanted to listen to her without looking

couch and looked down at her from

love him,” she smiled, though the gesture didn’t reach her tired eyes. “He was the one who asked me