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...”

Allegra. Why did 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

family hated her for so long, that they didn’t

been at her wedding. Only Charles Redford had been there for her, on the day that was supposed to be the most important day of her

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

the door all the way and

in,” she told

so her reaction, must

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

Allegra,” she told her as she sat down on

was screaming for her to just stay in bed. Not to move, not to go out, not to talk. Instead, she stared at Allegra, who seemed

began to cry as she sat down beside her. “I married a thief and a cheater! He got her pregnant and

matter what her sister and

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

back. Allegra laid her head on her

“I was stupid...”

a woman in love, an inspiring wife and a perfect mother. That’s what you were. His infidelity? It’s not your responsibility! It’s not your burden! You can’t

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 you how you are and what you need, I came

started pacing around the room. Melody wanted to stop her, but she looked like a ticking time bomb, something that was

called out to her, but Allegra paid

Along with that woman they stole those three million... And he blamed you!” she vociferated angrily. “You! And I am the worst. Me, who

in front of their eyes, not because

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

gone. She

yet she preferred to walk away from

her older sister approached her again, this time, knelt

I stopped feeling bad about those things a long time ago,”

for me. I don’t deserve it. You are all that is

being here, that

with Timothy. He seemed like a good man, and more than anything, he loved

legs up, she hugged her knees. Her sister sat down next to her on the

Equilay’s theft, he let him go

to tell her sister how wrong she was, for doing so, would mean she had to tell her about the sham marriage and the inheritance Timothy

were simply not

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

judgment of people can’t be taken too much seriously, Allegra,” it was a cheap shot, and she knew it. But her sister wasn’t one to tell

her sister was right, as much as she wanted to listen to her without looking at her as the one who turned her back on her, she couldn’t. She kept seeing her as the one who believed her husband,

looked down at

you doubt loves you, he loves you like you obviously love him,” she smiled, though the gesture didn’t reach her tired eyes. “He was the