“Stella?”
I suck in a breath when my mom walks up the same pebbled path we just walked, the mere sight of her bringing tears to my eyes.
“Mom?”
STELLA
I immediately bolt toward her,overwhelmed with joy, and I wrap my arms around her to hug her so tightly until we can barely breathe. “I can’t believe you’re here.”
“Oh, honey,” she says. “I’m so happy you’re safe. I was so worried about you.”
“How are you even here?” I mutter.
“Some guy came to my door, told me to come with him if I wanted to see my daughter. Of course, I immediately grabbed my bag and left with him. I needed to see you.”
I pull away just to look at her, and she wraps her hands around my face, squeezing my cheeks. “Are you okay? Is he treating you well?”
I smile. “Yes, better than I could have hoped. Better than Lucio would have treated me.”
She swallows. “That monster over there nearly got you killed.”
I place my hands over hers. “He’s not a monster, Mom.”
“Does he hurt you?” she asks.
I shake my head vigorously. “No. Never. He doesn’t even dare to touch me.”
“Good.”
I look her up and down. “And you? Are you hurt?”
“No, I’m fine. I just fainted during the wedding because I was in shock.”
“When Matteo’s men came in to steal me away, I couldn’t get to you in time. Matteo dragged me away from there, and there was no time to speak to anyone, let alone say goodbye—”
She shushes me. “It’s okay, honey. I’m okay. Lucio just threatened me. Said he’d destroy our family if I didn’t bring you back. Like I could ever.”
She glances over my shoulder at Matteo, who is still kneeling at his mother’s grave. “So that’s your husband now.”
“It’s not what it looks like.”
“Yeah, well, to me it looks like he forced you to marry him.”
“I know, but Lucio was about to do the same thing.” The thought of kissing that man ever again makes bile rise in my throat. “Lucio just wanted me to get Father’s money,” I say, swallowing back the fear of telling my mother something so crucial it could hurt her if she knew, but I haveto trust her.
“Oh honey, why didn’t you tell me sooner?” she says.
“Because I didn’t want you to get hurt,” I reply.
She hugs me again and coughs a few times. “You don’t ever have to worry about me. I’m your mother. I can take care of myself. I worry about you. I should have protected you from him.”
I cry into her shoulders. “I’m sorry, Mom.”
She rubs my back, and we stand there for a moment, just taking it all in. I’m so happy she’s safe and that I’m back in her arms.
She pulls away again. “Tell me if I need to do anything. I will rescue you out of this situation myself if I must.”
I love her. “No, Mom, it’s fine. Matteo’s treating me well. It’s just that Lucio never stops trying to get to us.”
