Of course he didn’t.
I nodded.
“Go.”
Renzo gave me one last long look—concern etched into the fine lines around his eyes, something almost protective lingering there.
For a moment, he didn’t move. Just watched me, like he was measuring whether I was about to fall apart or hold myself together.
Then his expression softened.
A brief smile tugged at the corner of his mouth—small, controlled, almost reassuring.
“I know how much it torments you that Vincenzo didn’t believe you... that you weren’t touched during those four weeks,” he said softly.
He drew in a faint breath. “But I believe you. I believe you’re carrying his child.”
The words almost brought tears to my eyes—someone actually believed my story.
My voice shook as I tried to speak.
“Th... thank you,” I whispered.
He gave a slight nod.
Then he turned and disappeared back toward Violet’s ward, his footsteps fading into the polished silence of the corridor.
I remained still, holding onto his words as if they could steady me.
For a few seconds, I just stood there, staring at nothing.
Then—
My phone vibrated sharply against my palm.
Once.
Then again.
Vincenzo.
My stomach tightened.
I answered before the second ring finished.
“Elena, where are you?”
His voice came through immediately.
The question hit me like a slap.
As if I had wandered off on purpose.
“Why do you care?” I shot back, sharper than I intended.
My voice carried more bite than I expected—but I didn’t soften it.
“You went to attend to your mistress and left me to find my way home. I’m probably lost.”
