Page 270 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

Like you will, Charlotte?

‘I made her leave the house. She put up a fight. How else would she get the fame and fortune she wanted? Emilio is a wealthy man, but he didn’t inherit centuries’ worth of legacy. She wanted to keep the ring, so I let her and paid her handsomely to leave.’

‘You said the house. You don’t mean the estate? Right?’

‘The very same.’

It made so much sense now that he hardly ever travelled back to Perlano. In all the time she had been with him, he had gone back once—six months ago, in fact—and had only been there a few days. She remembered because she’d arranged for his flight back on the day of the funeral. At the time she had thought him cold for leaving so soon. What kind of arrogant, cold-hearted man would want to go straight back to work after his mother died? What kind of man would put his business first? One who was hurting more than anyone realised, it turned out.

Charlotte was happy that she had never met Gia. The woman sounded horrible, more horrible than anyone she’d known. Well, almost. Her father came pretty close. Grant Campbell definitely came close. She still remembered Grant telling her that once they were married, she wouldn’t be allowed to work again. She was meant to submit to him.

Stifling the shiver that ran down her spine, Charlotte cuddled in close, placing her head on Enzo’s chest, listening to his heartbeat.

‘It must be really hard for you to go back there,’ she said. Enzo didn’t respond, but Charlotte remembered the pitying look on Isabella’s face when they had arrived in Perlano. How many people knew what had transpired? Did the people of Perlano know? A few pictures of the funeral had emerged in the press. Charlotte remembered seeing not even the slightest hint of emotion on his face. He had just looked strong. Impassive. Immovable. The resilience that performance would have required took her breath away.

It also explained why he had been so different on this trip. Why he was so angry that day in the winery.

‘You said Emilio has a second will. Is it real?’ Enzo seemed to be in a sharing mood, with at leastsomeof his walls down, and Charlotte wanted to make the most of it.

‘My father had gifted the vineyards to my mother many years ago. His condition was that upon her death, she was to bequeath them to me, and she did. However, it turns out she made another will in which she left them to Emilio.’

‘Why did your father give them to her?’

‘Because she loved them. We all knew it. She spent most of her time in Perlano because of it.’

‘But if she already left them to you, why did she change her mind?’ She saw Enzo close his eyes, heaving a small sigh. Clearly, he had asked himself the same question.

‘Can you invalidate the second will?’ she tried instead.

‘I’m trying, but so far it doesn’t seem like it.’

‘So what are you going to do?’

‘What Ihaveto do is prove that the vineyards belong to me. As far as I am concerned, they do. Emilio isnotgetting his hands on them,’ he said through gritted teeth.

Charlotte was taken aback by his possessiveness. She understood why he would feel that way after everything his brother had put him through, but still...

‘I can’t wait until you’re mine, Charlie.’

Charlotte pushed away Grant’s voice. Enzo was different. He was good and hurt and protective.

But he still held on to things even if the best course of action was to share. To find a way forward with his brother that would have benefited the vineyards and the company.

Charlotte understood what it was to be unable to trust your own sibling, even if her sister hadn’t betrayed her in the same way. To have a sibling steal one’s happiness left a deep wound. Enzo was more than entitled to his anger. However, that didn’t make her uneasiness abate.

‘But that’s not anything for you to worry about,tesoro. I will deal with my brother,’ Enzo said, tilting her face up to his. ‘I have much more pleasurable things in mind for us.’

He kissed her hard. It was a dominant show of his passion, and she knew he was distracting her. Putting up a barrier between them. More than ever she understood why he did it, but she didn’t like it. She wanted to be there for him, to show him that she would always be on his side.

But she could say nothing because she still had her own barrier in place. She wasn’t being honest with him, so she could expect nothing.

CHAPTER EIGHT

DESPITETHEEARLYHOUR, the sky was already bright as Enzo stood at the hotel suite’s window, gazing out at the slowly rising sun and the street below. Via Monte Napoleone was always busy, but it was far too early for any sort of traffic into the shops renowned the world over.

This was the first morning in a long time that he hadn’t woken to go for a jog and then a punishing gym session. Another break in his absolute discipline. This entire trip had been a challenge to him in every way.

Celeste had been a challenge.