Chapter Twenty Two: A Day of Normalcy

Morning sun spilled gold across the Lake Como villa as Eve woke to birdsong drifting in through the open terrace doors. For the first time in weeks, the weight of everything chasing her felt, if not gone, at least a little further away. Alex had left early for Milan, promising to be back by evening. A soft knock came at the bedroom door, and Lila stepped in with a brightness Eve hadn't seen from her since before the hallway confrontation.

"Morning, Sophia. Weather's perfect today. What do you say we escape the villa for a while — just us? Shopping in town. No security shadowing us if we keep it low-key."

Eve sat up, surprised and, underneath the surprise, genuinely pleased. After everything that had passed between them, she hadn't expected an olive branch this soon, let alone one this warm. "I'd love that. It's been a long time since I did anything that felt ordinary."

Giuseppe fussed over their breakfast like a proud grandfather sending granddaughters off on an adventure. "Enjoy your day, signore. I've arranged a discreet car and driver. Call if you need anything at all."

The drive into town wound along the water, hills rolling green on the other side, Lila chatting easily about boutiques and cafés she used to frequent. "I came here often, before the fire. Feels good to do it again. With you, this time."

They spent hours wandering upscale shops full of Italian leather and quiet, expensive elegance. Eve tried on dress after dress, laughing when Lila insisted on a bold red one that made her feel, briefly, like someone with nothing to hide. They picked up matching scarves and small gifts for the household staff, and at one counter Eve paused over a sleek black wallet with gold detailing.

"Alex would love this," she said, turning it over in her hands. "He's been complaining about his old one for weeks." She bought it without a second thought, already picturing his face when she handed it over.

Lila's friends met them not long after at a café overlooking the water. "Sophia, this is Isabella and Francesca," she said. "Boarding school, years ago. Girls — my sister-in-law."

Isabella, dark-curled and effortlessly stylish, lit up immediately. "We've heard so much about you. Alex has kept you hidden away, but we're thrilled to finally meet the woman who tamed him."

Francesca laughed, agreeing. "And prettier in person, too. Lila says your taste is incredible. We need a proper girls' day, all of us, soon."

Eve felt something in her chest loosen, just slightly, as the conversation carried on — compliments over a handbag, a shared laugh about nothing important, an easy warmth she hadn't let herself expect. "I've started painting again since we got here," she offered, when the talk turned to hobbies. "The light on the lake is unbelievable."

Isabella leaned in. "Then you have to come to our next exhibition. We'd love to hear what you make of it."

They moved on afterward to a small shop specializing in custom jewelry, where Lila chose a delicate necklace for herself and pressed Eve toward a gold pendant. "Alex would love this on you," she said, and Eve accepted the gift with a gratitude that had nothing rehearsed in it — the first present she'd taken from someone in this house without a single calculation running underneath it.

Lunch stretched long and easy at a restaurant on the water, Isabella trading stories about past summers in Como while Francesca pressed her for details about married life. "Is he as intense at home as he's supposed to be in a boardroom?"

Eve laughed. "Focused, mostly. But there's a softer side too. Especially out here."

The afternoon rolled on in fashion talk and hidden beaches and easy, unhurried company, and for a few hours Eve wasn't managing anyone's suspicion or rehearsing anyone's history — she was simply a woman having lunch with friends, painfully ordinary, and it felt like the most luxurious thing she'd experienced in months.

By the time they returned to the villa, arms full of bags, Giuseppe met them at the door to help carry everything inside. "Enjoy your day, signora? The roses in your suite have been freshened."

Lila squeezed her arm before heading toward her own rooms. "Thank you for today. It was good, having a normal sister outing for once. We should make it a habit."

Eve nodded, more moved than she let show, and spent the rest of the afternoon arranging her new things in the master suite, humming to herself in a way she hadn't in longer than she could remember. For a handful of hours, the lies and the danger had felt like someone else's problem entirely.

When Alex came home that evening, he found her on the terrace in one of the new dresses, and his whole expression warmed at the sight of her. He pulled her in without a word first, just holding her, before he finally spoke. "You look wonderful. Good day with Lila?"

"The best," she said honestly, and meant it, kissing him before holding out the wrapped box. "I got you something."

He opened it slowly, and something in his face softened at the sight of the wallet. "It's perfect. Thank you." He kissed her again, longer this time. "Tell me about the day."

"We went shopping. Met Isabella and Francesca — Lila's old friends. I think I made a couple of new ones too." She smiled, still a little surprised by how true it all felt. "It was normal. Peaceful. We talked about everything — nothing important — and I laughed more today than I have in months."

"Good." He drew her closer, voice low. "You deserve days like that. I want you to have more of them."

That night, tangled together in the quiet dark after they'd loved each other slow and unhurried, he traced idle patterns against her shoulder. "I'm glad you're building something here," he murmured. "This is home now. Ours."

Eve settled against him, letting herself simply exist in the stillness for once, no calculation running underneath it. The day had given her a glimpse of the life she actually wanted — friends, laughter, a place that felt like it might belong to her someday instead of someone she was pretending to be. But even here, even now, she knew Marcus and Sophia hadn't gone anywhere. Lila's fragile alliance had bought her hope. It hadn't bought her safety. Not yet.