Chapter 2

I started having frequent nightmares.

In them, Leonardo held Katrina close, speaking to me with disgust. “Violet, don’t come looking for me anymore.”

Gradually, I became anxious and insecure.

After graduation, I decided to leave Hill Valley and move to Mayruelle to be with Leonardo.

However, more than a month passed, and he was busy every single day. He barely had any time for me.

Eventually, we had a huge argument.

Leonardo promised that once he got through the next few days, he would take me on a trip so I could relax.

A few days earlier, I had accidentally seen notifications about Sicilia on his phone. So I became full of anticipation.

I carefully made travel plans and even packed my luggage in advance.

Then one day, while I was out shopping, I suddenly felt like I was being followed.

I quickened my pace while calling Leonardo for help.

He only picked up on the third call.

“Violet, my phone’s about to die. I’ll call you later.”

Before I could say a word, he hung up.

All that answered my trembling voice was the rapid, empty dial tone.

After I got home, I was still shaken.

Then I suddenly saw a post Katrina had just made.

[Thanks to a certain photographer who drained their phone battery taking pictures for me.]

In the photo, she was smiling brightly.

Behind her was a building that looked just like the Panormus Cathedral, with rosemary lining the streets.

The location was tagged below: Sicilia, Enotria.

Late that night, Leonardo finally called me back.

For every question I asked, he gave a short answer.

“Yes, I’m in Sicilia right now. I’ll be back this weekend.

“How could I be here for vacation? Our family has a joint project here. I came for a few days just to discuss it.

“Of course there are others. Besides me and Katrina, her father and two of her cousins are here too.”

Suddenly, I felt tired.

It was as if all the energy had been drained out of me, and I lost the desire to say anything more.

“If that’s the case, why did you hide it from me?”

“I didn’t want you to overthink it.”

After a long silence, I seemed to hear him sigh.

“Violet, you weren’t this jealous before.”

This wasn’t the first time Leonardo and I had argued.

However, now, separated by 7,412 kilometers and a six-hour time difference, neither of us reached out first.

A few days later, he unexpectedly had someone deliver me sage.

Over the phone, Leonardo’s voice carried a smile.

“So your anger’s gone? Finally decided to contact me?

“I’ve just boarded the plane. I got you a limited-edition Hermès bag, and your favorite tiramisu.

“That tiramisu was really hard to get. I waited in line for hours to buy it.”

Just like that, I was coaxed into feeling better.

But when I went to the airport to pick him up, I saw Katrina sitting on a suitcase, tugging at his sleeve as she acted spoiled.

“Leonardo, my father said you’ve already agreed to let our family establish a new base in Sicilia, and that your focus will shift there too?

“Does that mean you’ll be staying in Sicilia? I’ll go as well to be with you then.”