Chapter 4

After my mom found out I was going to Sampa, she asked in confusion, “You couldn’t even bear to leave home for college, so why are you going somewhere that far after starting work? And why are you keeping your trip to Sampa a secret from Leonardo and his family?”

I smiled. “It’s just a small matter. I don’t want to make a big deal out of it.”

After Christmas, I returned to Mayruelle.

Leonardo was busy with matters in Sicilia and didn’t have time to come to the apartment.

We had originally agreed to meet on the first day of the new year.

However, over the phone, he hesitated. “Violet, I’m sorry, but something came up today at the last minute…”

I switched the phone to my other shoulder and packed the last of my clothes from the closet into a box.

“Oh, then go ahead and take care of it.”

After saying that, he didn’t hang up for a long time.

So I asked, “Is there anything else?”

Leonardo sounded confused. “Why aren’t you asking what came up?”

How strange.

I had stopped asking questions, but Leonardo didn’t seem used to it.

At that moment, Katrina’s voice came faintly through the phone.

“Leonardo, is that Violet?”

“There aren’t any outsiders at today’s party. You should ask her to come too.”

Leonardo replied to her, “Violet doesn’t really like these kinds of gatherings.”

She laughed brightly. “Oh, she wouldn’t refuse you over something like this, would she?”

I smiled as well. “Of course not. I’ll come.”

Of course I’d go.

After all, Leonardo still had a lot of belongings at my apartment. It was time for him to come back and clear them out.

The party was held at Katrina’s villa.

When I arrived, Leonardo was busy in the kitchen.

The familiar smell of pasta made my heart soften for a moment.

On our first anniversary, Leonardo had learned to make this pasta just for me.

Back then, he didn’t know how to cook. He had been clumsy in the kitchen, flustered and awkward. Seeing me eat happily in the end, though, his eyes softened.

He wiped the parsley from the corner of my lips and said gently, “Since you love it so much, I’ll make it for you until we’re eighty.”

I closed my eyes briefly and pushed that moment away.

“Leonardo, your things…”

“What?”

He looked at me and let out a long sigh.

“I know today is the first day of the new year, and I’m sorry I couldn’t spend it with you.

“But I’ll be going to Sicilia for a year. By the time I come back, who knows when our friends will gather again, so we decided to hold a party today. You understand, right?”

I was about to speak, but he cut me off directly.

“Alright, Violet. Don’t ruin the mood. Even if you have something to say to me, can we talk about it after we go back?”

At that moment, someone walked out of Katrina’s walk-in closet.

“Wow, Katrina, that Hermès bag in your closet is so beautiful. Where did you get it?”

Katrina smiled. “Ask Leonardo.”

Leonardo glanced at me instinctively. “When I bought a bag for Violet, I picked up the same one for her.”

Seeing that I didn’t react, he pulled me aside and lowered his voice. “Trust me, it was really just a convenience.”

I nodded. “Oh, I know.”

Then I continued replying to the message my agent had just sent me.

He frowned. “Violet, you’re not jealous?”

My phone rang.

It was the agent calling.

“Hold on, I need to take this.”

It was good news. The apartment had just been listed for sublease, and someone already wanted to view it.

I needed to head back quickly.

As I passed by the kitchen, Leonardo was serving the freshly made pasta to Katrina for her to taste.

My steps paused for a moment, and my heart ached for a second.

When I was leaving, Leonardo came over, frowning. “Why are you leaving now? Violet, what are you upset about this time?”

Katrina spoke up with a sincere expression, “Violet, don’t misunderstand. My hands were oily just now, so Leonardo fed me. It’s my fault for being too greedy.”

My tone was calm. “Someone is coming to view the apartment, so I need to head back.”

Leonardo’s expression changed instantly.

“Why are they viewing the apartment?

“Are you not living there anymore? Where are you moving to?

“Violet, why didn’t you tell me something this important?”