22

ISABELLA —-

"Mr Enzo." They all whispered to themselves, making me smile.

"You all should learn to stop gossiping and most especially be careful with the kind of words you utter."

"Enzo, what are you doing here?" I asked, my voice filled with surprise and concern.

He looked at me with a mixture of confusion and hurt. "Isabella, I heard what they were saying about Sofia. I couldn't just stand by and ignore it."

I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself down. This was not the time or place for such a discussion. "Enzo, we can't have this conversation here. It's not appropriate, and it will only make things worse."

He reached out to touch my arm, but I quickly pulled away. "Isabella, I have a right to be involved in Sofia's life. I care about her, and I want to protect her."

I could see the sincerity in his eyes, but I couldn't let my emotions cloud my judgment. "Enzo, I appreciate your concern, but Sofia is not your daughter. You need to accept that and move on."

His face fell, and I