Chapter 2

Elodie's POV

When I brought Lucia downstairs, Severo was helping Ylenia out of the car.

Her face was pale, and six armed bodyguards followed closely behind her. When she saw me, she gave me an apologetic look.

"Did I scare you and Lucia last night, Elodie?" she asked. "They found an unfamiliar car outside my safe house, and Severo's worried that it's no longer safe for me to stay there."

"Tidy up the east wing," Severo instructed the butler without any hesitation.

I stopped in my tracks.

The east wing was connected to our bedroom. Lucia's playroom and my study were also located in that section of the estate. No outsider had ever been allowed to enter.

I turned to him and said, "The guesthouse is empty. Ylenia can stay there."

He frowned. "The guesthouse is too far from the underground safe room. Someone could be watching her right now. The east wing is safer."

"Fine." I nodded. "But her men stay downstairs. They're not allowed into the family quarters."

Severo's expression darkened. "Someone tracked her all the way to her residence, Elodie. Is this really the time to be arguing over something like this?"

I let out a small laugh. "Have it your way then."

Hearing this, he visibly relaxed.

"It's only for a couple of days. Once everything is settled, I'll ask her to move her."

…

After breakfast, I prepared to drive Lucia to school.

I had just reached the garage when the head of security stepped in front of me.

"Donna Falcone, I'm afraid Team A can't accompany you today."

My gaze shifted to the black armored SUV that was normally assigned to Lucia. Ylenia was already sitting inside the vehicle.

"What does that mean?" I asked.

The head of security looked uncomfortable. "Don Falcone has ordered us to give Ms. Bianchi the highest level of protection. For the time being, your vehicle and all four of your personal bodyguards have been reassigned to her."

Lucia looked up. "What about me?"

No one answered.

I walked straight toward the spare armored SUV on the other side of the garage.

"The keys," I demanded.

The bodyguard hesitated.

"Donna…"

"My daughter is only five years old. I'm not going to let her ride in an unprotected car through Falcone territory."

The man had no choice but to hand me the keys to the vehicle.

We had barely pulled out of the estate when Severo called me.

"Did you take the spare armored SUV?" he asked.

"Yes."

"Ylenia's doctor needs to travel with her. She needs two vehicles."

I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. "Then find her another SUV."

"Elodie." His voice grew cold. "Don't make this a competition right now."

I ignored him and hung up.

When I returned after dropping Lucia off at school, the east wing had already been completely transformed.

Ylenia's clothes were hung in the walk-in closet, and her bodyguards stood guard in the hallway. They had even opened my private medicine cabinet.

Half an hour later, a commotion erupted downstairs.

Severo came rushing out of the east wing with Ylenia in his arms.

"Get the doctor!" he screamed.

Then he snapped his head toward me. "Why did you keep sedatives in an ordinary pill bottle, Elodie?"

I froze. "She went through my medication?"

"She thought they were vitamins! Now, she's barely conscious. Are you happy now?" he snapped.

I stared at his furious face. I could hardly believe what I was hearing.

"That's my private medicine cabinet. She moved into my home, went through my things, and took my medication. And somehow, this is all my fault?"

Severo went still. "Why are you taking a medication like that?"

"Severe insomnia."

His expression shifted. "How long has this been going on?"

"It started two years ago. I told you about this."

He opened his mouth to speak, but he couldn't utter a single word.

He had no memory of this.

He remembered which medications Ylenia was allergic to. He remembered every single one of her follow-up appointments. Yet, when he learned that I'd been having trouble falling asleep for two whole years, he looked utterly bewildered.

I told myself it didn't matter. In five days, perhaps I'd finally be able to sleep again.