Chapter 2

[Zita's POV]

Now that I was home, I quickly started packing my things.

On the desk in the study lay a single document—the acceptance letter from the University of Bellecourt's faculty of medicine for a fully funded medical residency. At the very bottom was my fresh signature.

I picked it up, slipped it into the inner compartment of my suitcase, and texted Silvia Salvaggi, my upperclassman who was all the way in Bellecourt.

"Silvia, my flight's the day after tomorrow."

Her reply was instant. "Have you finally come to your senses? Forget about your long-term war against Emilio's family. Come to Bellecourt—I'll take you to see the sights! And the doctors here are so handsome. Every single one of them is a terrible flirt!"

I smiled faintly as I looked at the screen.

…

The next day, I was woken up by a call from Emilio.

Maybe it was because I'd only fallen asleep near dawn after overthinking things the night before, but it was already noon when I checked the time on my phone.

Through the speaker, I could vaguely hear Carlotta sobbing in the background.

"Carlotta accidentally lost the ring. She's terrified and won't stop crying. I'm helping her look for it, so I can't come see you this afternoon," Emilio said, his voice carrying a hint of urgency.

"Emilio," I said.

"What is it?"

"I wanted to go check on that apartment in the High East Quarter today."

He fell silent.

The apartment in the High East Quarter was one we'd picked out six months earlier. He'd said it would be our future home, and that once he turned 30, he would start the paperwork to put it in my name.

Emilio's tone went a little stiff. "There's no rush to see the place today. The ring belongs to my family, after all, so I have to find it. Once things settle down, I'll take you to pick out something even better. The High East Quarter is too far from the family's territory. It's not safe."

I listened quietly as he searched for excuses. After a long moment, I just said, "Okay."

He was visibly relieved. "Be good. Wait for me to come back."

When the call ended, I got up and went into the kitchen. I opened the fridge; it was packed with groceries. I took out two eggs and a carton of milk.

As I fried the eggs, I couldn't stop the memories that slipped into my mind.

Back then, to be with me, Emilio had practically cut ties with his family. We'd lived in an old apartment in Regency. The walls had been so thin that we often heard the neighbors arguing in the middle of the night.

It had been far from ideal, but he'd always woken up half an hour earlier than I did to come up with different ways to make me breakfast.

Once, I'd made an offhand mention about a craving for a bagel in Southbridge District. Emilio had ridden his bike for an hour in the rain just to buy it for me. He'd been drenched when he got back.

"Even if it's the moon that you want, I'll reach into the sky and grab it for you."

That was what he'd said back then.

But now? He couldn't even be bothered to take me to see the apartment he'd promised would be our home.

While eating breakfast, my gaze suddenly fell on the condiment jars laid out nearby. I saw a brand-new jar of truffle sauce.

I was severely allergic to truffles and would break out in hives if the smell was too strong. Yet Emilio had bought that jar of truffle sauce the day before yesterday because Carlotta said she was obsessed with truffle pasta lately.

He'd even forgotten I was allergic to it.

I tossed the sauce into the trash along with a few of my other odds and ends. Then, I went back to packing my things.

By the time the sun was about to set, Emilio finally came home. He pushed the door open and froze when he saw the suitcase in the living room.

"What are you doing?" he asked.