Chapter 51

GIULIA

“Mark?” She placed her hand on her chest. “Bless my heart.”

“Do you know him?” I acted as if I didn't know about her, asking a question I already knew the answer to. The reaction she showed was the one I was hoping to get from her, but when I got it, I felt jealous.

She nodded, sighing. “He was my childhood friend. We separated 18 years ago when I gave birth to my first child. He left for Spain, and we haven't heard from him since then.” She looked sad, like someone who lost something precious and couldn't recover it. “I believed he would call for once, throughout the years, but he didn't. When I contacted his family, I learned they packed out five years ago. That was the last I saw any of them.”

Nodding, I leaned back in my chair, not knowing what to say. I wanted to ask if she dated him, but knew the question would come out as odd. All I could do was nod as I watched her.

“Mark isn't an awful guy, though.” She turned to me, taking my right hand in hers. She squeezed my fin