Chapter 2

Before I was discharged from the hospital, I asked Lorenzo for one favor. "I want to light a candle for our child in the church."

He readily agreed and even personally instructed the housekeeper to prepare a small white candle.

I cut a short strip of white ribbon before I headed over to the church, looping it around the candlestick. I had initially planned to wrap a baby's gift box with the ribbon. The rest of it was at home.

Lorenzo tied the ribbon for me, asking me if it looked alright.

I nodded and handed him the candlestick, saying, "Let's hold the candlestick together during the prayer recital."

"Va bene," he replied, personally placing the candlestick next to the altar.

However, when the ceremony began, the white candle had disappeared. Six black-and-white portraits were placed in the front row of the church. There were also only six names on the head priest's prayer list.

I looked for the priest who was in charge of the ceremony. He looked a little troubled as he pointed at a side door and said, "Mr. Corsi asked to have the prayer recital for the unborn child in the private chapel, Mrs. Corsi."

I heard Lorenzo's Madre, Isabella Pasquini's voice coming through the door that had been left ajar.

"Over 20 important guests will be present at the ceremony tonight. Everyone is talking about how Lorenzo saved Viviana first. Do you want the reporters to find out that he abandoned his pregnant Donna by announcing that we will be hosting a ceremony for his child?" she demanded.

"It's all my fault," Viviana mumbled. "You can remove me from the speech segment if Clara minds."

"No one is going to remove you," Lorenzo said. "I will explain the situation about the child to Clara."

"You don't have to explain," I said as I walked into the room. "You promised me."

A hint of panic flickered across Lorenzo's face when he turned to look at me. "We can light the candle in the private chapel too, Clara. It's quieter there. I will accompany you."

"Why can everyone pray for the bodyguards who sacrificed their lives, but we have to hide when praying for our child?" I countered.

Isabella frowned. "Everyone's upset that you lost your child, but you shouldn't let a private matter turn into a family scandal."

"That's enough, Mamma," Lorenzo said, moving to stand in front of her.

I assumed that he had finally changed his mind, but instead, he grabbed my hand and said, "Give me some time. Once the dust has settled, I will host a grand farewell ceremony for our child."

"When?" I asked.

Lorenzo couldn't answer my question.

The church bell rang, prompting the guests outside to rise.

Lorenzo let go of my hand and hurried to the front row. Viviana trailed behind him, grabbing the script for the speech on his behalf as the Consigliere.

took an unused candle from the side of the altar, lit it, and placed it on the windowsill at the very back. The flame flickered for a split second before burning steadily.

The priest approached me from the front row, asking in a low voice if I wanted to wait for Lorenzo.

I turned to glance at Lorenzo. He was leaning down and listening to Isabella. Viviana was standing next to them. The priest raised his hand to catch his attention. He noticed and nodded in our direction, but he made no move to come over.

I waited until the priest flipped open his book and closed it again, saying, "Go ahead. We don't have to wait anymore."

I clasped my hands beside the candle and listened to the prayer meant for Lorenzo and me.

…

After the ceremony was over, Lorenzo sought me out in the empty church. "I've told the priest to prepare the private chapel," he said.

"No need. I've already sent off our child."

Lorenzo's eyes suddenly reddened as he stared at the candle that was nearly extinguished. He reached out to pull me into his arms, but I dodged away from his touch.

"Will you allow me to pay respects to our child if I'm no longer 'Mrs. Corsi' one day?" I asked.

"You will always be my wife," he answered without hesitation.

I didn't say another word.

…

I received a message from Irene during the car ride home.

"I've verified the assets and preserved your pre-marriage savings and income. You won't have to use any of the Corsi family's accounts when you leave."

"Proceed according to plan," I replied.

There were only five days left until my departure.