Chapter 1

ELENA’S POV

“I got in,” I said, clutching my acceptance letter. “I got into the study abroad program in Florence. I move out in ten days.”

My mother gasped, letting her spoon fall to the table. “Florence? Oh, honey, that’s wonderful! But why does it go so fast? Ten days is not really enough time to pack."

Uncle Marco smiled and leaned his coffee on the counter. That's good news, kid. "It's going to be a great adventure.”

"An open spot came up late, and I took it right away," I said with a forced smile.

" You know, " my mother said with excitement, " my friend Sophia's son is studying over there too. You know Leo, right? We always joked that you two were made for each other when you were kids. 

“You'd better get in touch with him.”

“Okay, Ma. I was numb. I’ll message him,” I said.

My mother cocked her head. “So does that mean you and your boyfriend broke up? You haven't mentioned him in months.”

The door swung open. My stepbrother Matteo walked into the kitchen and dropped his keys on the counter. He stopped, dark eyes flickering between us.

 “Boyfriend, huh?” he asked, his voice low. His jaw was clenched in obvious tension. 

“Oh, nothing, Matteo," my mother said quickly. "Just girl talk." 

Matteo shot me one last hard look and went upstairs without a word more.

That night, at our family celebration dinner, my mother raised her glass to toast my news. Panic seized my chest. I reached under the table and took her hand before she could say anything.

“Mom, wait,” I whispered, pulling her into the hallway while Marco and Matteo were engrossed in conversation. “Not yet,” he said. “Don’t tell Matteo the Florence news, please. Can we keep him in the dark a little longer?

My mother gave a gentle smile. "You're worried about what he'll think? I know you two are good friends as well. Okay, darling. I’m not saying anything.”

I managed to say with relief, "Thank you."

That night the door of my bedroom opened noiselessly. As usual, Matteo went inside and locked the door behind him. We were step-siblings but the secret relationship had been going on for years. It started at eighteen, and turned physical at the age of twenty.

He pulled me to his chest.

 "Who was she talking about today?" he demanded, his hands gripping my waist.

 "Who's this boyfriend of yours, Elena?”

 I didn’t look up. 

"Nobody," I said. “Mom was only guessing.”

He took hold of my chin and made me look at him. “You belong to me. Can you hear me? You are mine.”

 "I'm just tired, Matteo," I lied, jabbing at him a little. "And today I got my period. My cramps are painful."

He exhaled, the anger ebbing away. "Okay. Let's just lie down.”

He climbed into bed and put his arms around me from behind. My heart ached as I lay in the dark wide awake. I had caught him two weeks ago at his private club in Milan. I heard him telling his friends outside the door that he never loved me all the time we were together. It was just a calculated act of revenge on my mother for marrying into the Romano family in his mother's stead.

It tore my heart to know that his love was a lie. I was frantic to save my mother from a scandalous humiliation, so I thought of running away to Florence and leaving him forever.

I placed a pillow between us, carefully. I lay there, at peace, knowing our secret story was finally ending.

When my alarm rang the next morning Matteo was gone. He left before daylight always, to keep us safe.

I pulled on jeans and a sweater and went downstairs. There was a pretty blonde woman in the living room next to my mother. 

“Come and say hello, Elena!” my mother called out cheerfully. ''This is Valentina Silvestri. Matteo just introduced us. She’s his girlfriend!”.

My stomach twisted. My face stayed blank. “Hey. Nice to meet you.” 

“So nice to meet you too, Elena!” said Valentina, bright with smiles.

I headed into the kitchen for a drink. Moments later Matteo followed. He took my wrist and pulled me into the corner of the pantry and kissed my lips.

"What are you doing?" "I whispered, pushing him away. "She's right outside!" 

"“Relax,” he whispered, pulling my hips. Valentina is just a childhood friend, an easy way to get my dad off my back about getting married. “You are my true girlfriend, Elena.”

Usually I'd have let jealousy spoil my day. Today I just nodded. “Okay. If you say so.”

Matteo scowled and backed away. He seemed completely taken aback by my calm response because I usually got upset over small things.

 "Is that it? You are not angry?”

 “It’s just business, so why would I be upset? I replied calmy, going to the dining room.

At breakfast, around the big table, Matteo and Valentina played the part of a happy couple. “Remember that summer at the lake when we were twelve?” Valentina laughed, touching his arm. “You flung my hat into the water!” Matteo smiled warmly at her as he laughed back, "You deserved it for pushing me off the dock.”

I ate alone, quietly, at the far end of the table. I turned and looked out the window at the rain and Matteo leaned across the table and picked a piece of fruit right off Valentina’s plate.

He glanced at me expectantly for my jealousy. I looked him straight in the eye and I felt nothing. I didn’t say anything. I put my napkin down and stood up and walked out.

Then I slipped on my raincoat and grabbed my folder of papers. I had to go to the visa office downtown to get my travel documents for Italy all arranged.

I was heading to the door when Matteo, Valentina and Uncle Marco came out of the living room.“Where are you going, Elena?” Valentina asked. "We're going on a date downtown. You've got to come with us!"

"No, thanks," I said, clutching my folder. "Got an errand to run."

Thunder boomed outside and heavy rain beat against the glass doors. 

“Kid, you can't walk to the bus stop in this storm." said Uncle Marco firmly. “Matteo, you’re going downtown anyway, so take your stepsister to run her errand.”

“Of course." Matteo looked directly at me.

I stared at Marco's stern face and the pouring rain. I couldn't refuse without causing a scene. I resigned myself to the fact that Matteo was going to the visa office and find out about my plans to leave for Florence today. I walked out to his car.

Matteo climbed into the driver’s seat. Before I could reach the passenger door, Valentina slipped into the back seat and patted the leather place beside her. 

"Come sit here with me, Elena! Let's talk," she said cheerfully.

I slid in the back beside her and shut the door against the storm. Matteo drove off and I saw his dark eyes in the rearview mirror, looking at me.

The car ride was silent, except for the rain and the click of the wipers. Then Valentina came close to my shoulder. She maintained a pleasant smile on her face so that Matteo wouldn't notice anything wrong in the mirror, her voice dropping to a whisper so low it was meant for me alone. 

“I know about you two.” She leaned forward, locking her eyes on me. "I know your relationship with him goes way beyond just step-siblings.”

I sat frozen in my chair, my breath caught as I stared at her.

Valentina smiled wider, her voice soft but with a clear warning in it. "Oh, by the way, Elena... I think if I put my mind to it, I can take Matteo away from you."