Chapter 4

The day before the wedding, we learned that the heart specialist from Woodwick, Harold Livingston, would have a four-hour stopover in Valeley tomorrow morning.

After that, it would be another three months before he returned to Battenland.

Sitting at the breakfast table, Camilla shook her head and said, "Never mind. Dafne's wedding is more important."

Mamma shot to her feet at once. "Nonsense! What if something goes wrong with your health during those three months?" She then turned to me and ordered, "Dafne, move the wedding to the evening."

Before I could say anything, Papa had already nodded. "We'll rearrange things with the church and accompany Camilla to the hospital during the day."

I looked at Raffaello. He was reviewing the information Dr. Livingston had sent. After a few seconds, he nodded and said, "That works."

"What about the church ceremony?" I asked with a smile.

"Cancel it."

"And the outdoor photoshoot at the port?"

"We'll do it later."

"The family oath?"

"Move it to dinner," he said, then looked up at me. "It's just a formality anyway. Since when did you care so much about these things?"

Camilla's eyes immediately reddened. "Forget it. I won't see Dr. Livingston. I don't want Dafne to have to compromise her wedding because of me."

Raffaello frowned. "It has nothing to do with you." Then, he turned back to me. "Dafne is the most sensible—she'll understand."

I let out a helpless laugh and nodded. "Okay."

Raffaello relaxed. "Once the wedding's over, I'll go with you for a whole new photoshoot."

I merely smiled, for I had long since stopped expecting anything from his promises.

That night, I went to the port.

The person Diego had sent was waiting outside an abandoned warehouse.

"We depart at 11:00 am on the dot," he said.

The next morning, the estate's lights came on at 5:00 am.

Papa was urging Stefano to check the route, while Mamma held Camilla's medicine kit. Raffaello changed into his black suit and was the last to come downstairs.

Camilla stood at the doorway in her coat, the emerald brooch still pinned to her chest.

Raffaello walked up to me and said, "Go to the hotel by yourself. The stylist will arrive at 10:00 am."

I looked at him. "When will you be back?"

"Before 1:00 pm," he replied, but then changed his answer. "I'll be back by 3:00 pm at the latest. The wedding dinner starts at 7:00 pm, so there's still plenty of time."

Leaning against the car door, Camilla said, "Dafne, I'm sorry for delaying your wedding."

I smiled. "It's fine."

After all, there wouldn't be a wedding anyway.

Raffaello bent down and kissed my forehead. "Be good. I'll come back tonight to marry you."

I didn't dodge, because this was the last time.

The convoy quickly left the estate. I stood at the steps watching until the last car disappeared, then turned and went upstairs.

The wedding gown was hanging in the middle of the changing room, but I quickly changed into some casual clothes without sparing it so much as a glance.

At 10:40 am, the driver dropped me off in the north of the city, and the boat left San Giorgio's Pier at 11:00 am on the dot.

"You're really leaving?" Diego asked me from outside the wheelhouse.

I watched the coastline grow more distant. "Yeah."

"Raffaello will come looking for you. He'll even mobilize the entire family or even the whole of Valeley to find you. Are you really going to do this?"

I let out a laugh, then took out the ring and handed it to a crew member.

"Deliver this to the estate this afternoon," I ordered. After that, I looked at Diego with determination. "This is my answer."

The boat continued south, and the coastline gradually dwindled to a sliver on the horizon.