All Chapters of OFF LIMIT: FOURTEEN NIGHTS WITH MY HUSBAND'S BEST FRIENDS : Chapter 191 - Chapter 200

Chapter 189Elowen "Your... what?""My wife," Kian repeated more slowly, I could see a muscle ticking in his jaw. "He told Giuliana that you're my wife."I turned to stare at Matteo who had the audacity to look completely innocent."Why would you..." I started but Matteo cut me off with a subtle shake of his head, his eyes flicking meaningfully toward Giuliana.Right.I almost forgot.Giuliana was watching us with interest, trying to understand what was going on.I couldn't very well argue about this in front of her.But why would Matteo tell his daughter that Kian and I were married?What was he trying to accomplish?"È bellissima, papà," Giuliana said, looking at her father and then back at me."She said you're beautiful," Kian translated automatically, and I could hear the tension in his voice even though he was trying to hide it."Oh." I felt my cheeks heat. "Thank you. Grazie."Giuliana's smile widened at my attempt at Italian."Vieni," she said, patting the bed beside her. "Sie

Chapter 191Elowen This was where I wanted to be.This was where I needed to be."Why were you speaking Italian this whole time?" I asked softly, reaching up with my free hand to gently play with the edge of her headscarf.The fabric was soft, colorful with little butterflies printed on it.And underneath it...My heart clenched.Underneath it was probably nothing. No hair. Just a small bald head because of the chemotherapy and treatments.How did she feel knowing that?How did she cope with looking in the mirror and seeing herself like this?How did she handle knowing that her days on earth were numbered, that she was running out of time?She was only eight years old.Eight.She should be worrying about homework and playdates and what to wear to school.Not about mortality and treatment plans and how many days she had left."I asked Papa if I could just stick to Italian," Giuliana said, her voice quiet and thoughtful. "I want the last words I speak to be in Italian. In my father's t

Chapter 193Matteo And somehow that made it worse and better at the same time.We both dropped what we'd bought quietly on the counter by the door.Then I moved toward the bed, unable to stop myself.I leaned down and kissed Giuliana's forehead gently, careful not to wake her.She stirred slightly but didn't open her eyes.As I started to pull away, I found myself leaning toward Elowen too.And before I could stop myself, before I could think about what I was doing or why, I kissed her forehead as well.The moment my lips touched her skin, I froze.What the hell was I doing?I straightened quickly and turned around.Kian was looking at me.But there was no anger on his face. No possessiveness or jealousy or accusation.Just... understanding.I straightened my clothes awkwardly, suddenly feeling like I needed to leave, needed to get out of this room before I did something else stupid.I walked toward the door but stopped myself halfway there.Where was I going?What was I doing?What

Chapter 195MatteoAfter a few more minutes of watching Elowen and Giuliana hold each other, I cleared my throat gently."We brought food," I said, gesturing to the bags on the counter. "Carbonara for Elowen, and some chicken broth for you, principessa, if you feel like eating."Giuliana pulled back from Elowen and wiped her eyes, then looked at me with a small smile."You bought for Mama?" she asked, and the way she said 'Mama' so naturally, so easily, made my chest tighten all over again."Of course I did," I said softly.Elowen looked surprised. "You didn't have to...""We wanted to," Kian interrupted gently. "Besides, you need to eat. You haven't had anything since we left America."She opened her mouth like she wanted to argue, then seemed to think better of it and just nodded.I moved to the counter and started unpacking the food while Kian helped Elowen get settled in the chair beside Giuliana's bed.My daughter watched Elowen's every move with an expression that was equal part

Chapter 197ElowenI wanted—A small sound came from the bed.Giuliana.Shifting in her sleep.The spell broke immediately.I stepped back quickly, my eyes flying open, my hand coming up to touch my lips even though he hadn't actually kissed me.Matteo had taken a step back too, his jaw clenched, his hands now fisted at his sides like he was physically restraining himself."I'm sorry," he said, his voice rough and low. "I shouldn't have...""It's okay," I interrupted, even though nothing about this felt okay. "We should... we should get back to bed. Before she wakes up."He nodded stiffly.We walked back to the bed in silence, the air between us thick with everything unsaid, everything we couldn't say, everything we shouldn't want.I carefully climbed in on my side while Matteo took his position on the other, Giuliana still peacefully asleep between us, completely unaware of what had almost happened.What had almost ruined everything.I laid there staring at the ceiling, my heart stil