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‘If he’s willing to take the risk, then you should be as well’

Cristiano just shook his head His anger had started to dissipate, replaced by a weary acceptance He knew Laurel was right; he couldn’t keep his father fro Elizabeth here, into his life, if he wanted to He couldn’t even keep hirown man make his own choice was, he knew, unfair

So all that was left to feel was so that Laurel was right They were different She held onto hope and he couldn’t find it anywhere He didn’t even kno to try

The last teeks had been a, but they’d been just that Weeks out of time, apart from reality What happened if and when it turned out Laurel wasn’t pregnant? She’d go back to her life in Illinois and he’d go back to Rome

He could ask her to stay with him as his mistress, but he knew instinctively that Laurel would reject such a possibility Perhaps it was better to have a clean break, a swift separation Perhaps then they could both move on as they needed to

‘Fine,’ he said, his voice clipped ‘She can conancy test For both our sakes, I hope it’s negative’

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

LAUREL STOOD ON the front terrace of Lorenzo’s house and watched her mother mount the steps She’d taken the ferry from Naples, and then the funicular to the centre of Capri, then walked the rest of the way, insisting she didn’t need anyone to collect her

It took Laurel a few moments to realise her mother looked nervous Her lips, devoid of her usual scarlet lipstick, were pressed together; and, instead of one of her picture-perfect outfits, complete with jewellery, heels, and a face-full of make-up, she wore a simple, loose sundress and sandals She looked lovely, and every one of her forty-six years

Laurel started down the steps ‘Mom’ She didn’t use the endearment often, but it slipped out now naturally Elizabeth looked up at her, her face creasing into a smile

‘Laurel’ They e unfamiliar in its rarity, yet still so welcome The last twelve hours, since her confrontation with Cristiano, had been soument he’d disappeared into the study, and he hadn’t co he’d closeted hiain, which Laurel supposed was just as well, as she doubted his presence would add to the happy reunion

And yet…everything in her ached Her relationship with Cristiano was as good as over, and she couldn’t stand the thought