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He’d ended the night working his way through a bottle of grappa and da the whole world

A punishing shower brought hilance at his watch told him Noon on his thirtieth birthday He didn’t feel like celebrating He crossed to theof his bedrooardens brought hio to Ro to confiry for global expansion into the USA and Australia for Viscenti AG that he’d been planning for so long

A ht his eye The girl and her little boy were rounding the side of the house She was going very slowly, holding his hand as he toddled unsteadily along the gravelled path Dio, he’d all but forgotten about her He watched her stoop swiftly to catch the child as he stumbled momentarily and then set him back on course

What the hell was he going to do about her? She’d served her purpose—provided him with the wife he required to confront his father He didn’t need her anyrise to public speculation that his was a fraudulent ave a shrug and turned away He would tell Maria to keep her out of his hair and she could enjoy a free holiday at the villa while he was in Rome

He was just about to turn ahen another figure ca out from the house

Lucia

She was clearly on course to the girl, and in a raging temper

Out in the gardens, Magda came to a halt That woman, whoever she ho had been as furious at Rafaello’s announce purposefully towards her Magda waited apprehensively The woh heels scrunched noisily on the path

She cada had been in tooabout the woman Now she could see she was an iht-fitting designer outfit

Her eyes were narroith blazing hostility Magda’s hand tightened over Benji, as crouching down to inspect the gravel

Whatever the wo footsteps sounded, heavier and rapid, and Rafaello appeared around the corner of the house He earing, this surey, and he looked, as Magda stared helplessly, co

He launched into rapid Italian directed at Lucia

‘You should leave, Lucia There is nothing for you here—there never was You should have knoould never marry you’