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There it was again The lie she lived with The lie she could no longer live with

“Marco You have the wrong idea about how I grew up I never said ere poor—”

“You don’t have to explain”

“But I do! I didn’t grow up poor I grew up—”

“In a big family”

“Well, yes “

“With a father who supported you on army pay” Marco took her hand “I have money, Emilia mia I am a wealthy man, and what is the point of all that wealth if I can’t spend it on you?”

“I knohat you think How it looks My apart piano” Emily sed hard “See, I didn’t have to live that way I chose to I wanted to be independent I never had been, not in my whole life My family—”

“Emily”

“Please Please listen!”

“Sweetheart I love you”

“You have the wrong idea about me,” she said desperately, “and—and—” Her eyes widened “What?”

Marco leaned forward, pressed the button that put the privacy screen in place “I love you,” he said “I want us to live together Do you understand? I love you And you love me” He paused For the first time since they’d met, she saw uncertainty in his face “You do, don’t you, cara? Because if you don’t—”

E herself into her lover’s arms