Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 74800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 74800 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 374(@200wpm)___ 299(@250wpm)___ 249(@300wpm)
No wonder, Ysabel thought sickly. No wonder Massimo had always seemed aloof and even contemptuous of her.
Ynez had only been sixteen when a man twice her age had started stalking her. It eventually culminated with the man being arrested after his failed attempt to kidnap Ynez from school. He had gone berserk as soon as the police had cuffed him behind his back, and he had left everyone in the vicinity in shock as he started shouting and cursing Ynez, blaming her for leading him on with their online relationship.
I gave you all my fucking money, you gold-digging bitch! My family's left me because of you! My company's fucking gone because of you! I will never fucking leave you alone, do you hear me?
Ynez had begged Ysabel to do something, saying that their father's death had made her lose her mind with grief, and in the end, Ysabel had been forced to lie for her sister's sake.
I'm the one to blame. I used Ynez's photo because I know she's prettier than me. I knew men would give her whatever she wanted and I wanted your money. So I lied.
Ysabel could still remember how her heart nearly stopped beating when the man had lunged for her as if wanting to strangle her to death. In the blink of an eye, Ynez had been made the victim, and later on, Ynez had also painted herself the heroine, as she sweetly persuaded the man to "forgive" Ysabel in exchange for not pressing charges against him.
Please, signore. I understand why you wanted to kidnap me. And I forgive you for it. But please, in return, forgive my sister. She has not been well since our father died.
Ysabel had done her best to forget that time of her life. But it was as if God was teaching her that running away from the truth never solved things, and as much as it killed her to admit this—-
Ynez will never love me, and I cannot trust her again.
Three
"I'M NOT GOING TO DENY anything." Ysabel fought against the urge to look away even as Massimo's dark gaze locked onto her like the crosshairs of a gun. "Ynez and I were both different persons back then. We were too young..."
Every word Ysabel uttered was the truth, but she was also leaving it to Massimo to interpret it as he willed. All she knew was that it was best for her to heed his advice, and that was not to make the mistake of lying to him in any way.
"What happened before...it was just a year after our father's death."
Massimo's mood turned brooding as he considered Ysabel's words. Her honesty was unexpected but not unwelcome, and since he had lost his own father early on, he could certainly understand why the passing of Luisito Ossini could've made his eldest daughter act out.
Grief made one do crazy things, and his own grandmother was proof of this.
Losing my husband and son made me mad. I was out of my mind with grief, and I didn't care how many people I had to kill. I didn't care if I had to lose my soul. I know now that I was wrong, but back then all I cared about was avenging their deaths.
Ysabel couldn't help but jerk when Massimo suddenly took a step towards her. The room instantly felt a thousand times smaller, and she found herself backing away as he moved closer and closer and closer...until there was nowhere for her to go, with Ysabel's back hitting the cold, hard marbled wall behind her.
Massimo stared down broodingly at Ynez's older sister—-and knew this could be the last time he would think of her in such a way again.
"Both our famiglie have come into an agreement for the two of us to marry, and I have been raised to honor my duty without question. You have the right to refuse your duty, of course, but I think you already know without being told that your decision will come with consequences."
Ysabel could only nod since those consequences were well-known to anyone who knew of La Strega's hold over the entire city. That they could simply be asked to leave and never to return to Boston would already be a blessing. Worst-case scenario, however...wasn't even worth contemplating at all.
"As for our marriage..."
Ysabel could feel her head reeling anew. Massimo's marriage had been everyone's favorite topic today, but at that time everyone had also imagined Ynez to be his bride. It almost seemed unreal that she had become her sister's replacement in the blink of an eye!
"If you wish for it to work, then you must swear that you will always speak the truth to me. That is the only way for you to earn my trust."
Ysabel knew the safest and smartest way to respond to such a demand was to simply say 'yes', but...