and she had done just that, even though missing Alfonso’s funeral must have hurt her terribly. He had behaved like a heartless bastard—he knew that. But he also knew that he was doing this for her own good, to save her from himself. Because the longer she was around him, the more deeply they became involved, the worse it would be for her in the long run. He would end up destroying her. And he couldn’t bear for that to happen.
Plucking his wedding suit from the hanger, Vieri started to shove it into his suitcase when he felt the rustle of something in the jacket pocket. Sliding his hand in, he pulled out an envelope. Alfonso’s wedding gift. Caught up in the events of his wedding night he had completely forgotten about it. Now he sat down on the edge of the bed and withdrew the handwritten piece of paper. He read it quickly, his godfather’s reassuring voice speaking the words in his head.
To my dearest Vieri and Harper,
It is my final wish that you accept Castello di Trevente as my wedding gift to you. I know it was agreed, Vieri, that my entire estate would be distributed amongst my charities, but I hope you will allow me this small change of heart.
The thought of the two of you living here, raising a family, gives me the greatest of pleasure. I know you would never deny me that.
Your loving godfather,
Alfonso.
Vieri put his head in his hands, screwing up his eyes against the shame and guilt. Alfonso’s gift, so generously given, so optimistically stated, felt like a ton of salt poured onto an open wound. Because he and Harper would never be living together at Castello di Trevente, let alone raising a family here. The whole thing had been a big fat lie. And Alfonso’s kindness had only exposed the nasty little fraud for what it really was.
Getting to his feet, he raked a hand through his hair, then turned and stuffed Alfonso’s letter into his suitcase, slamming down the lid. He would tell Harper about the ‘wedding present’ at a later date, when he had calmed down. She could have the whole castello as far as he was concerned, to live in or to sell, or to give to her wretched sister if that was what she wanted. It didn’t matter to him. All that mattered was getting away from here.
Picking up his suitcase, he cast one last look around him and then headed out of the door. He couldn’t get back to New York fast enough—back to the ordered, controlled life he had had before this whole wretched debacle had kicked off. Before Harper had happened. Only then would he be able to think straight again.
Конец ознакомительного фрагмента.
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