Her brow rose. “And here you are, standing in his beautiful home, without injury.” She made a show of pouting her lips and fluttering her lashes before uttering mockingly, “His adoring little wife.”

What was wrong with her? Vincenza was acting as though I betrayed her.

“I tried to murder him, Enza. He could have done a lot worse than lock me away in a mansion for a few months. I’m grateful.”

“What?” Her humorless laugh came across scornful. “Don’t tell me you actually like the guy?”

I did. So much. But I was good at reading her emotions and I knew she was on the edge so what I said was less inflammatory. “I like his kids.”

Vincenza walked into the living area and waved me off before she sat down uninvited, stretching her arms out along the top of the sofa. The nerve of her to say what she said right then, right here, in Ettore’s home. “Don’t worry. You’ll have your own kids someday. Now that you’re back, we stick to the plan.”

My stunned silence lingering.

People talked about Vincenza. I’d heard stories about her floating on the wind that I never truly believed because I loved her. But right then, my blinders were lifted.

Maybe they were right. Maybe she was crazy.

“Have my own kids…” I muttered distantly. “After making these ones orphans, you mean.”

She blinked at me then. “I’m starting to wonder whose side you’re on, Vicky.”

Whose side I was on?

I was on the side of peace.

Right then, I looked at my sister and was surprised by what I discovered. Was this really the same person I was petrified of making upset? Why did I ever to go the lengths I did to keep her happy, at the sacrifice of my own?

A stunning realization came to front.

Mildly put, Vincenza wasn’t the center of my universe anymore. I didn’t care what she wanted. She was no longer my priority. And I wondered why that was.

Only one thing came to mind.

With Ettore, I didn’t feel alone anymore.

Standing a few feet away from her, I uttered evenly, “I need to start cooking. You’re welcome to stay for dinner.” And just to make myself abundantly clear, I added, “Meet the kids.”