Chapter 19

LORENZO

S he didn't make our reconciliation a walk in the park at all.

She made me work hard for her forgiveness.

Eager to make amends, the morning after she returned, I woke up early, disentangled myself from her arms and rushed downstairs to make her breakfast, bringing it back to her on a tray in bed.

All I got in return was a cool thank you.

Later, at lunch in the kitchen, I tried to start a conversation about what had happened, hoping to find a way to repair the damage I had caused.

But she remained distant, her walls seemingly impenetrable, and her willingness to engage non-existent.

‘Not now,' she murmured, avoiding my gaze, leaving me frustrated and helpless.

We were at a delicate juncture. Any misstep from me would break our fragile alliance. I fell back, accepting that it would take time and effort to rebuild the trust that had been shattered.

That evening, I made dinner, which she ate fast. Then she disappeared to the living room, where she sat with her knees bunched up, a blanket around her body, focused on a TV show, walled off.

I sat beside her in silence, sipping on a whisky, giving her the needed space.

However, when we went to bed, she repeated the same routine of flowing over me, limbs all over me.

This time, she was awake, and when I tilted her chin towards me for a kiss, she ducked her face and burrowed into my neck.

When my hand lifted to her cup her breast, she nabbed it and tucked it back onto my thigh.

Her warm and steady breath against my skin forced me to tamp my impatience.

This was a new dance for us, one that required understanding and empathy.

‘Mia,' I whispered, cradling her close, ‘I want to make things right. I won't be perfect, but I promise always to try. Will you teach me how to love you?'

She hesitated, eyes fluttering open to meet mine. I tagged hurt and confusion there but also a glimmer of hope.

I went on, emboldened. ‘Bella, without you, I'm nothing. However, with you by my side, you are my queen, and I, your King. I'll cherish you, ensuring you're secure and comfortable. I'll spend my life treating you right. Fuck, I know I've made a major mistake, but if you'd give us a chance, we could last a lifetime.'

I tagged a softening in her eye, and then her jaw tightened.

‘I want to trust you again, Lorenzo,' she muttered, ‘But I need time and for you to prove you trust me too. We can't just skip forward, making up for lost time. We have to take it step by step.'

‘I understand,' I replied, holding her tighter, willing to risk it all for her. ‘Bella, I'll do whatever it takes.'

It was a fragile accord, but it was a promising start.

I tugged her close, feeling her melt into me, and whispered, ‘I'm here, Mia. I won't let you down again.'

She didn't respond, but the warmth of her limbs and the comforting weight of her head on my shoulder spoke volumes.

The next day, I chanced her studying in the guest room with the door open.

She was seated at her desk cross-legged, with her bare feet off the floor, and unable to resist, I leaned on the jamb, gazing at her beauty.

For a moment, I stared at her, loving her sexy style, taking in all her features: hair in a messy bun, eyeglasses perched so dainty on her nose, tongue peeking between her lips as she read something off the laptop and scribbled notes into the notepad next to her.

She was in yet another of her monochrome jumpsuits, this time in deep chocolate, which made me want to wander in, peel her clothes off, and taste her honey-soft skin.

I must have groaned, for suddenly, the pair of reading glasses was knocked askew when she reared up and whipped around. ‘Fuck, you scared me.'

‘Scusa, cara, just checking in on you. Are you OK?'

She nodded wordlessly.

I stared at her for a beat as she raised a brow.

I got the memo. Chest aching, I backed off, ‘Bene, I'll see you soon.'

I strode away, my heart pounding, face heating, as I was hit with a freakin' realisation.

I was fucked.

She had my heart and soul in her hand.

She was also strong in mind and resolved, refusing to fold just because I demanded it of her.

My Mia was proving to be one of the toughest women I'd met, bar Bianca and my mother.

She was pushing me to the limits of my patience, and for a man accustomed to everyone doing as I said, this was a new zenith and not one I was coping too well with.

Still, I figured she was worth it, and I was a dogged and fuckin stubborn man.

I wasn't ready to give up.

So, I upped the ante.

MIA

He bombarded me with gifts.

A slew of deliveries showed up, with Mauri carting them to the guest room I'd turned into my study nook.

Its floor was soon covered in a trail of packages, each wrapped in shimmering paper and tied with a perfect bow, the colourful packages varying in size and shape,

The unboxing was fun, I had to admit. Taking a bite of the decadent chocolate truffles in one of the packs, the velvety decadence lingering on my tongue, I almost folded, enticed by the sweet effort to win me back.

Each gift was a crafted offering, a delicate weave of thought and intent meant to lure me back into his arms, from jewellery to skincare to vibrant bouquets.

Yet I let most of the wrapped packages sit on my desk unopened.

They were over the top, unnecessary, and a sign that he still didn't understand me.

My love languages were time and acts of kindness, and I yearned for him to trust me and follow through with his actions.

He also had no idea that control for me was a sensitive topic, as was cheating. I'd seen my father do both to my mum and the deep pain it had caused her.

I'd never wish the same on anyone or even attempt to make one suffer by betraying them.

For Lorenzo to so causally accuse me of infidelity and, in the following breath, demand I obey him had been a push too far.

Nevertheless, I had to admit that the gifts showed his desire to make things right, but I needed more.

My stance was to observe his behaviour, looking for any signs of insecurity or the need to control me.

Would he have faith in me and our relationship without testing me with accusations and ultimatums?

Only time would tell.

As days passed, Lorenzo attempted to hold up his end of the bargain.

He made no further demands or allegations, going about his daily routine without issues. I admired his efforts to transform his ways, but I still hesitated to count on and open up to him. I needed time to see if this was a new chapter in our connection or another fleeting attempt at change.

I decided to put him to the test.

One day at breakfast, I announced, ‘I'm catching up with Sadie, my uni buddy, this evening.'

‘OK, Mauri can drive you -'

I interrupted him. ‘No need. I'll catch a cab.'

My eyes locked with Lorenzo's, challenging him.

‘What if anything happens to you?' he muttered, eyes dark and stormy.

‘I'll call you.'

I tagged his intense inhale, then the suck of his teeth before he sat back, conceding. ‘That's fine, Mia. Just text me when you get there and on your way back,' he rasped.

He was struggling to maintain a composed facade. Deep down, I knew he was far from okay with my spending time outside his home without Mauri or himself to watch over me.

I might have pushed further and thanked him for not reacting like a jealous, controlling maniac, but I let it pass.

‘I will, Lorenzo,' I clipped.

I knew this wasn't going to be easy for him, but I needed to see if he could trust me and respect my friendship with Sadie.

In the meantime, I continued my studies with the finance books Tony had delivered and focused on acing my upcoming exams.

That night, I passed by Lorenzo's study before I left.

‘Hey,' I said, leaning against the jamb, ‘my cab is here. I'll be out for a few hours - I hope you and Mauri have a good evening.'

He glanced up, raked his eyes over me, and, to my surprise, replied with a simple, ‘Enjoy your time, Mia.'

I hid a smile as I walked outside to the waiting Uber. It appeared like Lorenzo was progressing in grasping my need for independence and trust.

Dinner with Sadie was a blast. We caught up on university gossip, general chit-chat, and my business, which she was helping me out with.

I was relieved that while I sent him the requested messages to let him know I was alright, Lorenzo did not call or text me while I was out, a sign that he respected my boundaries.

The next evening, he invited me to join Mauri and himself at his poker night with Vitto, which I enjoyed despite my lack of experience.

Another night, he surprised me with an intimate dinner in his dining room.

Banishing Vitto and Mauri from the house, he prepared a beautiful meal and served it in a candlelit atmosphere. The table was set with crisp white linens, silver cutlery, and blooming flowers arranged in a delicate centrepiece. Soft, flickering candles created a warm and inviting glow.

The aroma of herbs and spices filled the air as Lorenzo presented succulent veal and delicious pan-fried fish accompanied by roasted vegetables, wine and fresh-baked bread.

Every dish was plated with precision and care, and as I sat, surrounded by such decadence, I felt pampered.

Each bite was a burst of flavour, balanced and melting in my mouth, with hints of sweetness and spice.

This was the kind of grovelling I could subscribe to.

Our eyes locked as we ate.

I tagged the burning desire and soft care in his eyes.

He reached out to hold my hand. ‘I know I haven't always been the best partner to you, Mia. But I am trying to change. I want to be the person you need and deserve, with mutual trust. For without you, I will break, bella.'

I tagged a vulnerability in him that I had never seen before. It was a side he had always kept hidden from me, and it made me wonder what other secrets he had kept all this time.

I didn't respond right away; instead, I continued to gaze into his eyes, attempting to read his intentions.

‘I hear you,' swallowing the feeling tightening my throat.

It was all I could offer at that moment.

He sat back, eyes on me, hands crossed over his chest.

‘You're a tough nut to crack, Mia, but you've taught me what it means to cherish you.'

I gazed into his eyes, realising that I had been holding onto a lot of anger and hurt from the past.

My reticence with Lorenzo wasn't just about him; it was about my father, who'd attempted to control me and my mother so much that she'd run from him.

However, I also recognised my man was trying his best to be genuine and remorseful, making every effort to change.

‘I know, Lorenzo. Just be patient with me.'

He nodded, understanding the weight of my words. ‘I can do that.'

I stroked his hand. ‘I need you to trust me and let me take things at my own pace.'

He kissed my palm, eyes soft, rasp timbered with need. ‘I want you to be happy, and if that means taking us slow, then so be it.'

I tilted my head, raising a brow, vowing to hold him to that promise.