“Of the lies,” Dominic said, looking back at Lucia. “The falsified medical reports. My mother forced Miriam to sign off on papers that said I couldn’t father children. She used them to destroy us.”

A cold chill settled deep in my bones.

Five years of isolation, five years of thinking he had abandoned me because he believed I had cheated on him.

All of it had been orchestrated by Caterina Valenti.

“She wanted an heir she could control,” Dominic whispered. “And she almost succeeded.”

The bell above the shop door chimed again.

We both jumped.

A young man wearing a grey courier cap stepped into the shop.

He held a small, padded envelope in his hand.

“Delivery for Elena Rossi,” the courier said, looking around.

I stepped forward, but Dominic was already there.

“I’ll sign for it,” Dominic said, reaching for his wallet.

The courier handed him the clipboard and the pen.

I watched as Dominic signed the form and handed the man a bill.

The courier thanked him and left, the door swinging shut behind him.

Dominic held the envelope in his hand.