Chapter 3

“How dare you, Fabian?” Elena said, shooting to her feet.

“How could you embarrass me in front of Isla and Rebecca?”

He tried to hold her, but she shrugged off his grip.

“Don’t touch me,” she yelled.

“You need to hear me out first,” he begged.

“No, I won’t. I don’t want to hear any of your excuses, Fabian. You had no right to do that to me. No right!”

“Your father was there.”

“So?”

“So, Rebecca could have used it against me. See, she’s obviously after your father’s money. She works in the family business and has done so much for it. Your father might be considering splitting the business and his entire fortune between you, me, and her in his will. Do you want that?”

She steadied her temper. Of course not–she didn’t want Rebecca to participate in her family’s wealth.

“Your father already sees your view about them as irrational. If I had left with you at that point, he could start having doubts about me.”

Fabian was right.

“So you see, I must do everything possible to remain in your father’s good books, my love.”

He tried again to wrap his arms around her, and this time, she didn’t resist. His words made sense. His words always made sense to her and always made her feel better. It was why she’d fallen for him in the first place. She kissed him.

She’d met him on a trip to Sonoma to see her mother’s sister, Aunt Ginevra, and had been mesmerized by his fierce blue eyes and bad boy charm. And when he’d met her parents, he’d won their hearts, too. It was only her older brother, Leo, who’d been skeptical about their relationship. He’d sternly warned Fabian never to mess with her. He was always so protective of her.

“I’m on your side, my love,” Fabian said.

“I just wish we had something on Rebecca and Isla. Something to take them down.”

Her cell phone rang. She picked it up from the vanity table and hit the answer button. Leo was the one calling. The last time they’d spoken was about four days ago.

“How are you, Lenny?” she said excitedly.

“I’m well, Ella. And you and Fabian?” His voice was as smooth as it always was.

“We’re alright.”

“How’s dad?”

She sighed.

“He has lost his mind. Rebecca’s excesses have gotten worse,” she sneered.

“Can we not talk about that now, Ella? I have something important to tell you.”

“Okay.” She knew he would never understand until he witnessed their insolence himself. But he was far away and was bent on never returning home. So, how would he?

“Lenny? Are you still there?” she said as he’d gone quiet.

“I am,” he said.

“You said there’s something important you want to tell me.”

“Yes, I did.”

“I’m listening.”

He went silent again.

“Lenny?”

“Yes.”

What was it he wanted to tell her? He cleared his throat.

“I’ve decided on something, Ella, something that has been on my mind for a while now.”

“Something like what?”

“I’ve decided to return home for good.”

Home? She was shocked. She didn’t think she’d heard right.

“Did you hear me, Ella?”

“Yes, I did.”

“I said I’m coming back to Napa Valley for good.”

Napa Valley? Was her head making up this conversation, or was it really happening?

“For good?”

“Yes, Ella, I’m returning for good. You see, I’ve decided to set my anger aside and do Dad’s wish. I think I’ve been too stubborn about things.”

Elena swallowed hard.

“So, you mean you’re going to marry Isabella Conte?”

Fabian looked at her in surprise.

“Yes, Ella, I will.”

What was he thinking? He’d never had romantic feelings for Isabella Conte, and she didn’t believe he’d suddenly developed feelings for Isabella.

“Have you given good thought to this?”

“I have. Aren’t you happy that I’m returning?”

She was. It was just that she worried that after all these years, he was finally succumbing to their father’s wish. Was it out of defeat?

“I’m excited, Lenny,” she said. “But are you sure about this?”

“I am. There’s nothing left for me here in Florence.”

“Okay. But have you told Dad about it?”

“I’ll do that soon.”

“Okay.”

“Talk to you later, Ella.”

He ended the call.

“What’s going on?” Fabian said worriedly.

“Lenny’s returning home for good.”

His eyes roved in shock.

“But I thought he swore never to return?”

“He did. But you know he was angry. He had every right to be.”

“But why now?”

“I don’t know. Dad had no right and still has no right to decide whom he should marry.”

For Elena, it was more than their father having no right to do so or Leo not being attracted to Isabella. She was worried that if he got married, he wouldn’t give her as much attention as he did now.

Leo had to have a good reason for his decision, Elena thought. There was no way he could have decided to come back because he was tired of being angry. She smiled. They would finally live under the same roof again. And their father’s attention on Rebecca would diminish. But this didn’t change how she felt about him marrying Isabella Conte. There was just nothing she could do about it.

Reaching for the intercom by her bedside, she rang the kitchen for one of the maids to bring her a glass of water. The water dispenser in her room was empty.

“Your father will be shocked about this,” Fabian said.

“You mean happy,” she said.

“Is Leo really ready to marry a woman he doesn’t love?”

“It’s his decision, babe,” she replied. “And I believe he knows what he’s doing. Leo always knows what he wants.”

There was a slight knock on the door.

“Come in,” Elena said. Fabian had left the room door unlocked.

It was the red-haired maid, Lana. Elena leaned on Fabian as Lana walked briskly with the glass of water and handed it to her. She waited for Elena to be done, collected the cup as soon as she was done, and headed out almost immediately.

“I can’t wait for things to change around here,” Elena said.