Emily's POV
Multiple questions ran through my head.
How did she know where I was?
How did she know I was in this part of Milan?
The only people who knew about this outing were Mira, Matteo, and I. And I could not imagine any of us telling her. The realization settled heavily in my chest, uneasy and unsettling.
Stacy straightened then, pushing herself off the car with unhurried grace. She slipped her phone into her bag and crossed the street toward us, each step measured and confident. She moved like someone who knew she was being watched and enjoyed every second of it.
Every instinct in me screamed to turn around. To run. To disappear back into the safety of the cafe.
But my feet would not move.
As she approached, I noticed details I had missed before. Her flawless makeup. The expensive coat draped effortlessly over her shoulders. The calculated elegance in the way she carried herself. Her lips curved into a smile that never reached her eyes.
She stopped a few feet away.
Close enough that I could smell her perfume. Something sharp. Intoxicating. Overwhelming.
"Emily," Stacy said smoothly, as if greeting an old acquaintance. "What a coincidence."
Mira did not let me respond.
"Stacy," she said coolly. "Did you get lost?"
Stacy's gaze flicked to Mira, her smile sharpening. "Mira Jade. I was wondering how long it would take for you to show up again."
The air between them crackled with tension.
"You know exactly why I'm here," Mira continued. "So let's not pretend this is a social call."
Stacy laughed softly, a sound that sent a chill down my spine. "Relax. I'm just out for a walk. Milan is such a beautiful city, don't you think?"
Her eyes slid back to me.
"I was hoping I'd run into you," she added. "You've been very busy lately."
My throat went dry. "I don't know what you're talking about."
She tilted her head, studying me. "No? That's funny. I could have sworn I saw you yesterday. And the day before that. And today."
Mira stiffened beside me.
"You're crossing a line," Mira said.
Stacy's smile widened. "Am I? Or am I just observing?"
She stepped closer.
Not threateningly. Casually. Like a predator that knew its prey had nowhere to go.
"You look nervous, Emily," she said gently. "You shouldn't be. I just wanted to see you with my own eyes."
My hands curled into fists at my sides. "Why."
Stacy hummed thoughtfully. "Because you live in my house now."
"That is Matteo's house," Mira cut in sharply.
Stacy turned to her again, eyes flashing. "It was mine first."
Silence fell.
Heavy. Suffocating.
"You should be careful," Stacy said, returning her attention to me. "You seem like a sweet girl. Sweet girls tend to get hurt when they wander into things they don't understand."
Mira's voice dropped dangerously low. "Say what you came to say and leave."
Stacy studied her for a long moment, then sighed theatrically. "Fine. I just wanted to introduce myself properly."
She leaned in slightly, her voice soft enough that only I could hear.
"You're temporary," she whispered. "Don't forget that."
Then she straightened, her expression pleasant once more.
"Enjoy your shopping," she said brightly, stepping back. "We'll talk again."
Without another word, she turned and walked away, disappearing down the street as if she had not just dismantled my sense of safety with a few carefully chosen words.
I stood frozen.
My legs felt weak. My heart raced uncontrollably.
Mira exhaled slowly and turned to me, her face hard.
"She followed you," she said. "That wasn't a coincidence."
I nodded numbly. "How did she know where to find me?" I asked, my voice barely steady.
"I don't know about that," Mira replied as the driver opened the door for us. "But you have to be very careful. Once Stacy resurfaces and has her eyes on something, she won't rest until she gets it."
"But what could I possibly have that she wants?" I asked, confused.
Mira hesitated. "Matteo. I guess that's what she wants."
"But Matteo doesn't want her," I said quickly. "He made that clear that day."
"As you can see, that doesn't deter her," Mira replied. "Stay safe, babes. I don't want you getting hurt."
She gave my lap a comforting pat.
The ride back home was silent. Neither of us spoke. The encounter with Stacy replayed in my mind again and again, each word carving deeper into my thoughts. I had a terrible feeling that I had stepped into something far bigger than I understood.
As we approached the Rinaldi estate, I finally asked the question that had been plaguing my mind.
"Why did Matteo leave Stacy?"
Mira sighed, shutting her phone. "Matteo didn't leave Stacy. Stacy disappeared one morning with Sophia."
She paused. "That was a very dark time for Matteo."
"He was willing to give anything to find his daughter. He turned the entirety of Milan upside down. Days stretched into weeks. Weeks into months. And Stacy was nowhere to be found."
"Oh," I murmured. "What did Stacy want with Sophia? Why did she run away with her?"
"That's something we still don't fully understand," Mira said quietly. "Eventually Matteo found Sophia in a run down building on the outskirts of Italy. She had scars all over her body. She didn't look like the Sophia we once knew."
Her expression darkened.
"Stacy is a drug addict. She is the kind of woman who should never have been a mother. She beat her three year old daughter. That alone left scars deeper than what you could see. For months we couldn't carry Sophia without her trembling violently or passing out."
My chest tightened.
"In just three months," Mira continued, "she became a sad, broken child. But Matteo didn't give up. He never did. He resents Stacy to this day. And now you understand why he refuses to let Sophia anywhere near her."
"If all of that is true," I said slowly, "then why can't Matteo just show proof to the court and keep Sophia safe?"
"That's the problem," Mira replied. "Stacy's record is clean. Squeaky clean. If a background check is done on both of them, it will come out in Stacy's favor. Matteo made a lot of questionable choices while searching for Sophia. Desperation does that to people."
"Oh," I whispered. "That's going to be a problem."
The car finally pulled in front of the Rinaldi mansion. Before I could step out, Mira reached for my hand.
"Don't tell Matteo I told you any of this," she said softly. "He hates being pitied. And besides, that's only half the story. When he's ready, he'll tell you the rest."
She squeezed my hand. "Promise me."
"I promise," I said. "My lips are sealed."
When I stepped out of the car, I noticed Mira was still seated inside.
"I'm glad you came with me today," she said. "I haven't had a girls day in a long time. I'd love to stay over, but duty calls. Let's exchange numbers."
I keyed my number into her phone.
"Stay safe, Emily," she said. "You're a beautiful woman. Don't let Stacy get to you. And make sure you have good makeup sex with Andrew."
I gasped. "Mira."
She laughed, eyes sparkling. "Bye."
I watched as the car drove away.
Once again, it was just me and the imposing mansion. Gathering my shopping bags, I walked inside and headed up to my room, my thoughts heavy and restless.