Chapter 2

I moved into a hotel near the family club for the time being.

I'd barely finished checking in when Nico's call came in.

"The parish's annual picnic is this afternoon. Father Anthony asked about you specifically. You need to be there. We can't afford any gossip right now."

"Come by the house later. I'll bring both of you. I've been going with your sister to her treatments. She's starting to remember some things from the past."

Nico hung up before I could refuse.

When I'd left, the house was still a construction zone.

But remembering the way Nico looked when he was giving those renovation orders—so intense—I couldn't help wanting to see it.

I wanted to see what a home looked like when he actually put his heart into it.

So I went back to my own house. As a guest.

Olivia was in her room doing her makeup. Nico opened the door for me.

The house was completely transformed.

The faint scent of gardenia hung in the air. Where my Virgin Mary sconce used to be, there was now a crystal chandelier—Olivia's taste. The curtains were replaced with the ivory white she liked.

The living room walls were plastered with photos of Nico and Olivia from their teenage years.

Less than three hours. My home had been turned into a shrine to someone else's memories.

Goddamn ironic.

Nico seemed to notice me staring at the pictures. He lowered his voice to explain.

"I asked the doctor. Exposing Olivia to things from the past helps her recover her full memory."

"These photos are just a treatment method. Don't read into it."

I said nothing.

His love and his indifference were both on full display. Did he really think I needed to "read into" anything?

Then Olivia came out, makeup perfect. She laced her arm through Nico's and gave me a bright, pointed smile, chin lifted.

"Valentina. Nico said you're tagging along to the picnic? Oh my god. You're just like high school. Still love being your big sister and her boyfriend's little shadow."

The blood drained from my face.

Nico didn't look at me. He just smiled, took Olivia's hand, and led her out.

"Alright. Your sister's always been the quiet type. Stop teasing her."

I tore my eyes away from their intertwined hands. I clenched my fists and shoved down the bitter ache rising in my chest.

We arrived at Sacred Heart Church not long after.

Nico guided Olivia all the way to the garden behind the church. When he looked down at her, those dark eyes of his were filled with nothing but tenderness.

"Olivia. Do you remember? The night of our prom, everyone was egging us on. Made us lead the dance. Someone snapped a picture of us holding hands. It got passed around the entire school."

Olivia shot him a coy look, her cheeks flushing. "I've recovered a lot of my memory. Something that significant—of course I remember."

Then she pointed toward the church.

"I also remember the two of us co-hosting the opening of that charity gala. As a couple. That time, Valentina was there too, wasn't she?"

Both of their gazes swung toward me.

Nico's expression flickered, like he was struggling to find me anywhere in those memories.

I lifted my eyes and fixed them on Olivia's face. My stare was ice. I clutched my bag and forced a smile.

"Yeah. But I was just sitting in the audience."

Watching the two of them shine on that stage.

Even after I married Nico, I was still a transparent extra in their great, tragic love story.

You can't warm up a person who doesn't love you. I finally understood that. Completely.

I figured it was time. Time to find the right moment and end this marriage.

After that, Nico took Olivia to the dockside restaurant, to the family estate. Retracing their past.

On the surface, Nico was helping Olivia recover her memories. But it looked more like the two of them taking a stroll down their own romantic history.

I followed behind them. Silent.

Just like when we were kids. I was always behind them. Watching them. Invisible.

Then Nico's phone rang.

The old-timers from the family had all arrived at the party spot—a private club nearby.

The three of us headed over. We'd barely gotten our asses in the seats inside the private room when a distant uncle, face flushed red from drinking, started hollering at Nico and Olivia.

"Well, look who it is! Old Marchetti's boy and the De Luca girl! Still holding hands—stuck together like you were back in high school! So when's the engagement party? We're all waiting to drink!"

Olivia blushed, smiling brightly at Nico.

I turned to look at Nico. His expression froze for a split second. He opened his mouth—

But Father Anthony, seated at the head of the table, spoke first. He looked genuinely confused.

"I thought I heard Nico was already married?"

Nico's brows pulled together. His dark eyes swept over me, heavy.

I pretended not to see. I just found a seat.

When Nico and I got married, we only went to city hall for the certificate. No church wedding.

Nobody knew we were married. Except our parents and Nico's right-hand man.

The other guests, however, got the wrong idea. They started joining in.

"So Olivia and Nico already tied the knot! Not cool—you didn't even send us an invitation!"

Nico's gaze flicked over my face. But his voice was dismissive, casual.

"I'm not married yet. The Father misspoke."

Olivia beamed. She leaned into Nico, her cheeks glowing. "But it'll be soon!"

Nico didn't nod. He didn't shake his head. He just stared at the red flush on Olivia's ear and smiled.

All those years of marriage. I knew every single expression of his.

And that smile right there? It meant Olivia's shyness was working on him. He was genuinely happy.

My glass was in my hand. The cold seeped from my palm straight into my chest.

I looked away. Like an outsider. I took a sip of my wine.

I swallowed. It was nothing but bitter.

After everyone had made the rounds, a lady sitting next to me suddenly asked, "Valentina, you're not young anymore. You must be married by now, right?"

My grip tightened on my glass. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Nico's gaze shift toward me.

Our eyes met. I felt my lips curl. I nodded.

"Yeah. I'm married."