HIS

Chapter 42

I had to admit—Reece's cold attitude stung more than I expected. I'd held onto the hope that she'd be like the rest of her family: warm, welcoming. But I found comfort in knowing that my husband truly loved me and always had my back. He probably hadn't even heard her comment, and I wasn't about to bring it up. I've never been one to complain about every unpleasant encounter.

I'm well aware of Domenico's past and his reputation with women—even though he hasn't dated anyone since Isabella. But that chapter is closed. He's shown me time and again that he's committed and faithful, and that's enough for me. I would never hold his past against him.

People can change, and that's okay. Fortunately, I'm secure in myself and have no desire to come between a brother and sister.

Gina, Vanessa, and Reece probably think I'm completely clueless, but I see right through their intentions. For now, I'll let it slide and keep a watchful eye. Since Reece is Domenico's sister, I'll leave it to him to handle her and her crew. I'll stay in my lane and steer clear of her, but if she crosses the line, I won't hesitate to stand up for myself.

Let's see how this unfolds while I'm still trying to make sense of what's going on between the two girls and Domenico. Was it a threesome, or did he sleep with them one after the other? It's probably twisted of me to even wonder. That's the kind of mystery my husband could probably decode—but for now, I just need a bathroom. I never imagined that finding out I was pregnant would come with all the symptoms hitting me at once.

I paid no attention to their conversation and gave Domenico a subtle signal that I was heading to the bathroom. He nodded in acknowledgment. I then made my way through the crowd of guests, who were laughing and chatting, down the hallway and into the bathroom.

I finished up and washed my hands. Just as I was about to dry them and leave, the door swung open. In walked Reece—Domenico's sister—with a smug grin plastered across her face. Why is it that unpleasant encounters always seem to happen in bathrooms? I chose to ignore her, dried my hands, and prepared to leave. She moved to the sink and let the water run over her hands.

I dropped the towel into the small basket on the floor, aware that she was watching my every move. Just as I reached for the door handle to leave, she began to speak.

She locks eyes with me, her gaze sharp and unrelenting. "Your marriage to my brother won't last. Eventually, he'll see you for the gold digger you really are," she says, her words cutting with precision.

I turned to face her, eyes wide with disbelief. "Excuse me?" The shock was clear on my face. I probably should've just walked away, but my hormones were in overdrive—and her earlier rudeness had already pushed me to the edge.

She took her time drying her hands, and after tossing the towel into the bin, she looked me directly in the eye before speaking.

She spoke with venom in her voice, her words dripping with resentment. "You're the reason my brother chose to stay in the US, and because of that, he threatened to cut me off unless I moved back. I had to leave the man I love—just so you could be happy."

I'm sorry for what you're going through, but whatever issues exist between you, and your brother are not my responsibility. I suggest you leave me out of your assumptions and focus on finding common ground with him to resolve whatever conflict you two have.

"You bitch!" she shouted as she lifted her hand in the air attempted to slap me, but I caught her hand in time. She tried to pull her hand out of my grip, but I increased the pressure on her wrist.

I glared at her, voice steady but sharp. You don't get to threaten me and expect me to just stand by while you walk all over me. I'll say this once, so listen closely—whatever issues you have with your brother are yours to resolve, not mine. If he asked me to move to Mars, I'd do it without hesitation. So don't pin his decisions on me. I released her hand, letting the tension hang in the air.