He was probably afraid of people finding out about our relationship. He always chose hidden places like this to meet me.

"I made a reservation at the club. Let's go together."

In my old life, I would have been thrilled. In the decades we were together, I could count on one hand the number of times he asked me out to dinner.

But today, a faint, emotionless smile touched my lips. "Okay," I said casually.

My lack of refusal seemed to put Lorenzo at ease. The tight line of his mouth relaxed.

He opened the passenger door of his Cadillac for me. Just as I was about to get in, I saw Isabella's Hermès handbag sitting brazenly on the seat.

A small smirk played on my lips. "I think I'll sit in the back."

Lorenzo saw it too. He looked a little embarrassed as he closed the front door and opened the back one for me.

"Are you angry?"

"Is it because I wasn't with you this morning?"

He attributed my strange behavior to that.

"I'm not angry," I replied.

I rarely had time alone with him. In the past, I would have been desperate to tell him everything that had happened, but today, I didn't want to say a single word more than necessary.

Lorenzo sensed my strangeness and continued to explain.

"This morning, one of Isabella's key business partners died suddenly. She was devastated and scared, so I went to comfort her. I promised Marco I would take care of his wife and daughter. It's the family's honor."

In reality, when I got the call to come and collect my mother's belongings, I was shaking with fear.

I had grabbed his arm, asking if he could come with me.

But my husband didn't even have the patience to hear my full request before rushing out the door.

In my last life, Lorenzo told me countless times that there was nothing between him and Isabella. He swore on the Moretti family honor that he would never betray me.

But Isabella always came before me.

It was all so pointless, really.

In my past life, I worked so hard to maintain the grace and poise of a lady from a good family.

But now, I didn't have to pretend anymore.

Because I genuinely didn't care.

"She's your brother's widow," I said with a smile. "You should be there for her."

Lorenzo seemed to relax a little.