Episode 19

Amanda could do nothing but weep after reading the vile letter from the man who claimed Alex had sold her to him—a thought so repugnant concerning what he did to women that it turned her stomach and sent her dashing to the bathroom to expel her breakfast. The most painful realization was that Alex surely knew of the man's depravity, yet still traded her to him while professing his love.

Now she recognized that she had always been a burden to him; all the care, all the spoiling was merely because he was biding time until he could auction her off to the highest bidder.

His actions were so abhorrent she would never forget or forgive, even after his death—and she did not feel guilty for that. She ought to feel relief that she was with Vincenzo now, and not under the thumb of the detestable Don Luigi Morelli. Surely the ordeals she would have suffered at Don Luigi's hands would be a thousand times worse than Vincenzo's boorishness toward her, especially now that she pieced together the facts with what was written in Don Luigi Morelli's letter.

When her brother expressed regret for selling her to Vincenzo and said he would abscond with her, he actually intended to deliver her to this perverse man, treating her like goods he had purchased, and heavens knows what she would be undergoing in his clutches at this very moment. The mere thought sent a shudder of disgust and fear through her entire being.

Amanda stood up, washed her face, brushed her teeth, and started preparing for the journey. She felt apprehensive, wondering what solution Vincenzo had devised to settle things with the Sicilian mobster, and whether he might think that delivering her to him was the best way to protect his father and their business dealings. After all, Vincenzo had already claimed her virginity and taken her to bed again. Would he truly value her so little as to risk his family's safety and his business ventures? But if Vincenzo was so possessive of her that he forbade his cousin from even approaching her, then deep down, he must feel something more than mere desire for her—at least, that was what she hoped he felt.

Even though he said she was only good for one thing—with his words reducing her to nothing more than a bed partner and offering no affection after their intimacy—she chose to believe he couldn't be capable of casting her into the hands of that perverted man.

Amanda quickly showered, slipped into an exquisite red silk and lace thong, and donned a backless black halter-neck dress with a modest front neckline, complementing it with silver strappy high-heeled sandals. She then applied light makeup to conceal the pallor and dark circles from restless nights at Vincenzo's abode.

Mrs. Helena informed her that her bags were already packed on Vincenzo's private jet, which was ready and waiting at his private airstrip. It was then Amanda remembered to ask Mrs. Helena what she had long been curious about: why there were clothes belonging to Vincenzo in her room's closet. Mrs. Helena replied simply that since they were to be married, he requested she start putting some of his clothes near hers in the closet.

In reality, Amanda knew this was just an excuse he'd fabricated to conceal that he frequented the room of the woman he claimed as his fiancee, would shower, and then leave either to his own room or to the beds of Sabrina or some other woman immediately afterward.

Vincenzo glanced at his watch, growing impatient, when Amanda appeared, breathtaking, her long hair draping one side of her face, wearing the black dress that magnified her beauty even amid the tension. Instantly, he was aroused, an inconvenience he'd have to deal with during the entire trip to Italy unless he made use of the private bedroom at the back of his jet, providing all the privacy they needed for him to make love to her until both were spent. Perhaps this would also help to alleviate both his and her tension.

"Apologies for the delay, but I...," she started.

"No need to apologize—every second was worth the wait. You look spectacular," Vincenzo replied, his eyes trailing over her body with an evident desire. Amanda, too, noticed how handsome he looked, fresh from a shower with damp hair, wearing black pants and a dark blue long-sleeved shirt that exuded a dangerous sensuality.