When you finally go back to your old hometown, you find it wasn't the old home you missed but your childhood.

-Sam Ewing

Rafe Moretti's POV

I still didn't know what madness has possessed me into coming to this birthday party of Cesare. Coming here was a mistake. I realized it as soon as I arrive. Here I was having lunch at the formal dining room of the Palazzo di Fiorenza with my godfather, Laila and Leila, and their respective husbands, and of course, Enzo. this must be the most awkward lunch I ever had in my life.

Two men didn't stop sending me dark looks since I sat at the dinner table. But I was not surprised since I was probably the subject of their jealousy. I hid my smile that was the only reason I could think of why they were kept on sending me hateful glares.

The painful silence broke out when the birthday celebrant spoke directly to his nephew. "I want you to retire from the military, Vicenzo. It's time for you to manage your parent's business and start your own family. You are not getting any younger."

The man merely rolled his infamous green eyes. "Three things, uncle: one, don't call me by my full given name it makes me cringe when you call me like that 'Enzo' is fine. Two, I don't want to manage my parent's business you've been taking care of it for years I don't think few more decades will hurt you. And three, I will not quit in the military."

Cesare threw a thunderous look at him. "You nearly died with the explosion! How long do you think you can stay alive with this dangerous work you have? This is the reason why I couldn't die yet. How can I face your parents again? I didn't raise you well just to waste your life."

"You are worst than our ground commander when it comes to giving us lectures, uncle. Besides, I've cheated death countless times before." Enzo stated arrogantly that made his uncle's cold green eyes narrow. "And to be honest, you will not die anytime soon. You are way stronger than buffalo."

Leila was the only one who dared to laugh out loud at Enzo's statement. She was rewarded a glare from her father. "What is so amusing, young lady?"

"Enzo's observation about you, Patri. What else?" She said between laughter. "He's correct you are way stronger than a buffalo. I think you going to celebrate your 100th birthday alive and kicking."

Cesare didn't waste his time to start his lecture at the dinner table with rapid Sicilian. Leila continued to eat her food completely ignoring her father's sermon.

"That's enough, Patri." Laila put in once he was done with his lecture about life. "Think about your health. Your doctor told you not to stress yourself too much. Don't mind Leila and Enzo you know they are just teasing you. We love you so much, that's why we throw a birthday celebration for you tomorrow."

My godfather scoffed, drinking his wine. "I still don't understand why you want to invite other people for my birthday. I hate parties." He pointedly looked at Laila. "And what I don't understand is why you bother to invite Marco Orsini for my birthday? I still haven't forgiven him with his stunt asking your hand in marriage and then marrying his secretary instead."

We heard Nikos Pallis cleared his throat. Cesare raised an eyebrow in his direction. "Why? Do you need water for that cough, boy?"

"No, sir." The Greek man answered politely. But I couldn't miss the way his blue eyes darkened.

Leila's husband smirked. "He is just jealous of his own friend. He couldn't accept the fact that his wife was once engaged to his friend."

Laila smiled at her husband before focusing her attention on her father. "I told you before, Patri. Marco is a good friend of ours and Francesca is not his secretary."

The Fiorenza patriarch didn't answer just focus on eating his food. When silence filled the dining room again I had the chance to study Laila discreetly. What I told my wife had been correct then. I was finally got over my love for her. I didn't felt the same pain seeing her with her husband anymore.

I sighed deeply, staring at my slightly untouched food. I should have told her personally about my past with the Fiorenza twins. But I feared her reaction. I didn't want her to jump to conclusion that I was still harboring secret feelings for Laila. And my fear came true last night she started to accuse me of things. I still don't know if my decision to leave without saying goodbye to her had been correct.

If I had to be honest with myself I didn't want to see the pain in her eyes. I wanted to wipe away the ache I saw in her eyes last night but I feared that she wouldn't let me and tells me that she doesn't trust me anymore. I don't think I could bear her rejection.

"I'm surprised to see you come back alone, Rafaelle." Cesare broke the silence again. "Where is she?"

I looked at my godfather. I felt my cheeks warming again. Let it to him to open that subject again with his family were also present.

"What are you talking about, Patri?" Leila asked interestedly. She looked at me with gleaming eyes. "Do you have a girlfriend, Rafe?"

I didn't want to be the center of their attention. But before I could answer I heard the familiar English accent. "Hello," She announced with such confidence. "Do you have an extra plate for Rafe's wife?"

Everyone stared at her while I blink several times making sure that she wasn't a product of my hallucination. Jesus Christ, she's here.

Coco Spencer's POV

I looked at the collective reaction of the people having heartily lunch. I wanted to laugh at their naked shock upon announcing my arrival.

"Wife?" One of the green-eyed twins with shorter hair asked indecorously. It wasn't hard to guess which of the role she played in Rafe's past before from the tone of her voice. She's the ex-fiancée. From what I read on the internet she's the rebellious one, the partygoer. She looked directly at my husband. "You are married, Rafe?"

I also looked at him waiting for him to confirm or deny my announcement. One wrong answer came from his mouth I would create havoc in this lunch party. It seemed that the man on the hot seat was lost for words. "Um...yes."

The crowd couldn't hide their shock hearing his answer. While they were in their state of shock my gaze slid to the other twin. My confidence slightly went down as I get a good look at her. The subject of my jealousy, I thought silently as my mouth twisted with distaste. She's what I expected her to be.

Refine. Elegant. Well-mannered. And almost perfect. No wonder why Rafe fell for her hard. She was his ideal girl. The girl he could introduce to his family that they would surely approve. A good Sicilian wife, a perfect wife for a traditional man like him compared to her I was nothing but a joke.

My eyes were misted with tears, thank goodness I was still wearing my sunglasses. I am really jealous of her, isn't that right? I asked myself silently. It doesn't help the fact that she's heavily pregnant and happily married to her husband. There's something awful about seeing your husband past love right before your eyes and you couldn't see any flaw in her. I wished she's a snob like my aunt so I couldn't feel totally defeated.

"Why don't you introduce your wife to us, Rafe?" She said softly like a butterfly, her eyes dance with delight. Great, I thought to myself. She seemed so nice. She's perfect.

My husband finally recovered from his shock. He stood from his chair and went to my side. "What are you doing here?" He whispered at me. "I thought you said you don't want to come with me?"

I glared at him through my sunglasses, as I whispered back. "Do you think I will let you stay here with your ex? Do you think I will let you remember the old feeling you have for this woman while I stay in England?"

"We're waiting, amico." The young man with green eyes too said devilishly. "Are you going to perform the introduction or what?" He suddenly stood from his chair wincing in the process. He took this walking stick and approached us. He extended his hand in my direction. "Enzo Fiorenza, may I know the beautiful name of my friend?"

I took the offered hand and shook it briefly with a smile. "Corrine Cordelia Moretti, nice to meet you."

Enzo Fiorenza turned around to the silent crowd. "She's really the wife of Rafe, uncle."

"Get back here." The grey-haired man with the same cold green eyes, sitting on the head of the table commanded. "Give them some privacy to talk, Vicenzo."

The man with the walking stick groaned, walking back to his chair. "What did I tell you about the name, Signore Fiorenza?"

I heard my husband sighed deeply. "We'll talk about this later." He said in my ear. "For now, act like everything is fine between us." Before I could answer he drew me forward to the inspection of these people. "Everyone, I'd like you to meet my wife, Corrine Cordelia or Coco as she likes to be called. Mia moglie, the one sitting at the head of the table is my godfather, Cesare Fiorenza. Next to his right is Laila and her husband, Nikos Pallis. To his left, his other daughter Leila and her husband, Leandro Salazar. And of course, you meet a while ago, Enzo Fiorenza."

"Nice to meet you, everyone," I said pleasantly. "I'm sorry to gatecrash your private lunch."

"We need to go, sir," Rafe said to his godfather.

"Nonsense." He replied, gesturing for the maids they set up another plate on the table. "So this is your cara mia? She didn't gatecrash this luncheon. If I remember correctly I also invited her. So please, join us here and you can stay the night and attend my birthday party tomorrow."

"That won't be necessary, sir." I shook my head, sitting next to them feels like really an outsider to their clique. Everyone was formally dressed up while I was wearing a rip short, crop top, and knitted cardigan if you asked my hair was tied up in a messy bun at the top of my head. If I just knew that this family was so formal how I wish that I dressed properly.

"I'm inviting you," The man permitted himself to smile slightly. "Since my daughters arranged a circus birthday party for me."

"That is not a circus party!" The rebellious twin answered. "We invited your friends to celebrate your special day with them. I'm sure you will be delighted to see them."

"I don't have friends."

The rebellious twin groaned at her father. "Oh, Patri!" She looked at her twin with irritation. "Talk some sense to him, Laila."

The woman merely smiled. Even her smile was so refined. I feel insecure whenever she speak or laugh. I turned to my side to talk to Rafe when everyone resumed eating. "Are we going to stay the night here?"

He nodded, his expression remains stoic. "I'm afraid so."

Uh-oh, I thought silently. I don't think I could stay on the same roof with the Fiorenza sisters.