Chapter 2Reborn to Walk Away

I had given specific instructions to the chef to tailor tonight’s dinner to Anna’s preferences.

Upon entering the manor, I was met by a maid who informed me that Alessandro had already started dinner.

I glanced at the time and noted that dinner began an hour earlier than usual.

“Amora, you’ve got to try the foie gras. It is exceptional.”

My gaze swept past their half-eaten plates. “Dinner seems early today.”

“It’s the doctor’s orders. Anna needs to have her dinners at six, so we’re moving the time up.”

As I nodded, the pungent smell of foie gras made me sick to my stomach.

The maid served me a plate of steak. Fighting back the urge to throw up, I held my cutlery to begin dining.

Sitting across from me, Anna put down her cutlery and stared intently at my steak.

“Is there more of this steak? I’m craving one.”

“My apologies, ma’am, but that was the last steak. We do have more foie gras. Would you like some?” The maid replied tenderly.

This was something I had the chef prepare and reserved for me today.

Furrowing her brows, Anna rubbed her belly. “Amora’s steak is tempting me. I bet my baby is hungry for it.”

Alessandro looked at my plate. “Amora, let her have your steak. You can have the foie gras.”

I pursed my lips. “But I—”

Before I could finish my sentence, Alessandro reached out and grabbed the plate from me.

Anna speared a piece of meat and smiled sweetly at me.

“Thank you, Amora. The baby loves it.’

When the maid set a plate of foie gras down in front of me, the rich smell of the pâté hit me, and I couldn’t help but retch.

Under their stunned gaze, I made a mad dash to the bathroom and threw my guts up into the toilet, my hands clinging to the bowl.

It was a while before Alessandro returned to our bedroom and found me reading a book in bed.

Sitting by the bed, he spoke critically, “Amora, there you are again with your temper. Are you refusing dinner out of spite?”

Bitterness washed over me. In the past, Alessandro would hold my hand the entire night when I doubled over from menstrual cramps.

Now, he didn’t even care enough to ask why I had thrown up.

I answered dismissively, “I wasn’t hungry. We used to have dinner later.”

With his muscles relaxing, Alessandro took my hand. His eyes lit up when a thought struck him.

“I’m putting together a blessing for Anna in a couple of days, where the priest will bless the baby, and I’ll be named the child’s godfather.”

Despite convincing myself not to care about Alessandro’s favoritism toward Anna, I couldn’t stop my heart from breaking.

Our wedding anniversary was also coming up.

On every previous anniversary, Alessandro would plan a surprise ahead of time and celebrate the day with me.

This year, the celebration slipped his mind.

“Alright. I’ll organize it.” I nodded and volunteered to help. “I'll plan everything exactly the way she likes it.”

Alessandro paused for a minute, a complex of emotions fleeting across his eyes.

In the past, we had fought many times over Anna. Yet now, I was even willing to hold a blessing or her, something Alessandro could not get used to.

Shrouded in hesitation, Alessandro seemed to have something on his mind. Eventually, he simply nodded and added, “Just do as you see fit. Keep it simple, as the pregnancy has been hard on her. Safety first.”

“Sure,” I responded, keeping all my grievances locked up inside.

With a tender look on his face, Alessandro tried to pull me into his arms.

I pushed him away.

“You should check on Anna. It’s difficult for her to get around, so she could use the help.”

Alessandro pulled a long face.

“Aren’t you worried about me getting too close to her?”

I shook my head.

“She’s your late brother’s widow. It’s only right for you to treat her right. She only has you to lean on now that Lorenzo is gone, right?”

I would not stand in their way again.

With tension easing along his facial lines, Alessandro held me gently.

“What’s the matter? Before, you’d be acting up by now.”

I didn’t make a sound.

He met my eyes tenderly, his lips curling.

“You’re finally being reasonable, Amora. Anna’s pregnant, and she needs us more than ever. It’s time to drop the petty jealousy.”

‘You have a point, Alessandro. I won’t ever get mad at you again.

The Amora who got jealous, made a scene, and loved you to bits is long gone.’