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I heard a knock on the door, and I jumped up as if I had been caught in the act, doing something very wrong. In fact, I was, I just didn't think they would find out that quickly.
Could it be that Uncle Mateo's men were spying on my phone?
I took the device and deleted the messages and video call records. It was better that no one knew, because I wouldn't know how to react if they found out.
“Pietra!” My mother's voice came followed by another knock.
“One second.”
I got up from the bed and unlocked the door, turning the handle and stepping back so my mother could enter my room.
“Is everything okay, sweetie?” She ran her hand through her brown hair, placing a strand behind her ear and looked at me, analyzing me.
“Yes.” I struggled to give a half-hearted smile that, instead of helping me, ended up completely giving away my excuse.
“You were acting strange all lunch.” She sat on my bed and patted the space beside her, so I could sit there.
“I was just thinking.” I laid my head on her shoulder and stared at the white ceiling as an excuse not to stare at her.
“About what?”
“Medical school,” I hurried to respond and said the first thing that crossed my mind.
If I weren’t risking telling who I was involved with even to my twin, I wouldn't do it to my mother either. I knew very well how close she and my father were, it would only be a matter of time before it got to him, and confusion would ensue within the entire family.
The princess of the Italians could not get involved with the chief of the Russians.
He wanted me and it was the most insane thing to think about. The worst of it was that I felt like I wanted him more and more. I remembered reading somewhere about the forbidden being more attractive and I couldn't have predicted it to be so maddening.
“What is worrying you about the course?”
“Hmm.” I fidgeted on my mother's shoulder, completely oblivious to what she was saying.
“I asked you a question.”
“Eh, nothing.”
“Nothing what?”
“Just nothing, mom.”
“Pietra Bellucci!” She grabbed my wrists and made me turn around, looking at her as if I had no escape but to tell the truth. “I am your mother. You know you can talk to me about anything. You have become a grown woman and I know that some weights and obligations may be driving you crazy.”
“That’s it.” I exhaled sharply. It wasn't a complete lie. My family obligations were driving me crazy. I wasn't like other women in the world who had the right to fall in love with whoever they wanted.
“Look at me, daughter.” My mother cradled my hands in hers and began to caress them. “I know this moment isn’t easy because I’ve already been through it. The anguish and waiting to marry a man you don't even know well.”
“Uncle Mateo said you left Dad at the altar.” I tried to laugh and relax into the conversation a little more, but her serious look reprimanded me and made me shrink.
“It was the most hasty and foolish decision I’ve ever made.”
The regret in her eyes made me swallow hard and regret having said that.
“Remember one thing, Pietra. In positions like ours, hasty decisions put many people's lives at risk, including ours.”
“I know, mom.”
“So always keep that in mind.”
