Chapter 2

When I woke up the next day, Matteo was already gone.

A note was left on the table.

[I went to take care of Sofia.]

I threw the note into the trash and went to the underground trauma center.

I was the youngest neurosurgery director in the Family's medical network.

Today there was a highly difficult surgery.

I stood for thirteen hours.

Finally walking out of the operating room, I was almost too exhausted to stand.

A colleague handed me a bottle of water: "Dr. Vargas, you broke the record again."

I smiled and said nothing.

Returning to the office, I saw a thermos on the desk.

It was delivered by Matteo.

I opened it, and inside was my favorite squab soup.

The soup was still warm.

I put the lid back on and pushed it aside.

My phone rang; it was a call from Matteo.

I didn't answer.

He sent another message: "Did you drink the soup? Made it just for you."

I replied with one word.

"Yes."

He replied quickly.

"I'm sorry, I was impulsive yesterday."

"Elena, after all our years together, let's not fall apart over this small matter."

I stared at that message and didn't reply for a long time.

At night, I returned to the Manhattan penthouse we prepared as our marital home.

Someone was standing at the door.

It was Sofia Conti.

She was wearing a hospital gown, pale-faced, and looked at me timidly: "Dr. Vargas."

"Why are you here?" I asked.

"Matteo brought me out." She lowered her head: "He said the sanitarium is too depressing."

I took out my keys to open the door: "Do you need something?"

"I... Can I come in and sit down?"

"No." I refused directly.

She bit her lip and tears fell: "Dr. Vargas, I know you don't like me, but I really have nowhere else to go."

"Matteo said he would take care of me, just like my brother took care of him."

"I just want... to have a home."

I looked at her, only finding it ridiculous: "Your home shouldn't be my home."

I pushed the door open to go in, preparing to close it.

She suddenly stuck her foot in the doorway and tumbled inside.

Her forehead hit the doorframe and immediately turned red.

"Ah!" she cried out in pain.

Matteo rushed out from the elevator lobby.

He shoved me aside and helped Sofia up.

"Sofia, are you okay?"

Sofia trembled in his arms, crying and shaking her head.

Matteo looked up and glared at me: "Elena, do you have to be like this?"

"Did I push her?" I asked.

He didn't speak, just held Sofia, his eyes full of disappointment.

"She is my fallen friend's sister, he died for me, she is homeless now, and her mental state is unstable."

"I just want her to stay here temporarily, is it that hard?"

"This is our marital home." I reminded him.

"It's just temporary!" he emphasized.

I looked at him, unable to say a single word.

He carried Sofia past me, walking into our home.

Into our master bedroom.