Claiming His Secret Love-Child: The Marciano Love-Child / The Italian Billionaire's Secret Love-Child / The Rich Man's Love-Child

‘Well, then.’

‘I know what you’re thinking.’

‘I’m not thinking anything.’

‘Yes, you are,’ Scarlett said, mentally rolling her eyes. ‘You’re thinking what you thought when you said goodbye to me at the airport four years ago—that I would fall in love like you did with a totally unsuitable man and ruin my life.’ Which is pretty much what I did do, she thought ruefully.

Lenore let out a sigh. ‘It’s just I can’t help worrying about you,’ she said. ‘You’re not streetwise like Sophie.’

‘You make me sound like a naïve infant.’

‘In many ways you are, Scarlett,’ Lenore said, her tone softening with maternal concern. ‘You are so trusting of people. I think that’s why you ended up with a child out of wedlock. You and I are alike in that sense. We think the best of people when they’re not worthy of it. You have to toughen up, love. I’ve had to—I wouldn’t have survived if I hadn’t.’

Scarlett let out a sigh as she pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘I know.’

‘Have you told Sophie about this…this horrible man?’

‘Alessandro’s not a horrible man,’ Scarlett said in his defence. ‘He’s Matthew’s father.’

‘He doesn’t want the role, Scarlett, so there’s no point in thrusting it upon him. Some men are like that, your father being a case in point. You’d be better to move on without him, for Matthew’s sake.’

Scarlett knew her mother was right, but a part of her—the part where her pride was stored—wanted Alessandro to accept his son as his own. She felt as if she couldn’t move forward until he did. It was like a wrinkle in a carpet—it was going to be a tripping point until it was smoothed out.

‘I know how hard it’s been for you,’ Lenore said. ‘You were in a terrible state when you came home from Italy.’ Her voice broke as she continued. ‘I sometimes think if it wasn’t for Roxanne’s support in getting your business up and running you would have given up all hope and…done something drastic…’

‘Mum…’

Her mother sniffed. ‘It’s true, darling. You were so thin and run down. But we all assumed you were grieving.’

‘I was.’ And I still am, she added silently. ‘It felt like a death at the time.’

‘Break ups are like that,’ Lenore said. ‘The only difference in this case is there’s still a body to deal with.’

And what a body, Scarlett thought, recalling how Alessandro had felt under the touch of her hands.

‘Will you be all right dealing with this man on a day to day basis?’

Scarlett felt her stomach tremble again at the thought. ‘I think so.’

‘I’m worried about you.’

‘I appreciate your concern,’ Scarlett said with heartfelt sincerity. ‘But I can handle Alessandro Marciano. He’s a part of my past—he has nothing to do with my future.’

‘He might have more to do with your future if he suddenly realises he has a son,’ Lenore pointed out. ‘What if he meets Matthew some time in the future?’

Scarlett pressed her lips together. ‘He doesn’t want to meet him, and to tell you the truth I’m starting to think he doesn’t deserve to, for what he’s put me through.’

‘It’s understandable that you’re angry with him,’ Lenore said. ‘But think how dreadful it would be if you still felt something for him.’

There was another short but loaded silence.

‘You don’t still care for him, do you, Scarlett?’ her mother asked with an anxious edge to her tone.

‘No, Mum. I feel nothing but hatred towards Alessandro Marciano,’ she said, trying not to think of how his mouth had felt on hers earlier that day. ‘I will never forgive him—ever.’

‘Why did you agree to take on this project if you loathe him so much?’ Lenore asked.

‘I’ve worked for difficult clients before.’

‘You will be careful, won’t you, love?’

‘Mum, stop worrying about me. I know what I’m doing.’

‘How much is he paying you?’

‘A lot.’

‘How much?’

‘Enough,’ Scarlett answered. ‘I’ll be able to get into the black with my business loan.’

Lenore sighed. ‘I wish I’d been able to help you a bit more, but my welfare payment is hardly enough to live on and—’

‘Mum, stop it. We’ve been through this a hundred times before. I’m twenty-six years old, far too grown up and independent to be taking money off my mother.’

‘I know, sweetheart, but Sophie’s done so well, I just wish—’

‘Mum, this is me you’re talking to, not Sophie. I want different things for my life. I would go crazy living like Sophie does. I hate coffee mornings and bridge parties. I don’t want or need a rich husband and designer clothes to feel good about myself.’

‘I know that, darling, but sometimes I wish you were a bit more established financially,’ Lenore said. ‘Wouldn’t it be nice if you could find a nice man to settle down with, perhaps have another child, a little half-brother or sister for Matthew?’

Scarlett closed her eyes as she fought against the ambivalence of her feelings. She had one child, a perfect little son who was the image of his father. She wasn’t ready to think of having another child by another man. The few dates she had been more or less coerced into by her sister had confirmed she wasn’t quite ready to move on.

‘Scarlett?’

‘I’m OK, Mum, really,’ Scarlett reassured her. ‘It’s just been a heck of a day, that’s all.’

‘Yes, love, of course it has,’ Lenore responded. ‘It must have been so hard seeing him again.’

‘Yes… Yes, it was…’

There was a small silence.

‘Scarlett?’

‘It’s all right, Mum. I’m not in any danger of making the same mistake twice.’

‘I know, but history has a habit of repeating itself, as you know from my experience. I took your father back, and while I’m glad I did, because it meant you were born as a result of our brief reconciliation, I wouldn’t want to see you get hurt all over again.’