Fabienne felt quite self-satisfied after abruptly terminating Giulio’s usual
New Year’s Eve phone call. She had to admit to herself that she had provoked
his persistence; she was not immune to his alluring charm. After all, she had
told him that after a decent interval they might meet to share a meal. In retrospect,
she may even have been hinting at a willingness to share more than that. However,
her acute awareness of the pain that Giulio had caused her precious Gabié was a
constant reminder that such a rendezvous could never happen, should never happen.
It would be the deepest and cruelest of wounds to her dear friend.

No, Hades must be sent dejected back to the underworld. He would never again have
contact with either of the two women. Unfortunately, Fabienne could not share this
moment of triumph with Gabriella; the mere mention of Giulio’s name distressed her.
Instead Fabienne would endeavor to hasten the healing of Gabriella’s psyche despite
living a continent away from her.

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