His lips found her skin

"Lucius?" Evelina answered from the other side.

"Yes?" Lucius replied coldly. "Why did you ask me to message you?" he questioned, wasting no time in pleasantries.

"I'll be coming to Rome tomorrow. Let's meet," Evelina said.

"I don't want to," Lucius replied promptly. "It's strange how frequently you've been visiting Rome lately. You never did this before," he added, his words taunting, yet probing, as he tried to decipher her intentions.

"Can't I even ask you to see me? As your mother, I do have that right," Evelina stated with a hopeful tone.

"You lost that right long ago," Lucius responded coldly. "The day you chose to leave me behind… you lost me."

There was a pause before Evelina spoke again, in her unwavering voice. "I'll be waiting for you at Hotel Kipriani."

"I won't come," Lucius replied sharp.