Page 154 of Grumpy Boss of the Year

“Do not be sad.” She stands up and pulls me into a hug, holding me close to her heart. “Everything will be okay. Trust in God.” She pats my back and makes soothing noises, and it's as if I’ve been transported to my days as a baby. I can almost remember being in her arms, having her coddle me. I am safeand warm and loved. We stand there for about ten minutes, and I listen to her heart beating as she sings words I don’t understand into my ears. “I love you, little Betta,” she says finally, and I step back.

“I love you too, Momma.” I lightly kiss both sides of her cheeks, and she beams at me before taking a seat.

“I’m tired... Monica, I’m ready for a nap,” she calls over to the nurse who heads back. “Be safe, dear child.” She grabs my hands and squeezes it. “Do you know your way back?”

“Yes, I do.” I nod and squeeze her hand back. “I’ll see you again soon.”

“I would like that,” she murmurs as I head back down the garden path to the front of the facility, where my father’s driver is waiting to take me back to the villa.

I walk slowly, my head and heart full of love and frustration. I wanted so much from this meeting. I had so many questions. Yet, none of what I wanted to say had been said. I’m starting to realize that maybe none of those answers would ever come. Life brings us pain and joy, and sometimes, there is no resolution or solution to the holes left in our hearts. Everything isn’t just color or black and white. There isn’t always a right or wrong answer, and people do what they think is best, with only the information they have. I don’t fully understand my mother’s mental health issues or what she’s gone through, yet I know my mother and father made the decisions they thought were best for me and them.

I want to hate them for the secret. I want to scream and shout and blame all my wounds on them, but I have to give them grace.

My mind drifts to Liam as I enter the back of the waiting car. He lied to me. Omitted something huge from me that had the potential to destroy my life. And all for money. Yet, as we drive through the small, narrow roads and I stare at the lush, green fields and beautiful flowers, I’m reminded that there canbe beauty in pain and sorrow. Liam also did the best he could with the information he’d gathered. And ultimately, he did tell me the truth.

I still love him.

I still want him.

But I don’t know how I could ever take him back into my life.

How I could ever trust that I could and would come first?

Because ultimately, what I want in life is true love.

A love that no other forces could ever come across.

And while I knew he is that for me, I don’t know if I’m that for him.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Liam

Romeo and Skye are glaring at me, the hostility in their eyes radiating so strongly that I feel quite uncomfortable. I know why they are upset, and I’m glad that Elisabetta has such amazing friends and family, yet I want them to understand.

“You can leave, you know,” Romeo snarls at me. “Elisabetta is over you and your lies, Mr. Not Prince Charming.”

“I know that you’re her brother and protecting her, but?—”

“Well, the joke is on you. I’m not her brother. Her father never actually got divorced from her mother, so my mom was just the mistress.” He crosses his arms. “Which means I can legally marry her and…” His voice trails off, and he pretends to puke. “I can’t even joke about that...she’s still my sister.”

I watch as he exchanges a glance with Skye, and I wonder if I should just take their advice and leave. They’ve both been in the villa for two weeks now, with Elisabetta and myself, and every single day, they tell me to leave while Elisabetta ignores me. Yet I’m resigned to stay until she at least has a conversation with me.

I want to see how she is doing. Hear firsthand about her meetings with her mother, whom she visits every other day—sometimes with her father and sometimes without. I know it has to be an emotional time for her, and I want to provide my support, but she doesn’t want to talk to me. She won’t even make eye contact with me, and it is killing me inside.

“He doesn’t mean to be rude.” Skye makes a face. “We just don’t understand why you’re still here when Elisabetta has made it quite clear that she has no interest in what you have to say.”

“Have you ever loved someone so much that you want to be there for them, even if they don’t want you there?” I lean back in the chair and cross my legs. “I know neither of you may understand this, but I know Elisabetta is hurting. I know this is a lot for her. I know how badly she wanted a relationship with her mother. Even though she smiles and laughs at breakfast, I can see those tiny little moments where her smile turns to one of sadness or regret, where she looks lost, heartbroken, and unsure. I’ve never had a loved one, or even friends that I know of, have mental health hurdles in their life, and I don’t have any medical or spiritual answers, but I want to be a support to her. A shoulder she can lean on or cry on. A pillar of strength as she comes to terms with a loss she has been dealing with her entire life. I know that I can’t fill any holes, but I can be there to help bathe the cut. I know that not telling her as soon as I knew wasn’t right. And that was maybe one of the deepest cuts, but I believe in her, I believe in me, and I believe in us. And I truly believe that true love finds a way. It will find a way.” I stare into both of their eyes with sincerity. “I love her. I need her. I want her. I will wait for her. Forever, if need be.”

“Oh, stop!” Romeo exclaims, and then he does something that surprises me. He rushes over to me and gives me a hug. “You love her, you sly old dog.”

“I do.” I look at him in surprise. “I’ve been saying?—”

“Men say they love women all the time to get some pussy...but this, this I can feel in my heart. Fuck it!” He looks back at Skye. “You know he loves her, right?”

She nods, and I can see tears in her eyes as she gets up and heads over to me, as well. “You’re an idiot, Liam Gallagher. A first-class idiot.” She sighs as she rubs my shoulder. “Thankfully for you, I’m in love with a man who’s a first-class idiot and who made me question my sanity for falling in love with him.” Her blue eyes survey me in a kind and loving way, and I can see why Kingston is so desperately in love with her.

“So what do we do now?” Romeo sighs as he looks at Skye. “She’s heartbroken at what he’s done.”

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