“If that’s the way you want to play it, fine. Accept our daughter’s finally fallen in love with someone and be happy for her, or give me a divorce. Your choice.” Her words hit me like a damn sledge hammer.
“You’re really making me choose?”
“It’s no different to what you’re asking of Bella, is it?” she sighed, “Lorenzo, your daughter is pregnant, and if you make her choose you already know what her answer will be.” Ana rubbed at her temples.
Could she not see what he’d done, and how fucked it was?
“He had no right!”
At this, Ana jumped up from my chair and slammed her hands flat against my desk. “Had no right falling in love? You forced them together the day you hired him.”
“Don’t you fucking put this on me! I didn’t ask them to jump into bed together… Under my fucking roof no less!” I jumped to my feet and began pacing, trying to calm myself down.
“Our roof. And that man loves Isabella with everything he has. He’s been falling in love with her since the beginning. Not only that but he brings out the best in her. And she loves him, Lorenzo. I’ve never seen our daughter so happy and out of her shell. How could you not see it?” she asked with a smirk.
“Wait… you knew?”
“Of course I knew. We all knew! And I think a part of you did too, you just didn’t want to believe it.” Sighing with a sad smile, she closed the gap between us, looking up at me. “Let her be happy, Lorenzo,” she insisted, knowing full well I couldn’t say no to her.
“Ana, I can’t… She’s supposed to be taking over and marrying someone who can stand beside her. How can she do that now with a baby in tow?” I breathed, my head banging.
“Arturo is more than capable of being Bella’s second. Go talk to her, and talk to him… Please, do this… Do it for me.” I groaned as she leaned her chin against my chest.
“Fine, I’ll talk to them. But I’m making no promises.”
“Okay… Just don’t make her choose. I can’t lose my daughter.” she wrapped her arms around me, squeezing me gently.
“I can’t believe you threatened to divorce me… That was a low blow, Mrs Ricci.”
Ana laughed a sweet little giggle, and I knew she was never going to make me choose, just like I would never make Isabella choose.
“Thank you.” I whispered.
“Anytime.”
“So, you all really knew?” I asked, intrigued by her answer.
“Oh,mi amore, we all knew.”
Brilliant.
52
The following morning,I tapped on the office door, already knowing what was awaiting for me on the other side.
“Come in.” He called.
I pushed open the door, his face falling the second he saw me.
“Where’s Isabella?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.
“Asleep, I think everythin’ since yesterday has caught up with her.”
I settled into the chair opposite, his eyes narrowing as I did.
“Lorenzo, I?—”
“You’re what? Sorry?” I could see he was holding back, something he wasn’t used to.