Page 185 of The Italian Obsession

“No. I’m defending my brothers’ rights. This company is as much theirs as it is mine.”

“They don’t want it,” she whispers through tears. “Have you lost your mind, Enrico? This isn’t about your brothers, and you know that. This is about the deception, and I promise you, they only did it to protect you at your father’s insistence. I understand why you are angry with him, but for God’s sake, don’t make your staff pay for his mistakes.”

I glare at her, my anger rising dangerously close to the surface. “Giuliano and Stefano Ferrara are dead. I’m in charge now.”

We stare at each other in a battle of the wills. For the first time in my life, I’ve seen a fiery side of my mother I didn’t know existed.

“Why?” I ask. “Why did you stay married to him when you knew he loved another?”

She wipes away a tear, and guilt fills me. I hate that I’m upsetting her.

“Because, out of all the men in the world, nobody loved you and your brothers as much as your father did. He would have died in an instant to save your life.”

This time, it’s my eyes that glaze over.

“And I know that you feel betrayed, Enrico,” she whispers, “but one day, when you have a son, you will feel the love that he had for you. You will understand that everything he did was only ever to protect you.”

We stare at each other. So much hurt and regret swirls between us.

“It’s true, your father and I didn’t have the marriage you thought we did. Our love was unconditional. We adored each other until the day he died. He was, and still is, my best friend. He never lied to me, Enrico. Not once. I knew where he was during every minute of every day. He loved another, yes, but that wasn’t his fault. You can’t choose who you love. But he chose to stand by me—to honor our vows and care for his sons. Our relationship was special because we both knew what he sacrificed to have it.”

Her silhouette blurs, and I blink to hide my tears. She stands, and with one last, lingering look, she walks quietly from the room.

I stare at the door to which she has just left through.

My heart hammers hard in my chest, and I pinch the bridge of my nose. Regret hits me hard. I’ve never been angry with my mother, but how can I not be? She’s lied, covered up the truth, and chosen to protect him over us. We shouldn’t have learned those things from a letter. She should have told us herself. Once again, she put his needs before anyone else’s, including her own.

I stare straight ahead, and contempt runs through my blood like poison. I can feel its tentacles taking a hold of my soul, purging the last of the good memories from the part of my heart where my father lived for so long.

I’ve never despised him more than I do at this moment. I hate that he’s hurt me so deeply.

I hope he’s rotting in Hell.

Chapter 24

ENRICO

I stare at the computer screen in front of me. I’ve achieved nothing today.

My mind keeps going over and over my mother’s words from earlier.

She said, “How dare you judge me…”

Is that what I’ve done? Am I angry with her because she didn’t stand up for herself like Olivia did with me? Does this have anything to do with my mother… or anyone but him? Is my anger being directed at the wrong people?

I exhale heavily and click into the spreadsheet that I’m supposed to be working on. My head is anywhere but here. Like my heart, it’s scrambled.

I’m full of emotions: anger, hate, and sadness. But the biggest is regret. A man I hero-worshipped isn’t who I thought he was… and now he’s gone. I feel like I need to get to know him all over again, but I can’t. It’s too late.

He’s dead.

It’s 1:00 p.m. when my intercom sounds. “Miss Reynolds is here to see you, Mr. Ferrara.”

My heart somersaults at the sound of her name. This woman brings me so much happiness. “Send her in.”

The door opens, and my love comes into view. Her beautiful face and high ponytail bring an instant smile to my face. I stand. “Hello, bella.” I take her into my arms and kiss her lips softly as I study her face. Big blue eyes smile up at me, filled with such love.

“I thought I would come and check on my man during my lunch break.”