Chapter 13 #3
But then he quickly sobered as his features darkened in pain.
"I blame myself for Alessio and me not being close.
I didn't make the wisest choices when it came to my love life.
I fell in love quickly and married just as fast. He went through a lot of stepmothers, and nearly all of them were cold, including his own. "
He hesitated before he spoke on. "I worry that you do not reciprocate Alessio's affection. If that is the case, I would prefer you put him out of his misery and divorce him. All of this." He pointed to his surroundings. “It's not important when it comes to my son's happiness."
I stared at him in shock, my hand gripping the handle of my teacup so tightly I thought it might break. If he hadn't been looking so pensive, I would think he was joking. Hollow laughter broke out of me, pulling me from my stupor.
"I'm afraid you've got the wrong end of the stick. It's Alessio who doesn't return my affection." I shook my head at such an outrageous statement from him. And if I sounded a little bitter…well, who could blame me?
With a dismissive grunt, Cesare slashed the air with his hand. "What nonsense is that?"
"Alessio…" I swallowed hard, not believing that I was discussing such matters with his father. "Alessio has mistresses."
He shot me a surprised look. "You are sure?"
"I will always be discreet."
"Oh, I'm sure," I muttered.
He threaded his fingers together on his stomach, his expression thoughtful. "And this is a deal breaker to you?"
The question wasn't offensive. As much as Cesare professed his love for his previous wives, I was sure he hadn't been faithful to them. After all, love didn't equal faithfulness in a world full of excess wealth, power, and beautiful temptation.
But as uncomfortable as this conversation made me, I couldn't stop myself from confiding in him.
Alessio and I had been married for over two years now, yet I knew practically nothing substantial about his life outside our marriage.
Cesare was revealing more to me in the span of forty minutes than I'd ever gotten out of my husband.
"Not at first. Not when we first married.
He was open with me that he would have lovers outside our marriage.
We weren't in love, and I had no delusions that we were anything more than just a merger of two powerful families.
" My breath escaped me, low and exhausted.
"But eventually…" I shook my head, the truth dying on my lips.
"Eventually, you fell in love with my son."
Red scored my cheeks, and I glanced anywhere but at him. "But he doesn't love me." I was sure about that. "And I don't think what we currently have now…is going to work for me anymore."
Cesare snorted, leaning forward in his seat.
"What nonsense is this? Not love you?" He threw his hands in the air in dramatic fashion, shaking his head.
"He's practically giving tortured poets a run for their money by all the wallowing he's doing!
Not love you? He keeps your photo on his desk alongside a scraggly-looking gorilla toy, which he said you got him.
When he talks about you, he gets this sappy look in his eyes.
I only recognise it because I probably look the same way when I talk about my Katherine. "
His outraged gaze met my wild-eyed stare, and his look softened at the genuine confusion he saw there. "Look, I'm telling you this in the strictest of confidence."
His eyes danced to the empty doorway, his voice lowering to a conspiratorial whisper.
"Alessio did not need to go through with this marriage.
I felt guilty about potentially sending him into an unhappy union when he already half despised me.
Your father and I discussed it, and he agreed to a higher buy price in exchange for your nuptials to be called off.
I guess he got an attack of the conscience, too, and didn't want the same fate for his daughter. "
My face blanched from shock, my mind in confused turmoil at so many new bombshells. "What? I had no idea. Dad never told me."
He shook his head. "No, and he wouldn't have.
Not when there was no longer any need to.
You see, Alessio agreed to the new deal.
He was more than happy for us to pay the higher price.
" His dark brows pulled together as he recounted his tale.
"But then Alessio asked to meet you, and after that, he backed out of the new plan, instead agreeing to the marriage. "
My mouth dropped open. I was rendered speechless by this reveal. What in the world?
"I don't know what happened, but I figured some sort of love at first sight occurred." He glanced at me expectantly, as if I had the secret to Alessio's inner workings.
"Look. I don't know why my son is acting foolish.
I don't know why he hasn't told you that he loves you.
I don't know why he is being so stubborn.
I can only assume it's because he has very poor examples of marriage.
My marriage to his mother, all my other wives…
Christ, even Giada's husband is having an affair with his personal assistant.
" He shot me a sharp look. "Do not repeat that. "
I shook my head. Of course I wouldn't, although I wasn't surprised.
"I will say no more," Cesare said, as he rose from his seat. I scrambled upright, my legs feeling like jelly. "I came here hoping to put an end to a marriage that I was sure would make you both miserable in the future. But I can see that I couldn't be more wrong—and more grateful to be so!"
Renewed hope bloomed in my chest. I stopped Cesare before he walked to the door. "Can I ask you something? Were you…are you faithful to Katherine?"
Cesare's large frame stiffened, and shame crept over his features.
"Not at first," he softly confirmed. "I love her, but I always assumed she married me for status and wealth.
She left me for three miserable months, and I quickly realised what a fool I'd been to assume that she would be like all my other women.
I wised up fast, and luckily she forgave me.
" His smile was sad, and I could feel the depths of his regret.
"There will be no other woman for me but my Katherine. "
He paused, his eyes lifting to me. "And I know my son feels the same about you."