CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
We headed into the house and Rocco muttered over his shoulder to me. “I’ll tell them we’re busy so they won’t stay long,” making it clear he wasn’t thrilled either by their surprise visit.
I exhaled, bracing myself for another round of family pressure.
But the aroma of food that drifted out made my stomach growl.
At the end of the hall, an older woman emerged, smoothing her apron and nudging her glasses up her nose.
Her voice carried down the end of the corridor. “Is that you, little Luca?”
“Micola!” Rocco called out, his voice bright with joy as he dashed down the hall into her arms. “Micola, è bello vederti. Com’è stato il volo?” How are you doing?
“Bene, bene. Grazie. Come stai?” Good, good. Thank you. How are you doing?
Rocco smiled broadly at her. “Tutto a posto.” Everything’s in place.
They exchanged kisses on each cheek before stepping apart. Rocco slipped his hand into hers and led her over to where I stood in the foyer. “This is our beloved Micola, my mother’s sister and my favorite aunt.”
“I am,” Micola replied, her eyes sparkling as she left Rocco’s side and wrapped my hands in hers. “You are Luca’s dulce Adelina. He always said you were his favorite person.”
I grinned. “I’m sure he had a long list.”
She snorted. “No. He did not.”
We all laughed at that.
She squeezed my hands once more, her smile warm. “Are you hungry, dolce ragazza?”
I smiled and shook my head. “No. Molte Grazie.”
“You’re so tiny,” she said, patting my hips. “You need to be healthy. You’re eating for two now—”
“No, she’s not.” Rocco interrupted her in a hushed tone. “We’ve just been to the doctors.”
She glanced at me, and I nodded, affirming what he told her.
Micola waved her hands dismissively. “Doctors make mistakes. I got a negative test before. Olivia had one, too, and ended up with twins. Trust me. I know what I see, and when you eat my lentil soup, you’ll know what I do. You’re pregnant.”
I kept my smile, though it was difficult after the results we were given today. Rocco shifted the conversation to what she made for the meal, and as they quietly chatted about vegetable sauces, it gave me a chance to recover.
She came back to me and cupped my face. “You’ll be fine, my lovely.” She leaned over my ear. “I promise, and you’re welcome to come into the kitchen.” I knew this was high praise, and I thanked her again before she left us.
My gaze went to Rocco, a soft smile on his face.
“Rocco, Adelina?” It was Olivia’s voice calling from the direction of the living room.
“It’ll be fine,” Rocco whispered, squeezing my hand as he led us into the room.
Nico avoided our eyes, his head bowed, while Olivia greeted us with a radiant smile. “Hello, Rocco. Adelina.”
“Hello, Mom, Dad. We had an early appointment this morning and didn’t know you were coming over.” I gave them a nod and we took seats across from them, with Rocco placing his arm around my shoulder.
Olivia let out a heavy sigh. “Some things just couldn’t wait.
We wanted to clear the air before the family meeting.
Rocco let us see Nico’s conversation with Luca on his video.
” Her eyes shimmered. Nico reached for her hand, and she clung to him, her grip visibly strong.
She glanced at me, and I shifted my legs on the seat.
Zita, filling in for Magda, arrived with four espressos and cakes. I took a sip of mine, and it was perfect, just the way I liked it. “Thank you.”
“Would you close the doors, please?” Rocco asked as Zita left.
He turned back, his voice firm. “Before we talk about the video, I want you both to apologize to Adelina. Mom, you had no right pressuring her. And Dad, you shouldn’t have asked her to do your bidding or give up her gift just to cover up your dirty secret. ”
Nico’s shoulders dropped with Rocco’s curt tone. However, his eyes shifted to me. “You’re right, son…Adelina, I’m sorry for what I did. It was wrong. I knew it, but I was—”
“Trying to hide the truth,” Rocco cut in. “That you cheated on Mom.”
“I did,” Nico admitted. “It was early in our marriage, and I’ve hated myself for doing it and tried to make up for it every day since. I love your mom; it was a big mistake.”
“It was,” Rocco said, his jaw tight. “Mom is incredible and loves you deeply. I can’t understand how you could hurt her like that.”
Nico’s shoulders drooped, and his head lowered to his lap. “I can’t either. I was a fool. You can judge me, but I’m not that man anymore.”
Rocco snorted. “I most certainly can.”
“You can, but I ask you not to,” Olivia said.
“The affair happened to me.” She touched her chest. “Me. A long time ago. Almost thirty years, and you think I’ll hold on to hatred?
Never. I already cried about it. I’m done.
I gave your father another chance because lust isn’t love.
I love your father and our family. That mattered more to me.
We had you, your brother, your sister, and a lifetime of joy and happiness. I don’t regret my choice.”
“I love our family, too,” Rocco said. “But that doesn’t mean I’m not disappointed. Mom, I can’t imagine anyone not appreciating you for the amazing woman you are. It hurts me to think of you being hurt in any way.”
She beamed. “That’s because you have such a big heart, son. Hearing how much you care fills me with pride.”
Rocco stood and wrapped his arms around his mother. She smiled, rubbing his back, and the bond between them was unmistakable. When they parted, she wiped her eyes and squeezed his hands. “Rocco, I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive your father.”
“I don’t think I can right now,” Rocco said in a gentle tone. “It’s fresh for me, but it doesn’t mean I don’t care about you, Dad.”
Nico wiped his nose with a cloth. “That’s more than I deserve. I’m grateful for that, and I’m here to talk anytime.”
“Not just to me, but Adelina,” Rocco insisted. “You don’t order her around like she’s some stranger. She’s family, and I want you to treat her with respect and care.”
“I will do better,” Nico said, his eyes shifting between the two of us.
“I accept your apology, but it’ll take some time to forgive you,” I told him. He’d been rude to me since we first met. Trust would take time.
Rocco returned to sit by me and retook my hand.
“Now, let us get to why we’re here,” Olivia said. Nico placed his arm around her, and she reached over and looked into his eyes and rubbed the hair on his jaw. “I’m fine, dear. It’s time to stop the secrets.”
Rocco’s head jerked. “What? There’s more?” he asked in a coarse tone.
I patted his hand. “Let’s listen, please.” Rocco struggled to accept that his family wasn’t perfect. I was used to family troubles, but for his mom, reliving the betrayal and confessing it to her son was the hardest part.
Her eyes filled with tears, and she ran her hands down her lap. “Maybe this isn’t a good time.”
Rocco sighed heavily. “No, please, Mom. I’m sorry for upsetting you. Go on. We’re here to listen.”
“Okay, son.” She took a sip from her cup then placed it down. Her eyes remained downcast. “I knew about the new will, and encouraged my father to add money to the child provision.”
Rocco cursed under his breath.
I grimaced. “Why?”
She cleared her throat. “I asked him because I also was worried about our family’s future. I’m sick. My cancer has come back.”
My chest tightened, and I turned to Rocco and his shocked expression. “No, that can’t be. When did you find out? Can we get a second opinion?”
Nico took her hand. “It’s true, son. We’ve been to many specialists, and the results have been the same. We found out a few months ago and have been to many doctors and specialists for second opinions. However, all the results were the same.”
I wrapped my arm around Rocco’s trembling shoulders. “I’m sorry. What kind of cancer do you have, Olivia?”
“Ovarian,” she replied. “I got a hysterectomy after having the twins, and I’ve been lucky these last twenty years.
But it came back, and I guess I was afraid you’d put off children, like my father was.
I knew Luca was sick, and when I also became sick, I feared we’d lose our chance to be here for your kids.
I see how I hurt you now, and it was wrong… I don’t want you to worry—”
“I can’t worry?” Rocco said, his voice hoarse. “You’re my mom, and you’re the best. Of course I’m worried. I love you.”
“I know you do,” she said and Nico kissed the back of her hand.
“I’m fighting it. I’m doing it here in Florence.
I’ve already started on medications, and I will have a course of chemotherapy, but the doctors are positive if I get the treatment now, I have a good chance of recovering.
” She didn’t say definite, and my heart sank.
Rocco’s head jerked a nod, his eyes watering. “We’re here for you, Mom. Whatever you need from us.”
She looked at me. “I don’t need anything anymore, and I didn’t tell you to pressure you again. It’s more to unburden myself and ask for forgiveness. I’m very sorry. I would never let anyone hurt your brother.”
I folded my arms. “I believed you would, and that doesn’t sit well with me.”
She flinched and lowered her shoulders. “I know, and I’m sorry.
I know my father, and there was no way he’d support you leaving to work on your own or using money without doing more yourself…
I didn’t want you to struggle like we did.
I appealed to the only thing that my father would consider: you starting your family.
I tried to give Rocco the future Luca wouldn’t give to us.
I only ask that you try to understand and maybe one day forgive me—”
“I do,” I said without hesitation. “I forgive you because I understand you, but I’d never allow anything to happen to my brother. I don’t want him used again by anyone. Ever.”
“And no one will dare to do it again,” Rocco said, his tone coarse.
Olivia sniffled. “I’m sorry, son, and I’m truly sorry, Adelina.”
Rocco took my hand. “We as a family support you, and I also forgive you, more because I love you, and I know you’re better than that. I can’t believe you didn’t tell me sooner. I don’t want you going through your diagnosis and treatment without me.”
Olivia sobbed.
He rose again and pulled his mother into a tight hug as she wept against his shoulder. I rose and went and hugged her, too. What she did to me was wrong, but I forgave her. I understood the pressures our families put us under. All that mattered now was that we supported each other.
When her tears subsided, she held onto his hand as she faced me. “I’ll support you and Rocco against the child provision.”
“Good,” Rocco said to her, and he looked at me. “But it’s not going to be easy now.”
He sat down with me again.
“I know,” she said. “Luca’s new will that he gave Adelina includes the child provision and two billion. It also includes that you must return to corporate or lose your position as chair on the family board. But papa was sick, and said it might not be valid. So . . .”
Rocco scoffed. “Yeah, I bet Mr. Sears will say he has the will with Luca’s most sound wishes.”
“Luca never said he wanted Mr. Sears to be chair,” Nico pointed out. “You have us on your side, son. Both of you.”
Rocco smiled and rubbed his thumb against the back of my hand. “Whatever it is, I’m ready for it and we’ll get through it as a family.”
Olivia smiled. “We will.”
Rocco hadn’t mentioned about my negative pregnancy results as we were already consumed with bad news. Olivia might have been harsh, but there was no doubt she loved Rocco and wanted the best for us.
“Adelina.”
We all turned to see Micola standing in the archway.
I grinned. “Yes, do you need some help?”
“Yes. The magic works better if the woman is working on the soup.”
Olivia rose with me. “I’m coming, too.”
Rocco leaned over and kissed my lips. I rubbed his shoulders. “Talk to him.”
We left the room, and I glimpsed Rocco deep in conversation with his father. After washing my hands, I returned to the kitchen, where Micola set me to rolling out dough and hanging pasta. There wasn’t much for me to do, but she let me taste her sauce. “Delicious.”
Olivia fussed. “It’s a bit too spicy.”
“You were born with these spices,” Micola said to her. “What do you know about taste? You don’t cook.”
Olivia scoffed. “I do cook.”
Micola rolled her eyes. “You don’t.” She turned to me. “She doesn’t cook, Adelina. She has a chef and eats at restaurants.”
Olivia smirked at her. “I taste everything.”
Micola clasped one of Olivia’s hands. “Soft as butter. Unused. No good cook has hands like these.”
I stifled a giggle.
Olivia huffed. “Not you, too, Adelina.”
Micola rolled her eyes and I lost it, laughing out loud. She then hugged Olivia and put her to work on cutting vegetables, and I took to stirring the soup again. Music started and we all started to sing along as we cooked and my heart lifted.
Olivia came over and squeezed my shoulder. “I’m happy to have you here with us.”
I was happy, too. Things can and will get better.
When we finished, I carried Rocco’s plate to the long table.
He took it from my hands, and as I sat down, he leaned in and kissed me.
Our eyes met, his gaze full of intensity and humility.
I could feel his determination to set things right.
And it was my wish that, should he ask me to try for a child in the future, I had only one answer.