Chapter 7 - THE PRICE OF HER FATHER'S LOYALTY
My father arrived at the estate without warning.
He looked furious.
“Ginevra.”
I stood in the library.
“Father.”
He glanced around.
“Where is your husband?”
I crossed my arms.
“Working.”
Vittorio frowned.
“I need to speak with him.”
“About what?”
He ignored the question.
I stepped in front of him.
“Father.”
He stopped.
I took a breath.
“Did you know Dario has been asking about my schedule?”
His expression changed.
For a moment, he said nothing.
Then:
“Stay out of matters you don't understand.”
My stomach tightened.
I stared.
“What have you done?”
Vittorio looked away.
I stepped closer.
“Father.”
He swallowed.
“It's complicated.”
My heart sank.
I knew that phrase.
It was what men in our world said when they wanted women to stop asking questions.
“Tell me.”
Vittorio rubbed his face.
“Dario approached me about a business arrangement.”
I froze.
“What arrangement?”
He hesitated.
Then whispered:
“He wanted access to certain shipments.”
I stared.
“And you agreed?”
Vittorio looked down.
My stomach dropped.
“You used me again.”
He looked up.
“Ginevra—”
“No.”
My voice broke.
“You married me to Elio to secure your business.”
I swallowed.
“And now you're making deals with his cousin behind his back?”
Vittorio's face reddened.
“You don't understand—”
“I understand perfectly.”
I stepped away.
For the first time in my life, I wasn't afraid of disappointing him.
When Elio returned, I told him everything.
He listened without interrupting.
Then asked:
“Are you sure?”
I nodded.
“Yes.”
Elio closed his eyes.
Then whispered:
“Dario.”
For a moment, I saw the ruthless man everyone feared.
But when he looked at me, his voice softened.
“Thank you for telling me.”
I stared.
“You're not angry with me?”
Elio shook his head.
“No.”
He stepped closer.
“You didn't make those choices.”
My eyes filled.
For twenty-two years, my father's mistakes had been treated as my responsibility.
May you like
Now someone was finally telling me they weren't.
And I hated how much that mattered.
