Marco

I walk towards Valentina's door, the air still feeling charged with the unresolved tension from earlier. Father's sudden appearance has thrown everything off balance. If I knew he was coming, I would have prepared mentally, physically and financially.

Just before I knock, Father appears behind me.

“Father, not now,”I say, my tone sharper than intended.

“Can you at least hear me out?” he pleads, and I begrudgingly agree, leading him to a more private corner of the hallway.

“Make it quick,” I say, my patience wearing thin.

Father takes a deep breath “Marco, I'm sorry for how I acted earlier at the table, that was insensitive of me. I don't know what came over me. That wasn't fair to you, and I want to make things right.”

I sigh knowing Becca must have put him up to this. I really need to have a word with him. There's no way I'm going to have my previous life play a repeat, not with everything I've been through.

“You are not saying anything.”

“Father, if we’re going to build any father