Page 74 of The Billionaire's Destiny

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 youleaving 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 . . .”