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I steeled myself for the difficult conversation I needed to have with Avery, my best friend. We were connected through a call, the distance acting as a shield but also leaving me wide open.
"Avery, there's something I want to share," I began, my voice laced with nervousness.
Avery's response was immediate, her concern evident. "Of course. You know you can tell me anything."
Taking a deep breath, I confessed, "Remember that trip I mentioned planning? I never actually went. I've been in the city this whole time."
A brief pause, and then Avery asked, "But why did you say you were going on a trip?"
I grappled with how to explain the complex situation. "It's... complicated. It involves Emilio, the man I've talked to you about before."
Avery remembered, her tone cautious. "Emilio? What about him?"
I delved into the story, explaining Emilio's involvement with the mafia and his strong desire to escape that life. I bared my soul about my feelings, the conflicting attraction, and how we navigated our emotions despite the challenging circumstances.
Avery's stunned silence echoed through the call, and I could almost feel the weight of her thoughts crashing down. The truth was a heavy burden, especially with the revelation of Emilio's involvement with the mafia and my unexpected pregnancy. It was a lot to take in, a lot for anyone to process.
"Avery," I finally said, my voice shaky with a mix of anxiety and vulnerability. "I know it's overwhelming. It was for me too."
She took a deep breath, her exhale audible through the phone. "Griselda, this is beyond anything I could have imagined. The mafia? And... you're pregnant?"
I nodded, forgetting she couldn't see me. "Yes. It's a lot to digest, and I didn't expect any of this to happen."
"I can't even fathom how you're feeling right now," Avery admitted, “But I think you need to be honest with him.”
Avery's advice settled like a weight on my chest, pushing me to confront a reality I wasn't ready to face. I knew she was right—honesty was crucial, especially with something as significant as a pregnancy. But telling Emilio was a step I wasn't sure I was prepared to take just yet.
"Avery," I sighed, wrestling with the emotional tempest inside me. "I know you're right. It's just... it's so complicated."
"I understand, but he has a right to know," Avery gently reminded me.
"He does," I acknowledged, biting my lip nervously. "But what if he reacts negatively? What if this is too much for him to handle?"
Avery's voice was soft but firm. "Griselda, you can't control how he reacts. All you can do is be honest and let him process it in his way."
I knew she was right. Emilio deserved to know he was going to be a father. I shouldn't keep it from him any longer. It wasn't fair to him or the baby. My fear and anxiety could no longer hold me back from doing what was right.
"I'll talk to him," I said, feeling a sense of determination kindling inside. "I'll find the right time and place, and I'll tell him."
Avery's encouragement was a beacon of strength. "That's the spirit. You've got this."
Chapter 28
Emilio
Thegrandtableinour ancestral mansion had transformed into a battleground, each seat occupied by a contender vying for the throne of the Fiore legacy.
On one side sat Uncle Luigi, and on the other side sat my older brother, Carlo. And then there was me, the reluctant contender. I had no desire to inherit this legacy. I had built my success outside the family's criminal enterprises and wanted to distance myself from the life I had grown up in.
"I won't participate in this contest," I declared, trying to diffuse the tension in the room. "I don't seek the throne, and I won't engage in this battle for power."
Carlo glared at me, clearly annoyed. "Don't pretend to be noble. You're just afraid to face the challenge."
"I'm afraid of nothing," I retorted, my resolve firm. "But I choose my battles wisely, and this isn't one of them."
Tensions flared, the arguments and counterarguments growing more heated. Words were exchanged, some laced with anger, others with frustration. The room seemed like a cauldron about to boil over.
I had to escape the cacophony. Rising abruptly, I declared my disinterest in the inheritance and leadership tussle.
