Authors: Melita Joy
“Vittorio are you positive?” he sounded alarmed, and there was silence while her father responded.
“Mio dio, of course, I’m angry. You pushed me into marriage; I all but forced Leilani into becoming my wife and now you are telling me it was all for nothing,” he was shouting into the phone.
Leilani’s blood iced up. She had wanted Renato to lose control, but this scene was not what she’d imagined. She stood rooted to the spot desperate to hear.
“Why did the results take this long to come in?” He fumed, and there was further silence before Renato yelled into the phone with an entirely understandable Italian expletive. “You tell her. I’m not doing your dirty work this time,” and Leilani heard him throw his phone, the sound of it crashing possibly from the wall to the floor.
Filled with dread, she walked in, “Renato?” she questioned.
“Leilani,” he looked hesitant, unsure how much she’d heard of the conversation probably. “Is everything alright,” he was caught off guard.
“Don’t play games with me. You asked me to trust you. I just heard most of the conversation you had with Vittorio,” when he didn’t respond she asked directly, “What’s going on Renato, the truth please.”
Standing up he walked over to her, “Take a seat and we’ll talk,” he insisted.
“Renato, just tell me now. You are worrying me,” what on earth was so bad that he needed her to sit down as though she were to be told of the death of a loved one.
“There is no easy way to say this. Vittorio is not your biological father,” he stated.
She gripped the nearby chair, “That can’t be,” she disagreed.
“Sit down before you fall,” he guided her to the chair and sat facing her. He took her hands in his; they felt numb and cold as though the blood in her veins had stopped pumping.
“Shortly after you arrived Vittorio organised a DNA test,” he began to explain.
“But I didn’t give permission for a test to be done,” it was the only thing that sprang to mind. Deceit and more lies had there been a moment of truth.
“He was ninety-nine percent certain you were his daughter, but he still needed the indisputable proof that only a laboratory could provide. He had me take some DNA samples from you to send in for testing,” he admitted.
Leilani just stared at him; he wanted trust, but he deserved none.
“I thought it best that you didn’t know. We had no reason to believe that it wouldn’t come back anything other than a positive match and telling you would just feed your insecurities even further,” he defended. “The start of our marriage was to be hard enough Leilani; I was trying to do right by you,” he further justified.
“You didn’t give a rats about me,” she bit back. “You did what you always, Vittorio’s bidding. You are nothing more than his pawn, and the pair of you are deceitful liars, and I wish I’d never had the misfortune to come into contact with either of you. I heard your conversation Renato, and you are right. If Vittorio is not my father, then there is absolutely no reason you should have married me. So, guess what, we can divorce and end this sham.” She ran out of the room and to her bedroom heading straight for the bathroom. Wretching, into the toilet bowl, she sank to her knees.
Her life was a mess. Leilani rose to her feet only to find that Renato was hovering behind her. “I just want to help,” he stated, passing her a wash cloth to wipe her mouth.
“I don’t need your help,” but she took the offering. “Can’t you just leave me be,” she was hurting so badly and she just needed to be on her own.
“I don’t want to leave. I want to be right here seeing you through this. Leilani I want to stay married to you. I know it’s probably not the best time to say it but I,” she cut him off with her fury.
“You wouldn’t have to be here seeing me through any of this if you and Vittorio hadn’t played God. Stop play acting, I don’t need your concern or pity Renato after all it’s not the first time I’ve been discarded,” she declared. Self-pity was rising inside of her. Finding out that the man who raised you wasn’t your father had cut her into pieces, to learn that Vittorio was also not her biological parent was just a cruel joke. Not that she had grown any particular fondness for the man, but she had thought that she had found her place. Only to have it ripped out from her before she could barely build a new foundation. It truly was soul destroying.
To hear her husband’s words that he’d had no need to marry her, it cut her even more. She felt the salty droplets splashing on her arms and realised that the dam had broken. Renato tried to embrace her, but she stepped back rejecting his offer.
Renato’s heart was tearing, she didn’t deserve any of this and Leilani was right. His actions had been despicable, and he couldn’t blame her for being repulsed by him. When she looked up at him with those vacant, destitute eyes, he knew that she’d hit rock bottom emotionally, and he couldn’t bear the damage he’d caused. His heart broke with hers, and he knew he had to let her go.
“You need space, take it. I’ll have a car, and a jet made available to you. Keep the credit cards, use them and please don’t argue,” he turned away from her not wanting her to mistake his anguish for pity. “Can I call you to check on you?” he asked for permission.
“Is there any point?” she asked bleakly.
“Yes, I still care for you regardless of what you think,” his voice gentle as though he were talking to a skittish colt. “Will you go home to your parents?”
“There is nothing there for me either. I’ve alienated my mother by marrying you. I barely had a relationship with my stepdad, however, whatever was there has been completely obliterated by now. I don’t know where I’ll go but if you wouldn’t mind I’d like to leave today,” her tone lacked emotion; she sounded flat and tired.
“I’ll instruct the driver to take you somewhere peaceful for tonight and when you are ready, whether it is tomorrow or in a few days you can instruct the driver to take you wherever you feel. He will be at your disposal.”
Renato made the arrangements and had one of the staff pack some of her belongings. Seated in the back of the luxury vehicle she didn’t look back. To do so would have only hurt her more, if that were at all possible. Leilani didn’t need to set eyes on him one last time to know that as he facilitated her departure she left him in possession of her breaking heart.
CHAPTER seventeen
Renato watched as he allowed the car to take Leilani away from him. Her words were
true;
he and Vittorio had manipulated and forced her into a marriage to suit their purpose, neither showing her any care or respect. It was no wonder that she was desperate to get away from him now. Renato needed to fix things, he may not love the woman, but he was not soulless. He’d broken her with his callous actions,
and it was up to him to make it right. Maybe then she would come back to him.
He’d grown used to having her with him, sharing breakfast and their lovemaking. He berated himself for his thoughts, maybe he truly was just a ruthless, selfish person only thinking of his needs. Renato was worried about her. The vacant, desolate look was the most concerning. She was defeated. He’d seen it in her eyes, and that damage was his fault pure and simple.
Entering Vittorio’s apartment he confronted the man, “What have we done?”
Vittorio was sitting alone in the sitting room facing the window, “She lied to me.”
Renato wasn’t sure if the old man was talking to him or himself, “What are you talking about?” he asked.
“My Rosa. I’d have done anything for that woman. Even after she left I kept helping her and all these years she was scamming me,” he breathed.
It was difficult to discern whether Vittorio was angered or in awe of Rosa’s duplicity. “How is this even possible, in a town this small surely you would have known if Rosa were seeing someone else?” he questioned.
“I think it’s about time we got to the bottom of this son, don’t you?”
He had to agree and took note of the fact that he was once again titled son. In all the confusion of Leilani’s birthright, it had been a while since Vittorio had acknowledged him as his. He waited as Vittorio made the arrangements.
Leilani asked the driver to take her out of the city. The driver had asked her if she preferred a country town or another city area. She’d responded that she didn’t mind a crowd, just as long as it wasn’t anywhere near Rome. The driver nodded his head obviously noticing her pathetic state, “Don’t worry about a thing. You will be feeling as good as new soon enough, I have the perfect place for you to stay,” he reassured her.
She thanked him politely and looked out the window mindlessly, not hearing the soft music playing in the car or the sounds of the traffic. She was numb, and she didn’t know how to reconnect with herself and the world. They stopped at the airport and if Leilani was surprised she didn’t show it. Instead, she allowed herself to be ushered to a private jet where she was taken on a short journey to Venice. After landing Leilani was taken by private boat to her hotel, the Belmond Hotel Cipriani.
The hotel was stunning and under normal circumstances Leilani would have been awed by the magic of this building sitting on the tip of the exclusive Guidecca Island. Thankfully she was taken to her room fairly quickly though it was no ordinary room. She would be staying in the Palladio Suite. It was opulently furnished with local artefacts and Murano glass if she wasn’t mistaken. Plump, overstuffed furniture and the most incredible views of the lagoon from both her bedroom and the living room. The floor to ceiling windows gave the illusion that her room was afloat in the water, isolated off a coast with a small city across the expanse in the distance.
Not knowing what to do she explored the rooms quietly, even the marble spa bathroom had water views. She made her way out onto her private terrace and slipping out of her strappy sandals popped a toe into the water of the oversized dipping pool. Perfectly heated. It was a shame she didn’t have her swimmers with her.
She checked her luggage and found nothing suitable, even though she was here by herself she wasn’t sure if any hotel staff would walk in on her. Leilani phoned reception and asked if there was a swimwear shop nearby as she’d like to take a dip in the plunge pool.
Leilani was advised to stay right where she was and within ten minutes an assortment of swimwear was gifted to her. “How did you even know what size to bring up?” this kind of service was beyond expectation.
“Your husband has given us all your details that we might need to ensure your stay with us is completely relaxing and undisturbed,” she was told by the serene woman. “Is there anything else that we can do to make your stay more comfortable?” the woman asked solicitously.
“No. Thankyou I think I will be fine,” Leilani wasn’t sure if she was supposed to tip or what to do. “I’m sorry I don’t have any cash, and I’m not sure if I'm rude by not tipping,” she admitted.
“Do not worry. You will not be expected to tip during your stay here. Mr Favalli has ensured a generous tip already which will be divvied among the staff that assist you during your stay,” she smiled and left Leilani with her new swimwear.
Leilani couldn’t understand why Renato was bothering, she’d left him, and he was no longer obligated to stay married to her. She didn’t need his pity, and she would tell him so. She dialled his number, but his phone was switched off, calling the apartment the staff advised that he was not home. Not wanting to leave a desperate trail of calls she undressed and headed for the pool. He was uncontactable and clearly not all that worried about her. Reminding herself that she meant nothing to him, she plunged into the warm water.
Leilani stayed submerged for as long as she could hold her breath. The garbled silence, complementing her apathetic state. She swam to the surface and breathed in the heady scent of the surrounding fragrant jasmine bushes. She bobbed around in the water until she grew restless and lifted herself up onto the ledge. Towel dried she sat in a pool chair and tried to relax. There was a call that she’d been putting off but if she wanted to start healing she knew she had to make it. “Hello mum.”
“What do you want?” her mum was angry that much was apparent.
There was obviously not going to be any pleasantries. Her mum didn’t with to attend her wedding and had made her feelings known regarding her dislike for the Favalli men. “I want the truth, who is my father,” she demanded.
“You know who your father is so what is this all about?” her mother asked, her voice peaking higher.
“Mum, Vittorio had my DNA tested, and I’m not his. Please just be honest with me this once,” she begged.
There was a small pause and the sound of her mother’s breath expelling, “Your father was a nobody a farmer boy,” she huffed.
“I want to know all of it. It’s my life story; surely I have a right to know who he is and how to contact him,” Leilani was furious with the lies that never ceased. She expected nothing less from her stepfather but her mother, it hurt that their relationship was unravelling like this.
“We’ll talk when you come home,” Rosa insisted.
“I want to talk now,” she volleyed.
“That’s too bad because this isn’t just about you. I did everything I could do, to raise you well, and you can’t say you were hard done-by. Now if you want to talk to me then come home and preferably without your puppet of a husband,” she scorned.
“What is that supposed to mean?” Leilani all but shouted back.
“It means that he was taken in and raised to do Vittorio’s bidding when it should have been you, and I am living there,” her mother was worked up in a fury.
“But I was never Vittorio’s so what you are saying makes no sense at all,” she flung back. Her mother was either losing her mind or there was still more to unravel.
She thought she heard the sound of her mother crying, but stoically she said goodbye and told Leilani not to call back.
Leilani was flabbergasted, what a mess this was all turning out to be. If only she’d been told the truth from the beginning, there’d be no need for all this pain and hurt. As much as she wanted to know about her father she knew that now was not the best time to see her mother. Once her mother knew of her pending divorce and saw the state she was in, she’d insist on putting her nose back into her life. Leilani had become independent long ago and refused to take that backward step.
With the relaxing benefits of the pool completely disintegrated, she decided to walk and clear her mind. Leilani had heard only good things about the streets of Venice. It would mean a short boat trip to the mainland, but it would be worth it to lose herself for an hour or two. The picturesque streets nearly all lead to small pedestrian bridges. Standing on a bridge, she watched happy couples floating beneath in their gondolas.
The activity had become quite commercialised with one gondola preceding another, but it was still romantic. City streets were filled with small boats and gondolas. She would have loved to ride in one with Renato. She couldn’t imagine him lying there though, no he would need to be in control, and he’d be the one steering the gondola. He’d also take them to less mainstream water allies and ensure a semblance of privacy. She felt the warm salty tear roll down her cheek, swiped at is and continued walking, thankful for the oversized sunglasses she had remembered to wear.
Renato and Vittorio made their presence known, ringing the bell and tapping on the door with impatience. Even though they had travelled in comfort neither man had slept and yet they were both propelled into action by their individual internal motivators.
Rosa opened the door and let the two men in, “You have a lot to answer for Vittorio,” she stated vehemently.
Sitting in the modest suburban house, on outdated and well-worn furniture Renato had to wonder what the woman had been squandering her money on throughout all the years. It was not his place to ask, but surely Vittorio would. Nothing got past the man, and this was no little thing.
“How have you been?” Vittorio asked Rosa to which she responded with an arching of the eyebrow.
Renato was surprised that Vittorio was engaging in small talk at this stage of the game.
“Very well as you can clearly see,” she swept her hand around in a sarcastic gesture. The house was immaculate, spotless but undoubtedly small and worthless.
“I want to ask,” Renato was interrupted before he got to finish his sentence.
“You’ll have your chance. I haven’t seen Rosa in over twenty-five years,” Vittorio went on not taking his eyes off her. “You are still a beautiful woman,” he said with a slight softening of his usual gruff voice.
“You’re a fool Vittorio if you think you can attempt to flirt with me after everything that you’ve done,” she rejected his pleasantries.
“Ah Rosa, you still have that spark that can ignite a man into flames. They don’t make them like that anymore boy,” he was a devil, and Renato wasn’t sure what angle was being played, but there was always an angle.
“You are a fool Vittorio, and I know why you are here and you can cut the crap,” she stated without any eloquence.
“Why lie to me for all these years Rosa? You played me for a fool,” he admitted.
“How does it feel Vittorio?” Rosa was clearly worked up.
“I loved you all those years ago; I did everything possible to support you,” he was anguished. Renato could hear it in his tone and struggled between sitting quietly and sneaking out to give them space. He stayed as he wanted to hear the truth.
“You never loved me,” Rosa became shrill. “You dangled me with your sweet promises, but you never had any intention of leaving your wife. Then when you found out we were to have a child you housed me in servants quarters like a lowly employee,” she raged.
“The child wasn’t even mine,” he retaliated. “You criticize my lack of commitment but where was your honour in pretending that you were pregnant with my baby,” he demanded.
“Does it hurt Vittorio to find out that I lied to you? Is that what this is all about your stinking pride?” she blazed. “Why else would you travel halfway across the world to see me? You already know the truth to your question, so you don’t need me to confirm it.”
“What of the money Rosa? While you were busy teaching me a lesson did you think it was okay to swindle me for as much money as you could? I could take you to court and sue you until even a tent would seem like a mansion to you,” he threatened.
Rosa looked angry, but there was no comprehension of what he was talking about, “What money?” she wanted to know.
“You won’t get away with it. You have no credibility at all Rosa. You’ve lied to your daughter, to me to the world, and now you lie to cover up your extortion,” Vittorio was standing and for his age he still cut an imposing figure.
Not in the least bit afraid Rosa stood up to Vittorio, “I have never taken what isn’t mine,” she declared passionately.
“I have all your letters Rosa, every one of them. Your pleas for money, first for the house then private school fees and the list goes on, shall I remind you? Vittorio, I need money for clothes for our daughter, to provide her a lifestyle that she deserves, a car and lessons when she became of age. I even paid her university fees in full on day one of her attending,” he was worked up.
“That’s a lie. I’ve never sent you a request for money and nor have I seen a cent of your money over the years,” she continued to deny.
“Your lies are useless at this point. I have the transaction receipts that prove your deceit,” he ended abruptly.