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‘I didn’t see anything wrong with it at the time,’ Enzo continued. ‘He was just training me to take over.’
‘But now?’
‘Now it’s something else I was wrong about. I’ve been wrong a lot.’ He smiled sadly.
That admission meant so much more than an apology. But maybe Emilio had been wrong too. He’d been angry at his brother all this time, but it was their father who’d put them both in that situation. As a soon-to-be father, Emilio wanted his child to love any future sibling. Would want them to support each other. His father hadn’t cared.
From the moment Emilio had got the paternity test, he’d known he wanted to be a different type of father from the one he’d had. Now he realised that Enzo hadn’t had a good father, a loving father, either. What power would Enzo have had over him anyway? Children weren’t meant to fix their parents’ mistakes.
Emilio moved to sit with his brother. For the first time, Enzo felt like one.
‘Mamma thought she owned those vineyards. Do you realise how elaborate this lie must have been to fool her? Did she just trust him?’
‘We all trusted him, Emilio,’ Enzo said softly. ‘Turns out he only cared about duty—to the vineyards and the company and the family name. Not to us, or Mamma.’
‘I wanted him to feel something for me, Enzo,’ Emilio confessed at the obvious pain in Enzo’s voice. ‘Hate me or love me, I didn’t care. Either would have been better than nothing.’
‘You should have had more memories with him, but I’m glad you don’t, because those memories cost me time with Mamma. I’m happy you have those instead. Those can’t be tarnished.’
That was true. Enzo’s time with their mother had been limited, but he’d always revelled in their father’s attention. These revelations were easier for Emilio to handle because he had always seen their father for the monster he was. Enzo, on the other hand… He would be questioning their whole lives. For the first time, Emilio’s heart broke for his brother.
There’d been obvious affection in his voice when he’d spoken of their mother. Emilio thought of the vase of pink oleander beside her bed, the flowers that had never seemed to wilt, and felt guilty for years of uncharitable thoughts. That never-ending supply of bouquets had been proof of Enzo’s love.
‘I’m sorry too, Enzo.’
His brother’s bright-green gaze snapped to him. ‘What for?’
‘You’re a victim in this too. And I made things worse.’
Enzo shook his head. ‘Emilio, Gia wasn’t right for either of us. She cared for only herself and what we could provide her.’
‘That changes nothing,’ Emilio said through gritted teeth.
Enzo frowned and leaned forward in his seat. ‘I forgive you. When will you forgive yourself?’
‘I don’t deserve forgiveness.’
‘Of course you do. Why would you think otherwise?’
Emilio couldn’t answer. Couldn’t tell his brother how ashamed he was, how much he’d changed his life after the affair.
‘Emilio, I want you to listen very carefully to me. I was hurt and so I hurt you. That was wrong of me. I wish I’d handled things differently. I could have. We’rebothto blame for how the last eight years have gone. It’s not all on you. You deserve forgiveness. So, ask me.’ Suddenly, his bossy brother was back and the look in Enzo’s eye said he wouldn’t be dissuaded.
‘Ask you what?’
‘Ask for my forgiveness.’
‘Enzo,’ Emilio said brokenly. ‘I can’t’
‘Yes, you can. You have to learn to ask for the things you need. So, do it.’
Could he do that? Could he ask his brother for his forgiveness after hurting him so profoundly?
What harm could come of it?
Nothing, Emilio realised. Things were already the worst they could be. He had nothing to lose.
‘Enzo, will you forgive me for what I did to you? It’s the very worst thing I have done in my life and I regret it to this day. I was stupid and selfish, and I can’t fully express how sorry I am.’