Chapter 33 Father discussion
Isabella POV
He took a long pause before he answered. “There’s no doubt in my mind that you have the talent. Getting an education may help you in some ways, but you already have the foundation of an artist, and that’s something that can’t be taught. It’s something you’re born with.
But I can’t tell you to withdraw from
the university or stay. That has to be your decision, and I won’t influence you either way.”
My father had been hard on Varos and me when we were younger, pushing us to be talented and smart. But he was incredibly caring and understanding. He guided us where we needed to go without directing us. Now that we were adults, he was still involved in our lives, but in a much more distant way.
He had faith in both of us to become the people we were supposed to be. I was extremely lucky. “So, what do you want to do, tesoro?” “Well…I would like to focus on my painting.” I couldn’t believe I was actually listening to what Dante said, but his words had been ingrained in me. He wouldn’t say he believed in my work unless he meant it. He was honest, even when I didn’t want to hear him speak the truth. “I just have to open a
gallery somehow.
Milan might be a good place for that.” “I can help you do that.” I knew my father would buy me anything I wanted, not because I was spoiled, but because it was important to my parents that their children have what they
needed to be successful. But I didn’t want his money. I was twenty-five and shouldn’t be using his cash anymore. “No, I’ll figure it out.”
He kept up his stern stare, his silent authority. He did the same thing Dante did, made moments tense with just his silence. It was a trait powerful men possessed. “Do you have a plan to do that?”
“Sell some paintings and save some money.”
“Where will you sell them if you don’t have a gallery?”
“Well, I was thinking I could display them at the winery. When people come in for tastings, we could have them up. Maybe people will buy them…maybe, they won’t.” It was the first time my dad smiled. “That’s a great idea.”
“Yeah?” I asked. “I don’t want to do something you” “Your mother will love the idea too. It’s perfect.” “Thanks…”
He moved his hand to the center of my back and patted me gently. “I’m proud of you, tesoro. You’re going your own way in life. In my experience, successful people do that. They don’t follow the herd. They become a leader.”
I gripped my glass and gave a slight nod. “I know where I get that from.” “You’re a Conti,” he said. “And Conti are powerful.” “I know. And I want you to know that I’ll pay you back for my education eventually.”
“Tesoro, I don’t want your money.”
“I know, but I want to give it to you.”
“You don’t owe me anything. What I want more than anything is to die knowing you’re taken care of. That when my spirit leaves this earth, my daughter has everything she needs. Money means nothing to me. You mean everything.”
“Daddy…” I could never put this man in jeopardy, not when his whole life was directed toward taking care of Varos and me. He was the most selfless man I’d ever known. He would do anything for me, and I would do anything for him. “I love you.”
He wrapped his arm around my shoulder and kissed my forehead. “I love you too, tesoro.” He pulled away and dropped his hand. He took a drink of his wine, shaking off the affection because he wasn’t an emotional man. He only
seemed to be that way with my brother and me, along with our mother. “So are you seeing anyone?” He asked the question with dread, like he didn’t.really want the answer. He never asked about my personal life before. But I
was almost twenty-six, and he was probably wondering if I was close to finding a husband. I’d never had a boyfriend before, at least one that he met.
Growing up, I didn’t have a lot of interactions with boys because my father, brother, and cousin scared them all away. But once I was an adult, my father backed off and stopped protecting me all the time. Dante popped into my mind, not because I was dating him, but because he was the man in my bed. He was also in my thoughts, constantly. He’d taken
over my life, becoming the person I spent most of my time with. He wasn’t my boyfriend at all, simply my jailer. I was a prisoner, but the only reason it was bearable was because the sex was unbelievable. “No. Not right now.”
My father drank his wine again, his long sleeved black t-shirt gripping his muscles. Everyone else in the living room was talking to each other and laughter broke out from time to time. “If you meet a man you really like, I’d
love to meet him.” I wasn’t sure why my father was mentioning this now. It was like he knew
something but didn’t directly tell me.
“I know I’ve never been very tolerant of men in your life. I was very protective. But you’re an adult woman now, and I don’t want you to be afraid to bring a man to the house…if you love him.” He didn’t make eye contact like he did before, obviously uncomfortable by the topic.
And he made it clear he didn’t want to meet someone unless they could be my husband someday. “I’ve never been in love,” I said honestly. “You will…eventually. I didn’t fall in love until I met your mother, and I was
almost thirty at the time.” “But Mom was a lot younger, right?”
“Yeah,” he answered. “She’s four years younger than I am.” “Well, if I ever meet the right guy, I’ll bring him around.” He drank his wine again, emptying his glass completely. “I want you to be with a strong man, Isabella. He doesn’t have to be rich, but he needs to be powerful.
He needs to protect you with his life and love you even more than I do. If he does those things…he’s welcome in this house. And I will shake his hand and gladly give you away when he asks my permission to marry you.”
Dante popped into my head again. He was the last person who would ever ask permission. He was the last man I would ever marry. He was nothing but a man that I couldn’t shake. So why did I keep thinking about him? “You
always taught me to protect myself.” And I stand by that lesson.” “Well, I don’t need a man for that.”
He stared at me with his authoritative gaze. “But I do, tesoro. I need that.” I might not live long enough to find Mr. Right. Now that Dante had cast a shadow over me, it destroyed my dating life. It destroyed my life altogether.