Several hours later, at a club.
Altezza growled. He downed his drink again, unsure which glass it was. He hoped the hot and bitter taste flowing on his tongue and throat could somewhat ease the tightness in his chest due to the disappointment he got from Jovanka. Antony, his cousin from his father's side, whom he called just before entering the club, looked at him with a furrowed brow.
"Don't tell me you're getting drunk and asking me to be your driver, Cousin," he grumbled, shaking his drink without intending to sip it.
"I'm not forcing you to stay," Altezza replied flatly. "You're the one who keeps sticking to me," he continued with a speech that was no longer clear due to the effects of the alcohol he had consumed.
Antony smirked mockingly, glancing at Altezza while shaking his head. His cousin clearly looked messed up, so how could he let Altezza be alone and leave like that? His cousin could go crazy when he was drunk. And maybe even worse, Altezza could fall into the traps of troublesome women who always pursued him.
"How's my niece doing?" he asked, trying to change the subject before tilting his drink back and grimacing at the heat spreading in his throat.
Antony nodded slowly. "She's fine," he replied casually.
Altezza lifted the corner of his mouth and embraced Antony's sturdy shoulders, patting him and squeezing his arms tightly. "You're lucky to have such a good daughter, Cousin. Beautiful, kind, obedient, and smart. What more could you ask for? If only God allowed me to have a child, I would pray for Him to give me a child like Flavia. Unfortunately, I still can't have it. So, don't ever waste my niece, Cousin," he scolded roughly.
Antony furrowed his brow and looked sharply at his cousin before shaking his head. Altezza wouldn't discuss Antony's failed marriage and his wrongdoing in neglecting his beloved daughter without reason.
"What's really going on? Why suddenly bring up Flavia's name?" Antony asked curiously. "You know very well that I'm trying to fix everything."
Altezza chuckled. "Fixing, huh?" he asked mockingly. "That's why I moved to Kansas now," Antony replied curtly.
Altezza laughed. "I know your reason for moving, Cousin. Don't sell your daughter's name like that. I know you moved to get Claire's attention, right?" he asked with a mischievous grin on his face. "You're sacrificing me and dumping all your work on me, even though you know I have other jobs to take care of," he exclaimed in frustration.
"I know, but I won't apologize for it," Antony replied with a mocking grin.
"Do you think you'll succeed in getting Claire, huh?" Altezza asked again with a mocking gaze.
"Why not? Even though I'm fifteen years older than her, I still have the charm to make women fall in love," Antony proudly replied. Altezza laughed, looking at his cousin and shaking his head.
"It seems like you've been influenced by Gian's narcissism," he said, mentioning their youngest cousin. "My advice, you better give up on Claire and let me have her," Altezza said confidently.
Antony frowned, looking at his cousin disapprovingly. "Why Claire?" he asked sharply. Antony never thought that Altezza would like Claire, considering his cousin had been so faithful to his girlfriend. And he disliked even more the idea of competing with his own cousin for a woman's attention.
Altezza answered Antony's question with a shrug. "Because she's perfect for me. She's beautiful, attractive, smart, and easy-going. She could be a good wife and mother. My parents would like her, and more than that, Flavia admires her. She even asked me to make Claire her aunt first."
Antony snorted, lifting the corner of his mouth and shaking his head in disbelief. "There's no way Flavia asked you for something like that," he said incredulously.
Altezza shrugged again. "If you don't believe it, ask her. Flavia is crazy about Claire. Your parents like her. And if that's the case, Mamma and Padre will like her too. So why not? She's the perfect woman for me to make my wife. Flavia says she's also good at cooking. And you know I need someone like that. You surely remember what kind of woman I dream of. A good wife and homemaker. And Claire is the perfect candidate," Altezza said as he took another sip of his drink.
In his heart, he laughed as he observed his cousin's expression. He was just teasing Antony. Altezza wasn't the type to undercut his own cousin.
"Six months to a year," he offered again. "Give me that time to get closer to her and make her my wife. If I fail, then you can approach her. Besides, it won't make much difference for you during that time. Losing thirteen years of Flavia's childhood won't make a big difference if you add one more year. After all, I'm doing it to make her happy too."
"Don't pick a fight with me, Cousin. I'm determined to get her in my own way. If you really need a wife, find another woman out there."
"But I knew her first. And from the way she treats me, it's clear she's more interested in me than in you."
Antony chuckled. "Dream on," he said curtly. "She acts like that because she's trying to hold back. Sooner or later, she'll fall into my hands," Antony said confidently.
Altezza sneered and shook his head. "You're too confident, Cousin," he teased with his sly smile.
"Just finish your business with your model girlfriend, then you can discuss finding another wife," Antony said, causing Altezza to bow his head again, dejected, while chuckling.
Of course, Antony knew about the employment contract that Jovanka had signed. How could he forget it? Kralligimiz was the company currently overseeing Jovanka, and the company belonged to Antony, even though it was currently managed by their cousin, Gian.
"Do you know she signed another contract without my knowledge?" Altezza asked softly.
"Not directly. Her affairs are not my concern, but yes, I know," Antony replied honestly.
"And you didn't tell me about it?" Altezza glared at Antony.
"Because her contract and her affairs with you are not my concern," Antony replied curtly.
Altezza laughed mockingly. Not mocking Antony, but more mocking himself. "Look at how I seem like such a useless husband," he said with a sad tone. Antony felt sad hearing it, but there was nothing he could do.
"We better go home. You're drunk, and you'll be rambling if I don't stop you," Antony said, lifting Altezza's body, wrapping Altezza's arm around his shoulder, and helping him out of the bar.
They headed to the elevator that would take them to the parking lot. Antony struggled to match his steps with Altezza's swaying ones, but they managed to reach the car safely.
Antony drove while Altezza sat with his eyes closed in the passenger seat. The younger man's face did not look as lively as usual. It was clear that his decision to break up with his wife truly affected his mental state.
"I want a child," he murmured with closed eyes. "A good and beautiful child like Flavia," he continued softly.
"Well then, find a girlfriend and marry her. Then make a lot of children with her," Antony retorted.
"I already have a girlfriend, in case you forgot," Altezza huffed. "But she doesn't want to marry me and doesn't want a child from me. Or not yet?" he said hesitantly.
Antony snorted in response. "I never considered her your girlfriend, in case you forgot," he said coldly. "To me, she's just a woman who doesn't even care about her lover's happiness. Or has she ever considered you her lover?" he asked with a disgusted expression. "Your assistant is even more loyal than Jovanka."
Altezza ignored Antony's words. He opened his eyes and chose to gaze out the window. There was nothing wrong with what Antony said, but it still felt too painful to hear.
In reality, Jovanka had never been there for him. Whether it was before she succeeded or after she became a public figure. Not when Altezza was happy, let alone when he was sad and needed her attention.
Altezza had a girlfriend, but he felt like a single man who was always lonely. Another fact was that only Antony-the only person in his family-knew about Altezza's relationship with Jovanka because she always said she wasn't ready to announce their relationship and felt too ashamed to admit it in front of Altezza's parents because she didn't consider herself worthy and couldn't be proud of herself as a prospective wife.
And because Altezza loved Jovanka too much, he was willing to keep their relationship a secret. He was willing to do anything for her, even if it was unreasonable. And over time, who knew how many other reasons she had given to reject Altezza's request to meet his parents. Until now, in the eyes of Altezza's parents, Altezza remained a bachelor they constantly pressured to get married.