CHAPTER 16 - Adam Fiore

***Promises and Farewells.***

I truly imagine that my father is either fleeing from New York or genuinely willing to redeem himself and start a new life with my mother. They're already living here in Boston, and today they called me to have dinner with them. I don't remember anything significant that would warrant this dinner. As I arrive in front of the gates, they open, and I proceed to the entrance of the mansion. I park the car, get out, and make my way towards the entrance. The door opens, and I greet Carmelita as I head to the dining room, as I'm running late due to various company matters and the headquarters relocation. As I enter and see him, I can't control myself and walk straight to where he is, grabbing him by the collar and lifting him up.

“What do you think you're doing here?” I say through gritted teeth.

“What are you doing, Adam? Let him go now!” Kim says, trying to pull my arm.

My father appears by my side, placing his hand on my shoulder and squeezing. I look at him and then at that bastard, and I let go.

“What is this man doing here?” I ask, stepping back a little because if I stay close or keep looking at that bastard, I'll really break his face again.

“Why are you doing this, son?” Mom asks, frightened.

“Adam, stop this! He's my boyfriend, and…”

“What?” I ask incredulously. “Are you joking with me, right?”

“Do you two already know each other?” Dad asks, looking at the imbecile next to my sister.

“Yes, I know him! He's the person Alycia was with.”

“What? How?” Kim says, looking at him and then at me.

“Can I explain, perhaps?” he says, and I go after him again, but my father holds me back.

“Adam, stop it! Calm down and sit down. Let him speak,” my father says, making a gesture for him to continue.

“Thank you, sir. I was with Alycia, yes, but I didn't know she was with you too.”

“Dude, we were at the same college. How didn't you see us together? Stop telling lies! Are you here fooling my sister because of the money? Is that it?” I say, clenching my fists.

“First, I'm with your sister because I genuinely love her, and I don't need your money. Second, you and I never bumped into each other before that day, and I didn't even know she was with you!”

“Stop with the lies. I'm leaving,” I break free from my father and turn around, heading towards the exit, but I stop and turn back. “I'll never accept this relationship. It's a joke, and you'll regret letting this… jerk into our house,” I say without waiting for anyone to say anything, and I leave, hearing Kim calling after me.

I walk towards my car, and before I open the door, someone grabs my arm. I look, and it's Kim, her eyes filled with tears.

“Don't do this, Adam, please! Today is a special day,” she pleads.

“What do you mean? Oh, I get it. He's going to ask you to be his girlfriend in front of our parents!” I gently remove her hand from my arm. “Sis, that guy is no good. He and Alycia were together, and what happened inside there,” I point to the door, “was all a big act. This is just a circus.”

“He said he didn't know, Adam!” she insists.

“And you believe him? You barely know each other.”

“We've been together for a year…”

“What?” I say, not believing it.

“No one knew about us until I couldn't take it anymore and told the girls. That's when Dad overheard our conversation and confronted me. Then Antony came and talked to him. But now it's different, and he's going to ask for my hand. I want you to be a part of it.”

“Never! Kim, he will deceive you,” I say, placing my hands on her face and looking into her teary eyes. “And he's only with you for our family's money.”

“No!” She steps back, crying, and it breaks my heart, but I'll never accept it. “He loves me, and you're just jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yes, of me! I read about it, and besides, you've never had a relationship with anyone, and just because it didn't work out once, you think the same will happen to everyone.”

“You don't know anything, Kim!” I say, getting closer, and she recoils with wide eyes. “That guy ruined all my plans and dreams of having a relationship. He knew, yes, that Alycia and I were together, and he still got involved with her. I was going to propose to her when I arrived at the apartment, and they were naked in bed.” I close my eyes to control the pain that, even after years, still throbs inside me. “He's no good, and I won't stick around to witness the disaster that will be your life,” I say, turning around and opening the car door. As I'm about to get in, she calls out to me.

“Dan Dan, please…” Hearing her call me that breaks my heart.

When Kim was little, she was quiet, but when she decided to say her first word, it wasn't “daddy” or “mommy,” it was “Dan Dan,” and we discovered that was my name. It was the only thing she could say. Kim and I have a forceful bond, and I was there for every moment when Mom was pregnant with her. I loved my sister even before seeing her, and I promised to always take care of her. In school, I would defend her, even though I was four years older. I was her protector and shield.

Even when she had her first crush, I was the one who knew before anyone else. And when she experienced her first heartbreak, she ran to me, embraced me, cried in my arms, and I promised that I would never let her suffer like that again.

“When you had your first heartbreak, I promised to protect your heart so that it would never happen again. Do you remember?” I turn around and look at her, and she cries even harder.

“Yes, I remember…”

“I know I can't do that, it's impossible! You're not a robot that I can program with your actions and decisions. You are free to choose what to do with your life. I will always be here for you, but accepting your relationship, knowing that you'll get hurt, I can't… I'm sorry.” Without realizing it, a tear escapes, and then I get into the car, close the door, start the engine, and drive away from there.