Chapter 176 My decision

Chapter 176 My decision
Isabella POV

I sat on the cobblestone patio with an uninterrupted view of the vineyards stretching out before me.

The rows of vines seemed to go on forever, neat and orderly under the sunlight, but I barely paid attention to the beauty around me.

I had snatched a bottle of wine out of the cellar on my way outside and now sat there alone, letting the sunlight warm my skin while the gentle breeze moved through my hair.

Usually, I would have appreciated a moment like this with fresh air but my mind wouldn't let me enjoy any of it.

It kept getting worse because now they were hitting Dante.

I knew this would be difficult and I had never expected my family to welcome him with open arms, especially after everything that had happened but damn, this was ridiculous.

Dante could take care of himself and I knew that better than anyone. He was strong enough to withstand more than one punch, and I knew he wasn't going to let something like that break him but that didn't mean I could sit there and watch the people I loved hurt the man I loved.

My chest still felt tight thinking about it and soon footsteps sounded behind me, but I didn't bother turning around to see who it was.

I already knew someone was coming and if they thought they were getting some of my wine, they were seriously mistaken.

My hand tightened around the neck of the bottle, holding it a little more firmly as I pulled it closer to myself.

My father pulled out the chair across from me and sat down but I didn't look at him.

He hadn't thrown the punch, but I was still angry with him. Uncle Adrian came next, dropping into the chair beside me.

I didn't acknowledge either of them as I lifted the bottle to my lips and took another drink, letting the wine burn slightly as it went down.

My sunglasses covered my swollen eyes, hiding as much of my emotions as they could. I didn't want either of them to see how close I was to crying again.

I didn't want them to see how badly this had affected me.

I took another slow drink, keeping my face turned toward the vineyards, refusing to give either man the satisfaction of seeing just how much their actions had hurt me.

My father sighed. “Isabella....”

“Don’t say you’re trying because you aren’t trying,” I snapped. “We moved here, and Cassian is willing to spend more time with you at the winery.

He’s willing to do anything to make this work, even let you punch him in the face.” My gaze turned to Uncle Adrian.

“I’m disappointed in both of you.”

I looked at both of them, my disappointment was visible. I knew how stubborn they could be, how prideful they were, and how difficult it was for either of them to admit when they were wrong but this had gone too far.

“I know you’re stubborn and prideful, but your minds are so clouded by hatred that you’re continuing a war you could bring to an end.”

I shook my head slowly, struggling to understand how something that had started with so much anger had been allowed to continue for this long. “I love this man.”

My voice softened for only a moment.

“And despite everything he’s doing to be accepted by you, you continue to disrespect him…”

I swallowed, feeling the emotion tightening my throat. “You continue to hurt me.”

Every time they insulted Dante and treated him like he was beneath them, they were hurting me too.

I wasn't asking them to love him or to forgive him for everything that had happened. I was asking them to see him as a human being.

“I don’t want to hear an apology or an excuse.”

I didn't want their explanations or hear why they thought they were justified. I'd heard enough.

My fingers tightened around the bottle before I slammed it down on the table and I pushed myself out of the chair and stood, looking down at both of them.

“When we come here tomorrow, you will give him work to do around the winery, and I’ll work on my paintings.”

There was no hesitation in my voice now because I had made up my mind.

“You will treat him like a human being, not a punching bag.”

I held their gazes, refusing to back down.

“Do you understand me?”

I’d never told off my father or uncle like this before, but they had it coming. Both of my hands went to my hips as I stared at them,
my sunglasses blocking my ruthless stare.

My father was quiet and Uncle Adrian stared straight ahead. “Do you understand me?” I repeated.

My father clenched his jaw before he spoke. “Yes, I understand.”

I turned to Uncle Adrian and he stayed quiet.
“Uncle Adrian,” I pressed.

He rubbed the scruff on the side of his face. “Got it.”

“And you will apologize to him.”

Uncle Adrian looked at me, his eyes incredulous. “Over my dead body.”

“Adrian,” I hissed. “What you did was wrong, you know he restrained himself for me but you can’t do the same for me.”

“I’ll never apologize for what I did,” Uncle Adrian barked. “But I’ll apologize to you…and make sure it doesn’t happen again that’s the best I can do.”

Uncle Adrian faced forward again before he grabbed the bottle and took a drink, that was good enough for me. “Good.” I snatched the bottle out of his hand and walked away.

“isabella.” Uncle Adrian turned around in his seat.

“What?” I stopped and turned around, but I didn’t walk back to the table. “Did you tell him anything about us?” he asked. “About me and your aunt?”

I didn’t know there was anything to tell. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“He knows a lot about me,” Uncle Adrian said. “I’m just wondering if he got that information from you.”

Dante told me my uncle was in the a Mafia boss and had a criminal background but he hadn’t said anything more than that. “No. He already knew about both of you when we met. I’ve never shared any personal information about your lives with him…I would never do that.”

I turned around again and walked away even if they said something else to me, I wouldn’t turn back because, I’d had enough for the day