Cecilia
- Melina is mine, you have no right over her and you shouldn't demand it, we are nothing, we have never been anything to each other. You're using blackmail to get what you want, that's not fair, Dario!
Unfortunately Dario was right, Melina is his daughter. Tomas couldn't have children, he always knew that even so he wanted to take Melina as his and loved her without thinking that she was another man's child, I was always very correct in taking birth control but when I started to feel sick and vomit I knew something wasn't right and that's when I went to the doctor and got the news that I was pregnant with my baby girl. I really didn't expect this to happen but I got pregnant by Dario Albertini even after everything he did to me.
- Cecilia, I don't want to go down this road, understand how difficult it is for me too, I thought you were dead and after all these years I see you beautiful and with my daughter by your side, know that I can't live without you, I want to show you that I am a different man.
- Dario, do you love me?
He looked at me for a few minutes that became eternal, from his silence I knew that Dario would never admit that he had love for me.
- You know, after all these years, looking at you only shows that you haven't changed at all, that you want me back so you can make me a punching bag, your well trained dog like at the beginning of our history, I won't accept this. Melina is your daughter but a bastard, so to all intents and purposes you have no right over her or me, if it's a matter of the money from the auction where I was sold to you, I make a point of returning the amount so I won't be at a loss, then we'll be settled with each other.
At that moment I noticed how Dario was nervous as if talking about the auction money was a great offense but I know that everything always revolved around that damn auction but what he did was what really surprised me, he knelt at my feet with a desolate countenance, Dario was not a man to pretend or act this way for this reason I was so surprised.
- I need you to know how sorry I am for having abandoned you like that, I know that if I had married you I would have been happy but I was blinded by power, I confess that I couldn't stand the idea that I would be away from you and that I would be happy, I am a monster and I admit it but I need salvation, I know I don't deserve it but I am begging you to give me a chance, for us. I swear I won't treat you like before because I'm not that man anymore, forget the blackmail I did, I want to show you that I'm different.
- Dario, you didn't answer my question! Do you love me? Because it seems to me that if you were just anyone like before, you wouldn't be doing this but you would be blackmailing me like you did a few minutes ago or even imprisoning me inside that mansion again. I have changed but you seem to be the same as before, you can do whatever you want, I will use the right I have as Bernardino to deny anything that comes from you.
- I need your forgiveness, Cecilia, for everything I've done against you!
I had forgiven you a long time ago, even though there are still sorrows and resentment for what happened in the past, but how can I give a chance to someone who can't say that he loves me? I won't hide the fact that inside me I still have that 18-year-old girl who was dazzled by him, but who I am today doesn't want to love alone, if there is no reciprocity, what's the point in insisting?
Dario held my face looking at me deeply, in the past when he looked at me like that I bowed my head in submission but now I was facing him as an equal, I was no longer his slave.
- I forgave him a long time ago but if he wants to have a chance with me he needs to say and prove that he loves me.
- It's hard for me to talk about what I feel! You know what Florence did so I guess you understand why it all happened, Cecilia. But I want to show you that the Dario who abandoned you no longer exists but I need a chance to prove it.
I could understand his motivations but I hated the fact that he thought he could be like Florence when I never showed him anything that would make him think that way.
- I can even understand but I don't accept it, I am not Florence, and it is past time to get over this woman and what she did to you, we can't live in the past, Dario. I will give you a chance to show that you have changed but you have to say that you love me by the end of this month and prove it with actions, otherwise I don't want you in my life ever again.
He knows I am right so much that he let go of my face and stood thoughtfully, suddenly the office door is opened by two little hurricanes jumping and laughing, scaring both me and Dario.
- Mama, Valentine told me that his mommy also calls Cecilia like you do, that's very nice! Uncle, can he sleep here with us? It's because we want to play tomorrow at the swimming pool early in the morning, will you let us, Uncle?
Melina has a very delicate way of asking for things, she is not a spoiled girl but I confess that I always try to please her because she is a good little girl, at school she always gets good grades and is a good cousin and niece. I have no reason to deprive her of things so that she doesn't get spoiled.
- Papa, please!
Dario looked at the boy ready to say no, but I noticed in Valentine's childlike eyes how lonely he was. It was impossible not to feel sorry for him, I held Dario's hand smiling for him to say yes to the boy, after all, we wouldn't hurt him and since he told me that I am the mother of his son I can use that to my advantage.
- Valentine, your dad will let you sleep here but first we have to have dinner, you are hungry aren't you?
- Yes, mama! Very hungry, Valentine runs a lot in the pike, but I run more!
The two of them started laughing as they left the office, leaving me delighted with the way the two of them were united in such a short time.
- Dario, let Valentine stay here! I promise I will take care of him with all my affection, and I know that the boy deserves this attention.
- Cecilia, I will allow him to sleep here if he leaves with me tomorrow, I imagine it is a fair exchange, besides, we have a lot to talk about but I understand that they are waiting for us for dinner and it would not be good manners to make them wait for us for so long.
I knew that Dario would find a way to take advantage of the situation, but it wouldn't cost me anything to accept his invitation so that Valentine could stay here with us.
- I accept your request, but with the caveat that you must stop this type of blackmail, understand something, I will do whatever I want, whenever I want. It is not blackmailing you that will change this, do you understand?
- Perfectly, Cecilia, but I want you to know that I will use everything I have to get your love for me, I realize that blackmailing you won't work but I like a challenge and it will be very interesting to fight for something so important to me, it's been a long time since I've had such a difficult challenge.
His changing his tactics certainly gave me a great relief, I didn't want Melina to have to go through difficult situations at his whim. My daughter is still too young to understand this kind of subject, one day I might tell her, but first I want her to live her life as a child without worrying about it.
- Interesting, Mr. Albertini! But since you want a challenge I think you should meet it: I asked you if you loved me but you were not able to answer so you have to prove to me that you love me and also say so, otherwise, I will not bend to your will nor let you get close to Melina, you have until the end of this month to do so. Do you accept my challenge, Mr. Dario Albertini?
- I accept, I am not a man to run away from a fight, nor from a war.
It would be very stressful to have to confront Dario Albertini for our daughter, so I am using my intelligence to avoid unnecessary confrontations, I know that he will lose because he is incapable of assuming his feelings, but it will be interesting to see Dario try.