CHAPTER 37

Gia

It was a strange new world.

I had the most amazing sense of freedom. My mother gave me more.

“Your father’s blood runs through your veins but never forget mine does too. You have choices to make you can only do as a woman. I stayed with your father through the worst times. I loved him during the best. That doesn’t matter in your life and what does matter is that you know I’m my own woman. Your father paid dearly when Alessandro’s mother died. He’s never forgiven himself. He’s a good man and I knew that when he married me because of his honesty.”

It was a side I’d never seen from either of my parents. Compassion was frowned upon in our lives but now I knew it had always been there.

My bond with my mother and father was stronger than it had ever been. I was proud to be a Rossi.

Alessandro left with his parents, and I texted Maria that the coast was clear.

There were many things I couldn’t share with her but she didn’t ask because she knew. I looked around our dorm that we’d finally