"To him, you died as a father in that moment. The only reason he still listens to you now is that his heart is fragile… and he still respects you as a father, not because he truly wants to."
Adrian's father's face turned a deep shade of red. "You know nothing of our history."
"I know enough to understand that a father who truly loves his son would never abandon him… no matter the reason," Matteo said, his voice cutting through the tension in the room.
"You only know the version he chose to tell you!" Adrian's father snapped, his composure finally cracking.
"I know enough because I trust him," Matteo countered, stepping closer. "If your other sons were old enough to marry Iris, you wouldn't even care about Adrian. He's not even part of the family you present to the world."
"The news says you have three children Maya and your other two sons. You've never once admitted there's a fourth."
