Silent Prejudice

10

“I know he’s charming and seems like the perfect catch, but Liv, you have to believe me. Nevio has issues. He’s not who you think he is, and I don’t want you to get hurt.” “No, you don’t want me to land the hottie next door that you couldn’t get for yourself. You’re just jealous.” She stands and tries to maneuver around me, but I’m on my feet in an instant. “I’m not jealous, Liv. If I’d wanted a relationship with Nevio, I could have pursued that years ago. I’m trying to protect you as a sister. I’d love for you to be deliriously happy and marry a wealthy man, but Nevio will not give you that. Please, listen to me.” I clasp her arms and plead with her green eyes, ringed in gold just like our mother’s. She shakes off my hold but avoids my gaze. I’ve managed to inject a sliver of doubt into her plans. “I’m not sure any of it matters anyway. He’s staying in the city now, so I’m not sure when I’ll see him again.” She wipes at her eyes with a makeup removing cloth as though she doesn’t care one way or another. I see right through her. Liv would never be so nonchalant about a relationship with a wealthy man. “He’s not trustworthy, and I don’t want to be hurt. Did you know he asked me to the party you were at tonight? Hell, he probably asked you in some twisted attempt to get back at me. When I told him the other day that I wasn’t interested in going out again, he said some awful things to me. Even if he is truly interested in you, surely you don’t want to be with someone who’s that two-faced.” “You want me to end up stuck in this house forever, don’t you? Whatever happened between you two is irrelevant and only tainting the way you see him. I should have known you wouldn’t be happy for me.” She tosses the dirty wipe in the trash and turns cold, unfeeling eyes on me. “It’s late. I’m going to bed now.” My bumbling attempt at reasoning with her is abruptly shut down when she walks away. I don’t sleep the rest of the night. My mind is too busy concocting horrific ways for Livia’s new crush to end in disaster. I brainstorm every possible solution I can devise and measure the probability of success. By the time the sun finally peeks through the blinds in our room, I’ve come to the conclusion that I need help. And not just anyone’s help. I need my dad. I may not be able to tell anyone the secret, but that doesn’t stop me from talking to someone who already knows. And it’s a safe assumption that Dad knows he’s Nevio’s biological father. He’ll recognize how urgent it is to keep the two of them apart and help without me having to bring up Nevio’s paternity. I’ll get my help and still mostly keep my promise to Zeno. I go downstairs early, hoping to catch him before Mom or Gia show up for breakfast. Coffee is my first priority after lying awake for hours. I turn on the Keurig and wish I had access to an espresso. I’m going to need all the caffeine I can get today. A few sips into my first cup, Dad strolls in from his bedroom with a grin. “How come you’re up so early?” “Actually, I wanted to talk to you. Can you come outside with me for a minute?” His face sobers. “Lead the way.” He opens the door for me, and I step out into the grass a few feet from the porch. Far enough that we shouldn’t be overheard. “You know how you warned me about Nevio?” “Yeah?” he asks warily. “Well, I shut that down, but last night, I learned that Livia went out with him.” I watch closely for his reaction. If I tell him outright that I know about his affair, I will have had to explain how I acquired that information. Word would likely travel to Elena that Zeno knows, and he might not want that. I need to play this carefully. “She’s seeing him?” “They went to a party last night, and she hinted that it wasn’t the first time they’ve gone out.” Read between the lines, Dad. Please, see what I’m getting at without me having to spell it out. He kicks at a stick and gives me a smirk. “You know how Livy is. She thinks every man with money is her golden goose. Neither of the De Rossi boys is interested in her. They’ve known Liv her whole life and never paid her one bit of attention.” “Daddy, things can change. Aren’t you worried about her?” “Not really. You know how she is. She probably begged to go with him hoping to meet friends of his, and he let her tag along.” I gape at him incredulously. How can he be so dismissive about the possible dangers? He has to know, doesn’t he? How could he not? Even if Elena didn’t tell him Nevio was his, surely, he could see his own eyes looking back at him—the same way Zeno figured it out. Once a person knows of the affair, the resemblance between father and son is hard to miss.