Page 98 of Lorenzo & Lily

Lily let out a soft breath. “I can’t say he did much for me, either. You pitted us against each other so much, I can’t trust that he would treat me any different than both of you have. Maybe, after all he’s been through – going to jail, the public scrutiny – he’s changed, but I can’t take that chance.”

Saskia huffed. “We never wanted a daughter anyhow. We were hoping for a spare son, not a useless daughter. We don’t need you.”

“Then you don’t need us as well,” Genevieve replied. “If Cecilia means nothing to you, we, the royal family, can mean nothing to you, either. I’ll make sure the press is made aware of your stance with the family and with Valleria.”

Bernardino’s voice was extremely nasal when he spoke. “How will you explain that to the public? Banning us from Valleria? You can’t explain it, can you?”

“No, but we can.” Lorenzo took Lily’s hand. “The right interview with the right journalist will turn the public in our favor, and turn them even more against you. You know it’s true. You know the public is clamoring for news about us.”

Lily’s parents blanched.

“However, if you leave here without incident and without inciting the press, we might diminish the hatred aimed at you both. You’ll sign some specific non-disclosure and confidentiality agreements before you leave here today, as well as a pledge to stay away from us, no matter where we are, for the rest of your lives. That means, if we go to Rome and you happened to be there, you go somewhere else. Do you understand me?”

Lily’s parents looked at each other, then looked around the room. The reality of the situation must have sunk in, because Saskia said, “We’ll agree to those terms.”

Thank God.

“As long as we can attend your wedding.”

Fucking assholes.

“No fucking way.”

“We want–”

“I don’t care what you fucking want. You try to push this, I will do everything in my power to have Lily’s trust – the one who are currently living off of – returned to Lily, with you forced to make any payments for funds you’ve already withdrawn.”

Bernardino spluttered. “You! I! Never!”

“That is our livelihood,” Saskia cried. “How will we live if you take it away? No, we do not accept this. You will not take away our funds, and you will invite us to the wedding.”

“No,” Lily said. “No. You are gone. You are done. You wantmymoney? Fine. I’ve lived without it for years, and I don’t need it, though I do want it. Go ahead, though. Take the trust and be gone. I want nothing more to do with you, and I do not want you at my wedding.” Her voice broke again, and almost broke his heart as he listened.

“I don’t want you. You’re my parents. I love you, but I don’t like you very much. In time, I’m sure I’ll stop loving you, too. I’ve already stopped hoping for a shred of acceptance from you, stopped waiting for the smallest indication that you loved me for anything at all.”

Tears were flowing down her cheeks, but her face was resolute. “I don’t wish you ill will, I truly don’t. I just don’t wish to ever see you again. And I never, butnever, want you near my daughter or any other children I might have.”

She gave Lorenzo’s hand a squeeze and let go. She walked to her mother and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Goodbye, Mother.”

She stood in front of her father; no kiss for him. “Goodbye, Father.”

She walked to the door and opened it, the guards outside coming to attention as it did. Her fingers stayed wrapped around the handle as she spoke to the guards. “Take them to the waiting room. They need to sign some documents and they’re not to leave the hospital until they do so. They are not to speak to anyone, and they are not to be left alone. You may have someone look at his nose, but that’s it.”

The guard closest to her nodded. “Yes, Ma’am.”

Bernardino sneered as one guard took hold of his arm, but said no more. Saskia’s face had paled, and her lips remained pursed as another guard began to escort her from the room as well.

“Aren’t you even going to say goodbye to your daughter?” Lorenzo asked, unsurprised they weren’t planning to. “You’re never going to see her again.” Lorenzo couldn’t help but feel that Lily may want the closure, though she would never give up face to ask for it.

Sarcasm dripped from Bernardino’s words. “Goodbye,daughter. I wish you a pleasant life.” He jerked his arm in the guard’s hold and they walked out.

Saskia’s face was even, all trace of emotion once again wiped clean. She spent a long minute gazing at her daughter. “Goodbye.”

A guard escorted her out, and Lily closed the door behind them. She placed both hands on the door, and rested her forehead against it. “It’s over.”

“Lily.” Lorenzo walked over and rubbed a hand down her back.

She turned into his arms and burst into tears.

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