Page 115 of The Sexy Billionaire

I try to stifle a laugh because she couldn’t be further from the truth. She slaps me in the chest. “What is wrong with you laughing when your sister is going through something? Come, my love, come sit down and talk to your mamma,” she says, pulling a reluctant Allegra from our father’s arms and back into the living room.

“Is she okay?” Papà asks me.

“She will be, but you have to try to make Mamma listen. I can already see she is going to steamroll over it all.”

Papà nods and walks into the living room.

When I join him, I look over at my siblings who are staring at the scene in front of them, not knowing what to do.

“Sweetheart, let the poor girl breathe,” Papà suggests to our mother.

“I’m worried about her. I haven’t seen her in months and now she returns from Greece in tears,” she states.

“I’m sure Allegra will tell us when she’s ready. You know she hates fussing, sweetheart,” he tells her.

Mamma’s brows pull together at my father’s words. “It’s my job to be sure my children are okay, and Allegra isn’t,” she says, rubbing her hand on our sister’s back.

“Mamma, maybe give her a moment,” I suggest, giving Allegra a reassuring smile.

“I’m sorry, my love, I just want to make it all better, okay? I love you,” she tells her.

Allegra looks up at her with watery eyes. “I don’t think you can make this better, Mamma.”

Our mother’s face falls and concern etches into her skin. “Whatever it is you can tell us. We will always be there for you.”

Allegra takes a deep breath. “Do you really mean that?” she asks softly.

“Of course, my love, I’m your mother. I will always love you. Some days you may drive me crazy, but I still love you even then,” she reassures her.

Allegra looks over to where we are all sitting and the three of us give her a thumbs-up to push her on to tell her truth. She nods and centers herself. “I’m gay,” she says, and the room falls silent.

Mamma blinks a couple of times as she stares at her. “Gay?”

Allegra bites her bottom lip as uncertainty hits her. “Yes.”

“I thought you were going to tell us something bad like you had killed someone.” Mamma sighs and falls back against the sofa, looking relieved.

“Wait, you thought I came here to tell you I killed someone?” Allegra questions them.

“Kind of.” Papà shrugs.

“You thought I was capable of killing someone?”

“Yep.” Natalia chuckles.

Allegra’s eyes narrow on her before returning to our parents. “And you don’t care that I’m gay. That I like women?”

“We don’t care. We love you,” Papà tells her.

“Two women can still have babies, right?” Mamma asks.

Allegra turns to me, and I just shrug. “Yes.”

“Great, you can still give me grandbabies. You know, Sylvia’s daughter is lesbian. You would like her, she’s very beautiful. She’s an artist, very talented.”

And just like that, Mamma is back to interfering in our lives.

“I’m not single, Mamma,” Allegra states.

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