We hear a knock "Honey, are you in here?"
Julia looks at me smirking, but i give her a smirk back. She probably thought i would be scared. Those days are long gone.
"Yes, in here honey" Julia says as she walks to the door, opening it and exiting the bathroom into the corridor. I also head out the door and is met with my father's eyes bulging out of it's sockets seeing me.
"Good evening, Father" I say with a smile on my face. He looks me up and down in disbelief. I try to walk pass him but my arm is grabbed by the witch stopping me.
"Why don't you tell us what you're doing here?" She asks while increasing the strenght of her grip.
I pull my arm away from her and look her directly in the eye "well, i was invited here. What's your problem?" I ask waiting on a response.
She had a look of shock on her face due to my response.
"We never invited you and would never invite you to any of our events" she says with confidence. Dad has a solemn expression on his face at her comment.
"Mr. and Mrs. Scott?" a voice ballowed from the beginning of the long corridor. Domenico makes his way down to us. Julia moves in front of me trying to block my view to Domenico.
"Mr. Mancini, so nice of you to attend tonight" my dad stretches out his hand that Domenico shake.
Julia is the first to break the awkward silence "Oh, Mr. Mancini, Sophia was wondering when you would come" She says while positioning her body infront of me blocking my view of Domenico.
She probably want him to date her daughter. Silly woman.
He ignores her comment about Sophia and bend his neck sideways to look at me. Julia interupts his staring.
"Come i'll take you to her. She says while ponting to the exit of the corridor.
"No, i would like to introduce you to someone" Domenico resist.
"Oh, who might that be? Julia said while dad is standing there looking like a puppet.
"I would like to introduce you to my wife" he says while stretching his hand out for me to take and leading me over next to his side. "Mr and Mrs Scott, i would like you to meet my wife, Olivia Mancini" he says while smiling.
Julia's mouth falls open. "How's that possible" she asks while glancing over at dad who also looks like he swallowed a whole egg.
"I told you previously that i do have someone in my life" he says while smiling down at me. I squeeze his hand letting him know i'm fine.
"Do you know my wife because from the way you were talking when i got here i would assume you know each other?" he asks Julia and dad looking at them.
Dad clears his throat "She is my daughter" he says while Julia looks like she's going to explode any second.
"I thought you only had one daughter from the last time we spoke". He looks at dad expectantly. Domenico then turns to me "Babe, why didn't you tell me that the Scotts were your parents."
My dad remains mute, so I decided to rather answer "We'll my mom passed away when I was five and my dad married Julia. What more is there to know?" I asked pretending to be pissed at him.
"Why didn't you tell us that you got married, Olivia" dad asks.
"I'm sorry father, I was not aware that you were interested in knowing about my life" I say looking at him with his face white as a sheet. I never stood up to him because he is my father and the respect had always been there until our paths split, as I was living in his house, but now I'm free. I don't depend on them for food or anything and they never cared about me. So, why the sudden care to know now?
"Mr. Man..." dad tries to speak but is cut off by Domenico.
"Domenico, please. Seeing your my father in law it does not make sense that you use formalities to address me" he says while looking at me.
"Mom! Dad!, I've b.. what are you doing here?" Sophia asks with a cold look on her face.
"Oh, the only one that was missing is here. Now we are one big happy family" I say with sarcasm dripping from my voice.
"Olivia, why are you here and what is going on here?" Sophia asks looking at her mother. "Hi, Domenico" she says while giving him an innocent smile.
"I was invited here with my husband" I say and her face paled while her head is going from me to Domenico.
"Since when are you married and who's your husband?" she asks awaiting my response, but this time Domenico answers her, because I can see the pissed expression on his face. He does not like it when people disrespect me.
"Olivia is my wife and I expect you treat her with the respect she deserves. If you ever disrespect her again and cross question her about her life that has nothing to do with you, then I will personally deal with you and anyone who dares to. Thank you for inviting us Mr. Scott, but I think we will take our leave and I expect payment to be made as promised and on time, otherwise there will be consequences." Domenico says as we turn around to leave, but then dad started to speak.
"Domenico, I apologize for my daughter's behavior and that will never happen again" he then looks at me "Olivia, please come over with Domenico and have dinner with us some time during the week" dad asks looking at me expectantly.
I look at him totally flabbergasted "why now, dad?" I look at him waiting for an answer.
"We need to resolve things between us and we cannot live like this forever" dad says while looking at me.
Mr. and Mrs Scott, once again, thank you for inviting us, but I think we will take our leave"
"Domenico, please let me know if and when dinner will be possible. Maybe this coming week?" dad continue to ask.
"I don't think this week will be possible as we're leaving the country in a few hours, but we should be back in a week or two, then we'll let you know" Domenico says.
"Olivia, could I speak to you in private, please?" dad asks. I turn my head to Domenico, and he gives me a nod and walks down the corridor with the two witches are following behind him.
"Olivia! Do you know how dangerous that man is? Do you know what he does for a living? How could you put yourself in a situation with a man like that?" dad whisper screams at me whilst his face is turning red. He's probably too scared Domenico hear the bullshit he's spewing.
"That man has been treating me with the utmost respect and dignity since the day we met. Unlike how I was treated like an outcast and a menace by my own flesh and blood. His family has accepted me with open arms and will protect me at all costs. Being with them has shown me what love, and family really is. Do you know what that means, dad?"
"Olivia, you should get away from that man. I will not repeat myself again" he says.
At this point, I was fed up with his comments about the man I love and decided to give him a piece of my mind for my whole loveless and neglected childhood "You have no authority to dictate what I should and shouldn't do. You neglected to be my father or to provide for me for the eighteen years I lived under your roof. I wore Sophia's old clothes and while you only gave her the best. While I had to get my sanitary products from a maid that worked for my father because his wife refused to provide me with any necessities. You did not object when your wife insulted me or said anything bad to me. You also did not even offer to pay for my college tuition when she mentioned that Infront of you. You were never a father to me so do not pretend to be one now. Why don't you give your orders to your only daughter Sophia, who drugged and paid men to do as they wish with me. You should actually thank Domenico for rescuing your daughter, your own flesh and blood, before anything serious could happen other than being in a coma for two weeks and being resuscitated more times than the doctors could keep up with."
I left my dad in the corridor with his hand on his chest, back against the wall and an even more ashen face then before as i made my way toward the exit as I know Domenico would be waiting for me there. This felt liberating being able to tell my dad to his face what a piece of scum he has been as a father and also to inform him how his little princess, that he could find no fault in has been trying to harm his daughter.
As I exit the corridor my eyes fall on Domenico with Julia and Sophia in a heated discussion with him. "Come, we're leaving" I say in a very demanding tone.
"Anything for you Baby" he says while grabbing my hand as we head to the exit.
Once we enter the car I exhale loudly. "What did that piece of shit say?" Domenico question.
I told him everything that happened between dad and I, then there was silence for a few seconds before I asked.
"What did they say to you when you left the corridor with them?"
"They want me to leave you and marry that bitch Sophia, so that I could one day take over your father's company with Sophia as it will be given to Sophia once your dad retires" I burst out laughing. "What was your response?" I ask.
"I told them that I love you and that I will fucking skin them alive if they so much as lay another finger on you again. I reminded them of who I am and what I'm capable of" he says.
"I love you" was my only response.
He lay his hand on my upper thigh and give it a light squeeze "I love you too baby. Fuck that people. You have the Mancini's and don't forget your real parents Mario, Gwen, mom and dad"
I nod and place my hand on his and decide to stare out the window as we drive home.
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