Adele was sitting next to her daughter on a two seater sofa watching her husband as Francesco was questioning his daughter about what had happened for the second time. Adele was seeing her husband in a different light. It was the first time he had excluded her from the decision making when it came to Vienna. When he had the phone call from the school he had made it clear to Adele that he was not going to accept her decisions where his daughter's safety came into play. Francesco was a businessman who took risks but he didn't gamble with his child's life.
Francesco was pacing the floor in front of the sofa as he had his hands behind his back. His tone was harsh but calm " Vienna... I am going to ask you to tell me what happened one more time. Just go through what happened for me very slowly one more time." Right now there was a meeting next door between Letizia's parents and the O'Neils. They were anticipating him to join them but Francesco took his time. His daughter was his everything. He was going to go to the meeting when he felt he was satisfied with his daughter's answers.
Adele wrapped her arm more tightly around her daughter's waist as she noticed Vienna was not handling being questioned by her father. She was nervously looking down at her lap and she knew that Francesco was testing to see if Vienna had forgotten to mention anything or missed details for any reasons... It was common practice for Francesco. Everyone in the household knew. Francesco could question them twenty times if he wished it to repeat the same thing and they had to comply. Adele knew Francesco was checking if Vienna was hiding anything from him. Adele at this moment knew she couldn't say anything but wanted to help her daughter be at more ease. Francesco was not helping their daughter feel calm with his tone.
When Francesco was met with silence, he stopped pacing the floor and faced the two seater sofa as he rested his hands on his hips warning his wife with his hard stare to not interfere which she understood. Adele didn't dare breath a word. She knew Francesco was going to exclude her completely from dealing with this issue if she interfered. She was lucky she was allowed to accompany him to the school. She had spent the time they were in the car trying to convince Francesco not to send any one with machine guns to the Marciano mansion. She knew her husband was about to declare a war. Her husband loved their daughter to death. Even as a child when anything happened to her while a nanny took care of her, the punishment for the nanny was most severe. It wasn't the case about her sons. She knew Francesco could forgive Adele if she even cheated on him. He had let Michael go after all. But she knew if she hurt their daughter even accidentally she couldn't be forgiven. It was impossible for Francesco to forgive Letizia that easily. She didn't dare say Letizia's name in her husbands presence no matter how badly she wanted to plead to Francesco to forgive her. Adele knew her husband's mood and tone. This was a cut throat day as she called it. If anyone crossed Francesco on this day they were going to have their throat cut by Francesco making them lose the ability to speak. She knew her husband was not going to hurt her and she was sure of it. But even she didn't dare dispute Francesco when he was furious about his daughter getting hurt.
Adele was seeing Vienna was looking at her lap not daring to look up. She sighed. Her daughter had no idea that her father's anger was directed at others and not her. Vienna was the immune one. Vienna was the one her father died for in a heartbeat and punished anyone severely who harmed a hair on her head. But of course Letizia was a teenager. Adele didn't think her husband was going to kill Letizia.
Adele kissed her daughter's soft golden strands of hair that matched her own "Darling. Tell your father what happened again. Look up sweetie and tell him what you just told him."
Vienna looked at her mother " I told father everything." She then looked up at her father finally and whispered" I am sorry.,. I don't have anything to add..."
Francesco was suspecting that she was sugar coating her account. He predicted that she was telling the truth but not the whole truth. If she was down playing what had happened then he wanted to become aware of it. He noticed his daughter was nervous so he tried hard with no avail to make his tone softer " In that case you won't mind repeating to me what happened. Do you darling? Just remind me again what went on one more time."
Vienna was scared. She knew the penalty of lying to her father. She didn't want to repeat it because she was afraid her father was going to pick part of the story that she had missed and she was doomed then.."
Adele whispered " Francesco ... I think you can ask her this later tonight... She has been through alot today... She must be shaken up."
Francesco walked closer to his daughter and towered over seated form of his wife and daughter. A sympathetic smile came to his lips as he reached his hand to his daughter's face and stroked her cheek " Is this true darling? You are shaken up? But I need to know what happened. Just tell me one more time..."
Adele spoke carefully " They are waiting for you and I in the meeting room.... It's best we go..."
Francesco gave Adele a look that made her go quiet. He stated " Don't worry about people waiting sweetheart. I am the judge of the trial. I can be as late as I need to be... I will go when I wish... If you are tired sweetheart, go outside and get a cup of tea from Sancia personal assistant and maybe freshen up and return when you are ready."
Adele replied " I am fine...."
Francesco nodded " Good." He then looked at his daughter and his expression softened. She was the mirror image of her mother. His little princess was his pride and joy. When she bit her lip and looked around nervously it reminded him of Adele. She was as shy and as innocent as her mother.
Francesco spoke softly " Darling... You need to tell me one more time what happened..."
Adele sighed " But she had told you everything ... she said..."
Francesco slowly pulled a chair from near by and sat in front of his daughter so he was at the same level as her. He took her hand in his and gave his wife a look " Adele Amanda ... Our daughter needs to respond to my question."
When Francesco used her middle name so he was angry. Adele was about to protest but then decided against it. Today was not a day she could argue with her husband. Francesco was not arguing with her in front of the kids but she knew he was displeased. She expected to be told off for not taking his side in front of their children but Vienna was nervous. She wanted her to feel at ease.
After Francesco gave Adele his warning look one more time asking her silently to keep quiet, he turned to his daughter and tried to speak in a calmer tone " Darling... One more time. Tell me slowly what happened..."
Vienna wished Tristan was there. For some reason she badly missed him there. She wanted him to stand next to her and she didn't understand why she suddenly felt she needed him in the room while facing her father.
She glanced at her mother but she was staring at her father. Now that her mother didn't say anything, Vienna knew she had no choice. She was on her own. Adele rubbed her back reassuringly making her take a deep breath.
Vienna looked at her father and slowly started giving her account of what happened. She was hoping she didn't get into trouble and didn't put Letizia in more trouble than she already was in.
Once Vienna finished, Francesco spoke " Are you sure you are not missing anything darling?"
Vienna spoke nervously worried about Letizia " Father, I told you everything..."
Francesco leaned closer in his chair and now was holding his daughter's hand with both hands " Darling... I can't accept this account because I feel you are not recalling everything. Think harder Vienna ... I need you to think and one last time tell me what happened... I want to know how much she hurt you, what she said and what she did..," Francesco could not see any provocation from her daughter towards Letizia to warrant such incident happen. It made his blood boil to think anyone dared raise a hand on his daughter. He knew his daughter was playing down the attack on her and he was not happy about this. How could Letizia harm his daughter when she wasn't provoked. Francesco had designed the course with O'Neil thinking about every aspect of it. No one was meant to get hurt. This was just a game. They even had the option of surrender for those who couldn't handle it and were prone to getting hurt. They could fail and forfeit the course but survival camp was an extra credit module. It didn't matter. It was just for preparation. But Letizia had blown it out of proportion. The course was not designed to hurt any children. It was a game. It was a challenge. No one got hurt unless they broke the rules. He had questioned Tristan and he thought the young man had been right to try to punish Letizia defending his daughter's honour but he was disappointed he had to be interrupted because his daughter had been caught by the opposite team. It made no sense. His daughter had admitted it was her plan to save Letizia and it didn't add up. He didn't want his daughter to feel sorry for her enemies. Letizia was her enemy. She had demonstrated she was no friend. She had broken so many of his rules at the camp. Francesco had written and revised the rules in the rule book. He didn't need to have no meeting to give any sanctions. He knew the extent of the crimes. He had already judged Letizia but he had to make sure his daughter was not hurt.
Adele whispered " Francesco... I think she has told you everything... You never question our daughter about anything to this extent..." But she quickly went quiet as her husband gave her a quick glance with a look in his eyes that said he was not done. Adele had not seen this side of Francesco before. The coldness in his eyes said she was going to pay if she didn't stop talking.
Francesco whispered back firmly as he stared Adele down " Sweetheart... Our daughter has never been hurt by strangers before... Has she been harmed by an enemy before? I don't think so sweetheart. So this issue needs more attention."
Vienna cringed at the word stranger. Letizia was her friend. She had just joined the school but she considered Letizia as a friend even though she knew her for a short time.
Adele knew she was going to pay for this later but decided to go for it. She responded calmly " But you have asked Vienna twice now. She is fine. She is not harmed... No harm is done. We should go to the meeting and end the issue by asking for an apology from Letizia ..."
Francesco tried to not raise his voice " Sweetheart. My definition of my child being harmed is different to what you think..." He then thought to himself " If she was harmed by definitions you think, I would have declared war on the Marcianos and that couple next door would have been drowned in a pool of blood from bullet holes piercing their worthless bodies...." But of course he didn't say that. Adele was not ready to deal with the truth and the seriousness of the issue. Maybe he could slowly introduce her to how serious this issue was to him but that time was not now.
Adele pleaded " Francesco ... Please stop this questioning...,"
Francesco stated " Are you tired sweetheart? If you are tired sweetheart I told you that you can take a break and can ask Sancia's personal assistant to get you a drink.. Would you like to take a moment outside sweetheart if you are tired?"
Adele stated " I am fine.., No...."
Francesco nodded " Very well." He then turned to his daughter " Darling. I don't think you have told me everything. A piece of this puzzling story you are telling me is missing and I need you to tell me everything without missing any information. I am asking you for the third time... What happened and why?"
Vienna looked away. When her father questioned people he took no prisoners and asked direct questions only. It reminded her of how Tristan questioned her and it suddenly hit her hard to see the resemblance. Tristan had a lot in common with her father. She visibly shook.
Francesco noticed that because he was holding her hand. That made him stop right there. He didn't want to go too far. He had to work with what he had. He let go of Vienna's hand and instructed " That is fine .... If you can't tell me more, I will just wait for you to tell me more when you can and when you are ready. Darling why don't you go outside and find me your big brother? Tell him to come see me now."
Vienna was relieved that her father was satisfied now. She didn't need to be told twice. She stood up " Ok... I go get him now." She then gratefully looked at her mother who had been helping her. She then walked away before her father changed his mind and asked her questions again."
When Vienna left the room, Francesco stood up and then sat down next to Adele on the sofa. With no warning, he lifted Adele up and sat her on his lap. He looked into her eyes as he rubbed his hand up and down her back " Sweetheart .... Don't argue with me in front of the children again when I am dealing with their safety. I don't like it..."
Adele bit her lip " I am sorry..."
Francesco stated " Apology accepted sweetheart ... I know you want to help the kids but I can't protect them if I don't know everything. Every time they get into trouble, I need to know every detail. I need to find out why and how an incident happened to be able to make the right decisions about our children's safety. Do you understand sweetheart?"
Adele replied in s whisper " Yes... Francesco... I am sorry..."
Francesco replied " I need to warn you sweetheart. The next time you argue with me when their safety is concerned I will have no choice but not include you at all in the matter. Any matter that is about our children concerns you just like how it does me. If anyone hurts our children, then you need to know about it but next time I would not give you the option to leave the room to take a breather sweetheart if you argue with me or question me when the children's safety is concerned. I would tell you to leave. I know it sounds harsh but I don't play with my children's life. You can argue with me about anything in front of them. You don't anyways. But you can and I don't mind. But their safety is my business and my responsibility. I don't take chances with their lives. So next time don't interfere sweetheart."
Adele whispered " I promise. Don't bring me to meetings next time. I don't blame you.,,"
Francesco took her hand in his and leaned close and planted a kiss on her hand. He then looked up " You are the mother of my children. It is your right to be involved every step of the way sweetheart. I just ask you that if you don't take my side, that is fine but don't work against me. That's all I ask sweetheart."
Just then a knock came on the door. Vincenzo's voice came "May I come in?"
Adele quickly got off Francesco's lap and whispered "I will wait outside..."
Francesco stood up " You can stay sweetheart..."
Adele didn't want to rock the boat. She wanted to be present next door in the meeting when they decided Letizia's fate. She couldn't afford to be excluded. She didn't put it past Francesco to take out his gun and shoot the Marcianos. Their daughter had hurt Vienna, Francesco's favourite amongst their children. Their princess was hurt and Francesco just needed one wrong word from the Marcianos to give them s death sentence. Adele knew that much.
Adele smiled " I will get a cup of tea and wait outside. I do need a breather before the meeting." She then walked to the door and opened it. She greeted Vincenzo " Hello son." She then gave him a reassuring smile and walked past him.
Francesco nodded as he sat down on the sofa " Come in son and close the door."
Vincenzo was worried about what her father wanted. He had just found out his father had not even stepped foot in the meeting room. His father was the judge. His word was going to be the law on this matter. He knew his father had made up his mind and didn't even need to attend a meeting to give Letizia's verdict. All he needed was to hear Vienna's account. He was nervous but he was relieved at least he didn't have to wait long for a verdict. He entered and closed the door.
Francesco instructed " Take a seat son."
Francesco took a seat on a chair opposite his father who stared him down with an unreadable expression. Francesco narrowed his eyes " Tell me one thing... Are you breaking up with this girl?"
Vincenzo replied " Do you wish me to?"
Francesco leaned back on the sofa " You did not answer my question son..."
Vincenzo sighed " I am sorry. I wont break up with her...."
Francesco nodded " I am disappointed.... I wish for you to break up with a girl who raised her hand on your sister...... That's all I wanted to know son." He then stood up " I will now go to the meeting room and you won't be coming inside because I don't wish to see you holding the hand that hurt your sister. I can't watch my own son showing a united front with a girl who disrespected my only daughter. You will wait outside and when the meeting finishes you will find out the sanctions she will be subjected to that I would allow Tristan to choose..."
Vincenzo stood up abruptly " Tristan? He chooses her punishment?"
Francesco nodded " Yes. I was going to ask you too but it seems like the conflict of interest will not help... It's not that I don't trust your judgement and your dedication to protecting your sister. I do. But I know you are attached to this girl so I can't let you be involved in deciding her punishment. You will wait outside...."
Vincenzo knew he couldn't protest. He whispered " I understand... But can I say goodbye to her at least?"
Francesco shook his head " There is no need to say goodbye to her unless you wish to break up with her. She won't be going anywhere... I will not allow Tristan to choose exile or expulsion. I will over rule him. Next door's meeting room is a court room .... I would be the judge. He would be the attorney... I assure you that she won't be exiled because that would be a reward for her. She needs to face the consequences.... She won't get away that easily...."
Vincenzo was trying hard to make sense of what his father was implying. As his father was about to walk away to the door, Vincenzo blocked his father's path " So... After today ... Am I still allowed to see her?" He then held his breath waiting for his response.
Francesco sighed and gave his son a hard look " You can't ... unless you co-operate..." He then side stepped his son and walked to the door.
Vincenzo turned around and followed his father " I would co-operate...."
Francesco turned around and raised an eyebrow " You don't even know what you need to co-operate on and you say yes?"
Vincenzo nodded " Yes..." Then he became wary when he saw a worn out smile came to his father's lips.
Francesco felt victory had knocked on his door at last. He spoke " Very well. The condition is .... You must see girls. You must meet new girls on regular basis and I would monitor that... "
Vincenzo was shocked " Girls?"
Francesco nodded " That's the condition. You will honour your word and I would let you see this girl." He then left Vincenzo standing there in shock feeling content.