Bound By Power

27

There was a pause before Giovanni asked again, "Are you really sure?"

Lorenzo exhaled, his expression shifting into something more determined. "I love him," he said, each word holding undeniable conviction. "It took me months to understand what I really feel. And I know you know about my past—my reputation. But, Mr. Moretti, trust me, I left that behind a long time ago.

"As for the age difference, I know I’m six years older than him. I know he’s still young. That’s why, for your assurance, Julian and I will be in a long-distance relationship. I won’t be meeting him as an official boyfriend until he’s 21. Until he’s a proper adult. But my feelings won’t change."

The room went silent again.

And then, unexpectedly, Giovanni laughed.

Lorenzo blinked, momentarily thrown off. "What…?"

"I’m just relieved," Giovanni said, shaking his head in amusement. "At least you’re willing to wait for him to be an adult. And after seeing my daughter marry your older brother, I can be sure that nothing terrible will happen to my son. If Julian is happy with you, then so am I. But—" Giovanni’s voice grew firmer. "If one day things change, if you fall out of love, or if problems arise, don’t ever keep him hanging. Tell me. I’ll take care of my son myself."

Julian’s eyes burned with emotion as he stood abruptly and hugged his father. Giovanni let out a quiet chuckle, patting his back. Lorenzo watched the scene, something warm curling in his chest.

But the warmth didn’t last long.

Because soon, it was time to leave.
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It was nearly 9 PM when Lorenzo finished packing the last of his things. His flight back to Sicily was at 10:15 PM, and though he was prepared, the weight of separation was suddenly pressing against him like a heavy storm cloud.

Julian sat on the edge of the bed, watching Lorenzo in silence.

Lorenzo turned to him. "Are you happy?" His voice was quiet, hesitant.

Julian blinked. "Huh?" He forced a small smile. "Of course. I mean, Dad accepted our relationship, didn’t he?"

But Lorenzo wasn’t fooled. His sharp blue eyes caught the slight tremble in Julian’s lashes, the way his fingers fidgeted in his lap. A single tear slipped down Julian’s cheek before he could stop it.

And that was all it took.

Lorenzo stepped forward, wrapping his arms around Julian, pulling him close. Julian clutched at him like he never wanted to let go.

"How am I supposed to live without you?" Julian whispered against his shoulder, his voice breaking. "After everything—after all the pain, I finally have you, and now you’re leaving…"

Lorenzo closed his eyes, his throat tightening. His hand moved over Julian’s back, comforting, soothing. "I know," he murmured. "But this is what’s best for us. I don’t want anyone telling you that I’m a distraction. I want you to focus on your goals, to become the person you want to be. I want you to be better than me, Julian."

Julian pulled back slightly, his eyes red-rimmed. "But… do we have to be apart for three years?" His voice was barely above a whisper.

Lorenzo cupped his face gently, his thumbs wiping away the tears. "Bunny, we can do this. I believe in you. And we’re not in the medieval era—we have phones, laptops, the internet. We’ll talk every day, share pictures, and call each other whenever we can." He smiled softly. "And just so we’re clear, once you’re an adult, don’t expect me to say something stupid like, If you find someone better, you’re free to go." His voice dropped playfully. "Hell no. You’re not allowed. You need to remember that someone in Sicily will be waiting for you."