HE WON’T CHOOSE ME~~~~

VINCENZO POV ~~~~

I didn’t sleep much that night. Lost in thought, I watched Valentina on the bed in the corner, the even rise and fall of her chest as she slept.

A son. I hadn’t lied when I said I preferred a daughter. Sons brought too much heartache, too much worry. I had done everything to mold Dimitri into the man to lead my family, yet I’d failed. He didn’t want it.

You have to let Dimitri choose. Two weeks ago, before I was shot, I wouldn’t have cared about his feelings. He was the Morreti heir with a duty to me, to the family, and his wishes didn’t matter.

But I could no longer say this was still the case. As I bled out on the sidewalk, I thought of those I was leaving behind, including Dimitri.

My good boy, who’d only argued with me once, and it had been over his lover, Alex. He would do whatever I asked, even at the expense of his own happiness. But did I want that life for him?

I’d hated my own father, who hadn’t once shown any regard for my thoughts or feelings. We weren’