CHAPTER 6— THE TRUTH

Aria, he asked, low voice, is he mine, is Leo mine.

The room was quiet. Twelve men did not move. Did not breathe.

Leo held my neck tight. His small hands were cold.

Mama, he whispered, I want to go home.

Rhys stood at the door. His face was white.

Lorenzo looked at Leo, then at me. His grey eyes were wet.

Aria, he said again, please, tell me, is he my son.

I held Leo more close. My heart was loud. Too loud.

No, I said, he is not yours, he is only mine, I made him alone.

It was a lie. But I had to say it. I had to protect Leo.

Lorenzo stepped back. Like I hit him.

You lie, he said, his voice low, he has my eyes, my face, how old, tell me true age.

Three, I said, he is three.

We divorced three years and eight months ago, he said, three, it is same time.

It is not same, I said, do not count, do not do math with my son.

Leo started to cry. Small cry. Scared cry.

Mama, he said, that man is loud.

Rhys came fast. He took Leo from my arms.

Come Leo, he said, let us go out, let us play with car.

Rhys took Leo out. Door closed. Now only me and Lorenzo and twelve men.

Lorenzo sat down slow. His hands on table, shaking.

You told me nothing, he said, you left, you took nothing, you said nothing about baby, why.

Because you married her, I said, simple words, you married her the same day I signed, you chose her, you did not choose me, so why should I tell you about Leo.

Her name made his face hard.

Seraphina, he said, she was sick, she was dying, you know that.

Was she, I asked, was she really dying.

He looked up fast.

What do you mean, he asked.

I opened my bag. I took out paper Julian kept for three years. I put it on table.

This is from Hohenegg Clinic, I said, not cancer hospital, rest hospital, for people who lie, for people who are not sick in body but in mind, she paid doctor, she was never dying.

Lorenzo took paper. Hands shaking more. He read. One line, two lines, then his face went white.

No, he said, no, it cannot be, Royal Marsden told me she had six months.

Royal Marsden has no record of her, I said, I checked, Rhys checked, no record, only Hohenegg has record, and Hohenegg says no cancer, only rest.

Silence, then one man at table spoke.

Mr Blackwood, he said, is this true, did you marry Miss Vale because she was sick.

Lorenzo did not answer. He kept looking at paper.

Then he stood up fast. Chair fell again.

Where did you get this, he shouted, not at me, at the paper.

Julian, I said, your assistant, he took the call three years ago, he kept it for me.

Julian, Lorenzo whispered.

He walked to window. Big window. New York below.

I married her because she was dying, he said quiet, to himself, I left you because she was dying, I thought I had to save her, I thought it was my fault she was sick.

It was not your fault, I said, it was her lie, all lie.

He turned. Eyes red now.

And Leo, he said, Leo is mine, I know it, I feel it, tell me true, Aria, please.

I looked at window, at New York, at three years of pain.

If I tell you true, I said, what will you do, will you take him, will you fight me for him, will you use money and power like before.

No, he said fast, no, I will not take, I will not fight, I swear.

You swore before too, I said, you swore to love me, you swore forever, you broke it.

He came close. One step, two steps. He was near now. I could smell his cologne. Same as before.

Aria, he said, I know I broke everything, I know I was blind, but Leo, if he is mine, let me know him, let me be father, even small, even once.

My eyes were wet now. First time in three years in front of him.

He is yours, I whispered, so low only he could hear, Leo is yours, he is three, his birthday is seven month after we divorced, he has your eyes, your blood, he is yours.

Lorenzo closed his eyes. One tear fell. One tear only.

My son, he whispered, I have a son, three years, and I did not know.

Door opened. Leo ran back in. He did not know. He ran to me.

Mama, he said, Rhys said car is fixed.

He saw Lorenzo crying. Leo stopped.

Mama, why is that man crying, he asked.

I picked up Leo. I looked at Lorenzo. His face broken.

Because he just found something he lost, I said, something big.

Lorenzo looked at Leo. Leo looked at Lorenzo.

Hi, Leo said, small voice, are you my mama friend.

Lorenzo kneeled down slow. To be same height as Leo.

Hi, he said, voice shaking, I think I am more than friend, I think I am your dad.