Marco

"I never thought the old man was serious. It's been a whole week, and your accounts are still frozen. What are you going to do?" Giovanni asks.

"I just want to go home and have all these shenanigans come to an end. I'm exhausted especially with you having to cover my bills, and I sincerely appreciate you getting back the painting."

"No worries here. Feel free to stay as long as necessary. I'm more than willing to lend you some funds to kickstart your own business and put aside those people, preventing them from causing more damage to your life. And as for the art, it's the least I can offer."

"I can't bear the thought of starting from scratch. It's just too much. And the people you talk about with such disdain are my parents."

"Then let them act like parents. Even adopted children aren't treated as poorly, let alone in this heart-wrenching way."

I stay quiet, debating whether to disclose my connection to the Lorenzos.

"Wait, you aren't adopted, right?" Giovanni inquires, attempting t