Sweet Temptation by Cora Reilly

He’s been sick for a long time. That might have influenced his judgment.”
“He’s been wanting the truth out for years.”
“I know. But still, don’t fight with him today. Let him die in peace. Not just
for him, but also for you.”
I sighed. Giulia was the forgiving soul. I was more of a vengeful being. I
nodded anyway.
Ilaria waited with Mother in the corridor. Both of them were crying and
clinging to each other. Mother immediately hurried my way and hugged me
tightly. I patted her back. “What happened?”
Mother couldn’t answer. She only shook her head and kept crying.
I raised my eyebrows at Ilaria. “Father insisted on taking calls from Luca and
Felix today. You know how he is. He can’t let business rest, even if you’re in
charge. After that, he was upset and it led to another small heart attack. His body
is too weak.”
I nodded. “He’s talking to Mia now?”
“Yes,” Ilaria said. “He wanted a word with each of us alone.”
The door swung open and Mia stepped out, her face tear-stained. When she
spotted me, she looked relieved. “You’re here. Father worried you wouldn’t
come.”
“I’m here,” I said simply. Giulia squeezed my hand. I headed into the
hospital room, trying to stifle my anger toward Father. The moment I spotted
him lying in the bed, looking breakable and like the shadow of the man I’d
known all my life, it slipped away. Giulia was right. Today wasn’t about dishing
out accusations. It was about saying goodbye. That was one of the things Giulia
had taught me: to allow kindness when I could afford it, which wasn’t often.
Father’s eyes followed me as I walked up to him. He looked terrified. I’d
never seen him like that. He was a brave man, one of the strongest men I knew.
Now he looked like a word from me could break him.
“Father,” I said quietly.
I touched his thin hand resting limply on the covers. His expression softened,
and he slowly turned his hand so he could wrap his fingers around mine,
squeezing weakly.
“Cassio.” The word was a croaky whisper. I bent over him to hear him better.
“I only… only wanted what I thought was the best.”
“I know.” He’d been wrong, but I, too, was guilty of wrong decisions in my
past.
“I’m sorry. Will you forgive me?”
Forgiveness wasn’t my forte. I wasn’t sure if I could really give it to my
father so shortly after the events, but he didn’t have much time left. “I do.” It
wasn’t a lie. I’d eventually forgive him. Not today, but in a few months or years.
He closed his eyes briefly and a tear slid out. I’d never seen my father cry. I
leaned forward and hugged him carefully. He squeezed my hand again, even
weaker than before. “Can you… get…?”
I nodded and asked my sisters and Mother to enter. Father died two hours