86. Daughters and the hell they bring.

Deangelo.

It had been two exhausting and agonizing days since the intense argument with my daughter, Mia. She had retreated to her room, shutting herself off from the world, refusing to eat or go to school. The weight of guilt and remorse crushed me, as I couldn't shake off the haunting image of her tear-stained face and heart-wrenching sobs.

To clear my mind and find solace, I sought refuge in the fields, working alongside Luca, my loyal and trusted companion. He attempted to lighten the atmosphere with a lighthearted joke about facing our problems head-on instead of avoiding them. However, his attempt at humor only fueled my anger and bitterness, which were still smoldering within me.

In a fit of rage, I lost control and grabbed Luca by the collar, forcefully pushing him away. It happened so abruptly and violently that Luca stumbled and fell to the ground, struggling to catch his breath. Standing over him, fists clenched, I battled to rein in my emotions and regain control.

Looking up at me, Luca's eyes reflected a mixture of fear and concern. He understood the burdens I carried, the pain from my past and the weight of my present responsibilities. But he also knew that deep down, I possessed immense love and compassion, and that I would do anything to protect my family.

"Alpha," Luca rasped, his voice strained. "You can't continue like this. You need to talk to Mia, and maybe even Elena because we both know she's involved in all this, no matter how much we pretend she's not. You have to try to work things out. Holding onto all this pent-up frustration isn't healthy for you, them, or any of us. You need to speak your heart and let go to move forward," he advised, as my anger subsided and I extended my hand to help him back up, overwhelmed with guilt for my unprovoked outburst.

Shaking my head, jaw clenched, I muttered, "I don't know how to fix this. I don't even know where to begin."

Luca stood up slowly, wincing in pain from his neck. "You start by talking to them," he said. "You tell Mia how much you love her and how deeply sorry you are. Let her know that you're there for her, no matter what, and that your actions were driven by what you believed was right. She'll understand. And as for Elena, despite my reservations about getting involved with her in any way, I believe you need closure with her, whether to put an end to this or start anew. Ultimately, the decision rests with you. Just take care of yourself, help them, and in turn, help all of us, alpha."

I let out a deep, heavy sigh, my shoulders drooping under the weight of uncertainty. "I don't know if what I'm doing is enough," I admitted, my voice tinged with doubt. "I don't know if I'm capable of being enough for my daughter, my family, or even myself. I'm so confused, and the decisions I make, no matter how simple they may seem, have the power to hurt us all. I question if I'm truly doing anything right."

Luca placed a comforting hand on my shoulder, his tone shifting from a subordinate to that of a friend who understood my struggle. "You are enough, Deangelo," he reassured me. "You're a good man, a strong man. And you'll do whatever it takes to make things right."

I glanced at him, the hardness in my eyes softening. "Thank you, Luca," I murmured gratefully. "I needed to hear that."

Luca nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "Anytime, alpha," he responded. "Anytime."

"Oh, and I'm really sorry for hitting you earlier," I apologized, a hint of remorse in my voice.

He chuckled, his laughter easing the tension between us. "It's alright. I'm always here to take beatings for you," he quipped, and we both shared a moment of shared amusement.

Just then, Mrs. Cali entered my office, her face etched with concern. "Alpha, Mia still refuses to eat. She's barely drinking anything," she informed me, her hands twisting anxiously. "I don't know what to do."

Rubbing my temples, I felt the onset of a headache. "She's just a kid. She'll get over it," I dismissed her worries, though deep down, I knew it was far from that simple. I hadn't been able to bring myself to check on Mia since that fateful day.

As Mrs. Cali turned to leave, Elena stormed into the room, her eyes ablaze with anger. I braced myself for the inevitable confrontation that lay before me.

"Alpha, did you not hear what Mrs. Cali just said?" she demanded, her voice tight with fury. "Mia is starving herself, and you act as though it's insignificant?"

"I didn't say it was insignificant," I defended myself, feeling the need to justify my stance. "I just... I don't know what to do."

"Well, you better figure it out because I won't stand by and watch her waste away while you fail to sit down and have a proper conversation with your own daughter!" Elena snapped, her words cutting through the air. I couldn't help but notice the newfound confidence in her voice, a change that both intrigued and unsettled me.

Before I could respond, Elena interrupted me. "And another thing. I spoke with Luca about Diego. I suggested he spend more nights with his friends until we sort out this mess. It's best for him to be away from all this tension."

"Why didn't you tell me first?" I demanded, feeling my temper flaring at the thought of decisions being made without my knowledge.

"I told Luca because he's been keeping an eye on things," Elena replied coolly, turning to leave the room.

A surge of frustration coursed through me, igniting the urge to vent my anger on something, or someone—perhaps even my friend's face. But deep down, I knew that wouldn't solve anything. So, I took a deep breath, attempting to regain control of my emotions. The situation was spiraling out of control, and I felt powerless to bring it to a halt.

The weight of my thoughts bore down on me heavily, preventing any chance of sleep. It had been days since the argument with Mia, and I found myself constantly questioning my actions and replaying different scenarios in my mind. Would Jules have handled things better if she were in my shoes? Would she have been able to break through to her own daughter?

Unable to find solace in my restless state, I surrendered to the wakefulness and descended the stairs, seeking refuge in the solitude of the kitchen. The cool touch of the tile floor on my bare feet provided a slight relief as I made my way to the sink and filled a glass with water. As I turned, I noticed Mrs. Cali engrossed in her own tasks at the counter, her back facing me.

"You couldn't sleep either?" she inquired without facing me.

A soft chuckle escaped my lips. "No, seems that way. How about you?"

Mrs. Cali shook her head, her gaze fixed on her work. "I've always found peace in the stillness of the night. It's a time for quiet reflection."

Silence enveloped us briefly before she spoke up again, a hint of hesitation in her voice. "May I speak honestly with you?"

I felt a twinge of apprehension, unsure if I was ready for the truth she was about to share. Despite my reservations, I nodded, signaling for her to continue.

"Look, I understand this is a difficult situation with Mia, but remember what you were like at her age. You were quite the handful, always pushing your parents' buttons. Mia is no different."

Her words resonated with me, and I couldn't help but chuckle, recalling the mischief I caused in my younger days. "Yeah, but it's different," I countered. "Mia is my daughter. I feel responsible for her."

Mrs. Cali nodded empathetically. "I know, I know," she affirmed. "But she's still young, Deangelo. Teenage love tends to fizzle out as they grow older. It might not be worth losing sleep over."

I raised an eyebrow, uncertain if I fully agreed. "Yeah, maybe you're right. Although knowing Mia, she might just marry Andrew to spite me."

A soft chuckle escaped Mrs. Cali's lips. "She certainly inherited her mother's stubbornness. And if it brings any comfort, I believe Jules would be proud of how you're handling this."

A pang of longing struck me at the mention of Jules. I missed her deeply, yearning for her guidance and support in navigating these turbulent times.

As if on cue, Alessandro stumbled into the kitchen, rubbing the sleep from his eyes and appearing slightly disheveled. "Hey, what are you guys doing up?"

I poured each of us a glass of wine, and we clinked our glasses together in a gesture of camaraderie. "To daughters and the chaos they bring," I toasted, the words laced with both amusement and a touch of exasperation.

The rest of the night was filled with laughter and light-hearted banter, as we found solace in the shared experiences and the support we provided for one another. For those brief moments, the weight of my troubles seemed to dissipate, and I relished in the simple joy of companionship.