Chapter 247

Ari’s eyes took on a faraway look. ‘I remember one day, I must have been nine or ten, climbing a gnarled old olive tree in the garden. The branches were thick and twisted, perfect as a hiding spot. As I reached for a particular high branch, I overheard my mother’s voice drifting from an open window on the third floor. It was easy to catch her words because she was yelling at the top of her lungs.’ Elodie listened quietly. ‘She was talking to Jay, begging him to get rid of me, saying I should never inherit the family company. She called me all sorts of names—bastard, brat, the likes—her voice hysterical. I froze, halfway up the tree.’ ‘So this was all because of the company?’ Elodie was incredulous. ‘You were just a kid back then.’ Ari’s smile was sardonic. ‘That’s what I thought. I never wanted to compete with Adriano anyway. The company was just an excuse. Apparently, Jay felt the same way. He pressed her, demanded to know why she hated me so much, her own son. As usual, she deflected