My Forbidden Love

Chapter 49

Olivia's pov:

The whole party goes a little quiet, everyone turning to stare at me.

Jack laughs as if he's said something incredibly funny and my reaction is totally normal.

He loops an arm around my shoulders and pulls me close.

"Laugh. They'll look away."

I do as he says, acknowledging that I'm not as talented of an actor as he is.
But then again, he's had his whole life to practice.

"You are so funny, Jack."

Everyone gives me a couple of confused smirks and then turn back to their business.

When they've all looked away, I snap my face back to Jacks, my expression totally serious.

"Your father was engaged to Natalia? I - I don't understand."

"I don't know all of the details, Olivia. What I heard is from my Italian cousins when I would go and visit them in Italy, and even what they knew was hushed up. It was apparently a big scandal."

I nod, urging him to go on as I pour more whiskey and take a sip, deciding I need more courage.

"Dad was destined for mum - engaged to her at birth to unite the families, as I was to you. And my grandfather - he was incredibly good to my dad. When dad went to Italy, he went basically as a pauper. His father, the head of the Sallow family, had been killed and his mum had nothing. So, the fact that nonno respected the engagement, when he could have married his favourite daughter to someone else, was.... a big deal. Dad should have been grateful."

"But.... He wasn't?"

Jack shrugs and shakes his head, unwilling to commit to that idea.

"He was grateful, Olivia - he was just..."

Jack sighs and looks over to where his dad stands with a group of his family, Natalia again by his side.

"He what?"

"He was in love with Natalia at that time."

What??!!

"They.... They tried to elope to Rome. But they were caught, dad was punished, and.... A year later, he married mum. And Natalia stood next to my mother at their wedding, and since then she's always been a close family friend..... that's all I've got."

I process what Jack has said to me as I stare in shock at Natalia across the room.

"That explains so much....."
I mutter.

"It does?"

"Um, yeah. Why didn't Natalia ever get married? And why does she look at Kent like for like that when she thinks he's not looking? Why she's doing her utmost to prove that she is the perfect Italian woman, wife, and mother? And then, Jack, why does she look at you with such adoration and treat you like you're the son she never had? Because you are the son she never had!"

Jacks eyes go wide at this realisation, shocked to think that..... in some alternate universe, Natalia would be his mother.

"Plus, the way she still sticks to your dad like a little burr? Look at her, standing next to him like she's ready to take him back the moment he gives her any sort of hint that he wants her."

"Really? Do you think Natalia's going to make a play for him, after all this time?"

I sigh a deep breath and gesture towards where she's draping herself on Kent's arm, laughing up at some joke he made.

"Come on, Jack. Your dad is not that funny."

"No, he's not. Oh, weird, my fiancé and my auntie, both competing for my dad. And no one is going for me."