If Loving You is Wrong

23: Stunned

Liana lay on a couch on her father's private jet waiting for him to return from his on-board office.

He was on the phone to Antonio and she wasn't entirely sure how she felt about that.

On the one hand, she enjoyed the fact that her father was talking to Antonio and that Antonio had no idea she was there and knew what was going on. However, her father was also unconsciously talking to the man who had so exquisitely defiled his daughter.

Her father returned from the back office and took the seat opposite her as they continued their journey to New York.

"Everything okay?"

"As well as can be expected," he said absentmindedly.

"Daddy are you okay?" Liana asked as her father turned his eyes back to her. He smiled, but she could see it wasn't genuine,

"Of course, I am,"

"Then why do you look so sad?" Leo didn't say anything. "Why are you going through with this deal if its making you so upset?"

Leonardo sighed,

"Its important and it needs to be done...no matter how I feel about it."

Liana got up off the couch and went to sit by her father resting her head on his shoulder.

"Andro will speak to you soon, you just have to give him time...especially if you're not going to change your mind about this whole marriage thing." Leonardo chuckled and put his arm around his daughter,

"You always were too smart for your own good."

"You just say things like that because I'm your favourite." Liana said quietly.

Leo looked down at his daughter for a long time without saying anything, making her look up at him,

"Does that bother you?"

"No, but it bothers Luisa...why do you treat me differently?"

"I do not!"

"Yes, you do Daddy," Liana said with a smile. "I'm not saying you treat the others worse, you love all your children, but you do treat me differently...why?"

Leo was silent again for a moment before taking a deep sigh and readjusting,

"While your mother was pregnant with you...there were some complications."

"What?"

"You were born prematurely and those days I spent in the hospital with you while your mother was recovering..."

"Oh Papa," she said rearranging herself to hug her father tightly.

"I bonded with you in those days Liana and so yes, I do treat your differently because for the longest time...I didn't know if you would survive. I could have lost you at any moment. It doesn't mean however that I love you any more or that I love your siblings any less."

"I know that Daddy, of course I do."

They lay there hugging for a moment until Leo said,

"We never discussed it but your mother never got pregnant again and not from like of trying."

"Daddy!" Leo chuckled,

"You know what I mean. It was a rough time and I think we both didn't want to admit that we were scared. Losing either of you would have destroyed me."

Liana nodded her understanding,

"There are bonds Liana that people can never understand unless you're a part of it. Whether its parents and their children or spouses and we have to deal with the significances of them."

Liana thought about that for the moment and whether or not her father would be so understanding when he found out about her and Antonio. He had a professional relationship with Antonio and Antonio had a personal relationship with his youngest daughter. Would he be able to deal with that significance?

***

They arrived in New York City in the early evening and headed straight to her father's apartment.

Liana unpacked the few things she'd brought with her – there were clothes in her room there – and went to make something to eat.

"Daddy!" she screamed from the kitchen.

"Yes sweetie?"

"Do you want something to eat?"

"Please, anything will do!"

"Okay!" she shouted back before rummaging through the cupboards for something to eat.

She ended up making some pasta and salad and found some accompanying wine. She was dishing up the first plate when the doorbell rang,

"I'll get it!"

Quickly, she put the pot down and headed to the front door and when she opened it, nothing could have prepared her for Antonio to be standing there.