Lorenzo laughs. The sound is bitter. Sharp.
"Now you want to talk." He finally turns. His face is a mask of controlled anger. "After everything that happened. Now you want to talk."
"Yes."
"Why?"
"Because I'm done running," I say.
Lorenzo's jaw tightens. He crosses his arms over his chest.
"You knew." His voice is quiet. Dangerous. "About Riccardo and Luna. And you said nothing."
"I know."
"She was my fiancée, Bruno." The words crack. Just slightly. Just enough to show the wound beneath. "I was going to marry her. Build a life with her. And the whole time, she was fucking our brother behind my back. And you knew."
"I know."
"Why?" Lorenzo takes a step toward me. His hands are shaking. "Why didn't you tell me? Why did you let me walk around like a fool while everyone else?—"
"Not everyone." I cut him off. "Just me. I was the only one who knew."
"That doesn't make it better."
"I know."
Lorenzo stops. He stares at me with something that looks like hatred. Or grief. Or both.
"Then why?"
I've asked myself that question a thousand times. Lying awake at night. Staring at the ceiling. Wondering if I made the right choice.
I never did.
"Because I thought I was protecting the family." The words taste like ash in my mouth. "Riccardo was the heir. The golden son. Father's favorite. If the truth came out, it would have destroyed everything."
"So you chose them over me."
"I chose wrong."
The admission hangs in the air between us.
Lorenzo's expression flickers. Something shifts behind his eyes.
"You chose wrong," he repeats slowly.
"I'm good at that." I grip the armrests of my wheelchair. "Choosing wrong. Thinking I know what's best when I don't know anything at all. I thought I was being strategic. Protecting everyone. Instead, I just—" I stop. Swallow. "I hurt you. And I'm sorry."
Lorenzo is silent for a long moment.
"You're not the only one who kept secrets."
I look up at him.
"Father's other family." Lorenzo's voice is hollow.
"I know."