Chapter 14
Delia made one final attempt to recover her place.
Six months after the banquet, she requested a family mediation.
Not a business meeting.
Not a legal negotiation.
A personal one.
Raffaele told Sofia.
“You don’t have to go.”
“I know.”
She surprised him.
“I want to.”
The mediation took place in a neutral office with a professional mediator.
Delia entered without jewelry except her wedding band.
She looked smaller somehow without the symbols of family rank.
Sofia’s hands had completely healed.
Delia noticed them.
Her eyes dropped.
Nobody spoke for several seconds.
Finally Delia said:
“I was wrong.”
Sofia waited.
Delia continued.
“I should not have made you work in that kitchen.”
“That’s the smallest part.”
Delia flinched.
Sofia did not raise her voice.
“You made me believe my husband thought I was beneath him.”
Delia looked toward Raffaele.
Sofia stopped her.
“No.”
Delia looked back.
“You answer me.”
Raffaele felt something almost like pride and immediately decided not to ruin the moment by showing it.
Delia swallowed.
“I thought if you stayed, he would leave the family.”
“Did you hate me?”
“No.”
Sofia’s expression barely changed.
“That’s not comforting.”
Delia closed her eyes.
“I hated what changed around you.”
“What changed?”
“He started saying no.”
Sofia looked at Raffaele.
Then back at Delia.
“He could always say no.”
“Not to us.”
There it was again.
The real wound.
Delia had mistaken family access for family love.
Sofia asked:
“Would you have stopped if I had begged?”
Delia hesitated.
That hesitation answered everything.
Sofia stood.
The mediator looked surprised.
“Are you finished?”
“Yes.”
Delia’s eyes filled.
“Will I ever be allowed in your home?”
Sofia looked at Raffaele.
He did not answer for her.
She understood what he was doing.
The decision was hers too.
“Not now.”
Delia swallowed.
“Ever?”
Sofia considered it.
“I don’t know.”
Raffaele said nothing.
Delia had been offered the final opportunity to take responsibility.
She had apologized.
May you like
But apology did not produce automatic restoration.
For the first time, she left a room without deciding what family required next.
