page64 (2/2)

Even after Frank had hurt her, Pia had never wished hiry, so cynical that day

So hurt by his actions…

His first thought of even having a relationship with her had begun with Gio’s proposal in uilty about it, just as she had perceptively realized, was also true

As days had flown by in the buildup to their engagement party, and the more they were entrenched in each other’s lives, the more he had realized that she deserved so ive

It hy he had withdrawn froled for the first time in his life with the idea that he was inadequate for the role he wanted to play Nothing and no one had ever prepared him to receive such unconditional acceptance, such unadulterated affection

And instead of telling her the truth, instead of ad to his mistakes when she had confronted him, he had pushed her away

I needed you, Raphael, so much

The most important person in his life, and he hadn’t been there for whatever it was she had needed from him

He wanted to cherish Pia; he wanted to give her everything she wanted Dio mio, he wanted to be able to love her

No, not just be able to…

He did love her He’d been so caught up in his own insecurity that he hadn’t realized that he wanted her happiness above everything else in the world, even above his own

Instead of telling her that, instead of sharing his crisis of faith in hi that had ever happened to him Crushed the heart of the one woman, the only person who had seen the real him, who had loved the true him

I want you, Raphael Just you

This tiy This tiround from underneath him, he realized how fortunate he was to have found Pia

How incredible it was that such a generous wo That he had been given a chance to love her in return, to spend the rest of his life knowing that whether he succeeded or failed at another business venture, whether he re or not, Pia would always love him