Adrian turned all his attention back to Gabriel. His gaze remained cold, but this time there was something far deeper than mere anger. Disappointment. A sense of distrust toward the man who had always been his role model.
The room sank into silence once more.
Mariana was still standing where she had been. Her hands were clasped tightly in front of her body, while Liliana stood beside her with an equally tense expression. No one dared to break the suffocating atmosphere.
Adrian finally spoke.
“Dad always taught me that major decisions shouldn’t be made on a momentary impulse.”
He walked slowly toward the table, then stopped directly in front of Gabriel.
“Dad was also the one who taught me to get to know someone before trusting them.”
Their gazes met.
“So why are you violating the very principles you’ve spent all these years instilling in me?”
Gabriel didn’t answer immediately. The middle-aged man rose calmly from his seat. He straightened the edge of his suit jacket, then looked at Adrian without appearing the least bit pressured by his son’s gaze.
“I’m not violating my principles.”
“Then explain.”
Adrian’s voice remained calm. Yet that very calmness made every word feel razor-sharp.
“Two weeks, Dad.”
He raised two fingers in front of his chest.
“Only two weeks.”
His gaze shifted to Mariana.
“In two weeks, you decided to make a housekeeper your wife.”
Mariana reflexively lowered her head.
His words hadn’t been spoken in a mocking tone. Yet for some reason, every one of them still felt like a slap.
“I never expected anything like this to happen, Mr. Adrian,” Mariana said quietly.
Adrian glanced at her. His expression remained impassive.
“I know.”
That answer only left Mariana speechless.
“I also know you didn’t come to this house carrying a sign that said you wanted to become Gabriel Giordano’s wife.”
He paused briefly, as if choosing his next words.
“But that doesn’t change the facts.”
Adrian’s gaze returned to his father.
“Your decision was still too fast.”
Liliana, who had been holding herself back until then, finally stepped forward half a pace. She stood slightly in front of Mariana, as if unconsciously wanting to shield her mother.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Adrian.”
The girl’s voice was gentle, but it didn’t sound afraid.
“May I say something?”
Adrian didn’t answer right away.
His gaze shifted to Liliana, studying her face for several moments before finally giving a brief nod.
“Speak.”
Liliana drew a deep breath.
“I understand that you’re worried about your father, sir.”
She paused briefly, making sure her voice wouldn’t tremble.
“If I were in your position, I might question that decision too.”
Liliana’s words made Adrian frown slightly.
He hadn’t expected her to begin by acknowledging his feelings.
“But…” Liliana continued, “my mother doesn’t deserve to be judged before you get to know her.”
Mariana immediately touched her daughter’s arm.
“Liliana, that’s enough.”
The girl turned to her.
“No, Mom.”
Her gaze returned to Adrian.
“My mother has worked as hard as she could since her very first day here.”
“She’s never asked for special treatment.”
“She never even dreamed of becoming part of this family.”
Liliana’s words plunged the room into silence again.
Adrian didn’t interrupt.
He merely watched the girl, his expression impossible to read.
Beneath her firmness, there was something that made him think.
But only for a moment.
“I’m not judging your mother,” he finally said.
“I’m questioning my father’s decision.”
He turned his face toward Gabriel.
“And until you can give me a reasonable explanation, my opinion won’t change.”
Gabriel exhaled slowly.
“I don’t need your approval to make a decision.”
“No.”
Adrian shook his head.
“What you need is to accept the fact that this decision will change our family.”
Gabriel stepped closer until he was only one pace away from his son.
“And I’m ready to accept the consequences.”
“In that case…”
Adrian took a long breath.
“You also need to be ready to accept my decision.”
Gabriel stared at him without blinking.
“I will never acknowledge Mariana Hayes as part of the Giordano family.”
The words fell like a hammer.
Mariana closed her eyes for a moment.
Liliana instinctively gripped her mother’s hand tighter.
There was no anger on Gabriel’s face.
But for the first time since the conversation began, his eyes changed.
They turned sharp.
“Listen carefully, Adrian.”
Gabriel’s voice remained low.
But his authority filled the entire room.
“I raised you to become a man capable of judging people by their actions.”
He paused briefly.
“Not by their status.”
Adrian met his father’s gaze without flinching.
“Then give me a chance to prove that your judgment is wrong.”
The room fell silent again.
No one spoke anymore.
The only sound was the clear ticking of the wall clock amid the tension.
A few moments later, Adrian picked up the jacket draped over the back of the chair.
He put it on calmly, then headed for the door.
Before actually leaving, he stopped without turning around.
“I’ll find out who Mariana Hayes really is.”
His tone remained flat.
“No matter how long it takes.”
The door opened.
A moment later, the sound of Adrian’s footsteps faded down the mansion hallway.
Yet the threat he had just left behind still hung over the room so heavily that even the air felt empty.