‘My father was a man of honour before anything else. His word was as good as a signed contract, and he spent his life ensuring that those around him were taken care of and provided for. I think the fact that so many of his former employees have gathered outside today, taking an unpaid day off work, is testament to how much they cared for him.’
The judge nodded. ‘Please go on.’
‘My entire life, my father was preparing me to take over his company. He told me many times what he expected of me, what I was to do with the business and his property, and I assured him that I would follow his wishes. But when he died, unexpectedly and of sound mind, I was only a minor and could not challenge my mother.’
The lawyer looked down at his papers. ‘But you are now of age?’
‘I am. And I want my father’s wishes to be followed. I want to gift his employees the money he earmarked for them in his will, I want to buy back the business that my mother sold without my consent and without the best interests of our family in mind, and I want to ensure that our family estate is retained and preserved for generations to come.’ She paused, taking a breath and remembering to smile. ‘I am my father’s daughter, and I will spend the rest of my life honouring his memory and fighting to uphold his wishes.’
‘I would like to ask if there is any chance this could have been settled out of court?’ the judge asked. ‘Given that this is a family matter.’
Valentina closed her eyes, letting her shoulders fall. ‘Your honour, I haven’t set foot in my family home for almost a year. I’ve been effectively exiled from the home that was left to me, but that has instead been given to my brother, who had no biological connection to my father, and whom he never intended on leaving anything.’
Her mother called out then, but Valentina ignored her, continuing to answer the judge’s questions, before being taken back to her seat and watching as Felipe’s father was called. She only wished that Felipe was there too—what she would have given to have him holding her hand, or smiling across the room at her, telling her that she was doing the right thing.
By the end of the day, she’d know whether she was going home or not, and it was enough to break her heart. But she had to believe that the truth would prevail. Because if it didn’t, she’d be left with nothing.
26
PRESENT DAY
When Rose stepped out of the taxi this time, Benjamin was sitting on the porch, one leg stretched out as he leaned against the front door. He wasn’t alone, either. The cat she’d befriended was lying in a pool of sunlight beside him, and when they saw her, she wasn’t sure who was happiest to see her.
The cat leapt up and bounded down the steps, immediately wrapping himself around her legs, whereas Benjamin stood more slowly, his eyes never leaving hers as a slow smile lit his face. Rose thanked the taxi driver without turning, hearing him place the bags behind her, but she stayed where she was standing as Benjamin covered the distance between them.
‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ he said, pulling her into his embrace.
Rose held him, too, her arms looping around his waist as she pressed her cheek to his chest, listening to the steady beat of his heart.
‘I didn’t think I was ever going to see you again,’ he murmured into her hair, before loosening his hold on her.
‘I didn’t think I was ever coming back,’ she replied, smiling up at him as he caught her eyes in his gaze.
‘I’m sorry,’ he said.
‘I’m sorry, too,’ she whispered as tears stung her eyes. ‘I’m hoping we can both forget the way we ended things. I said things I didn’t mean, and I’m sorry for that.’
‘So, we can skip the apologies and head straight to making up?’ he asked, looking hopeful. ‘Because I think we can both agree that we didn’t handle things very well before you left.’
‘We most definitely can,’ she said, as a loud meow captured her attention.
Rose stepped away from Benjamin and bent down, carefully scooping the cat up and smiling down at him. ‘He’s never let me pick him up before. It’s almost as if he missed me.’
She gently lowered her head and the cat pressed into her, purring loudly.
‘That damn cat used to live in the stables, and I swear he’s laughing at me because I kicked him out months ago,’ Benjamin said. ‘Then he found his way to the house. And to you.’
Rose put the cat back down and looped her arms around his neck again. ‘He found his way to me, and somehow, I found my way to you. I think we’re a package deal.’
He laughed, but his smile faded a little when he spoke. ‘Rose, I’m sorry if I tried to make you feel as if you had to stay,’ he said as he stared down at her. ‘Whether this will ever feel like home to you or not, whatever your decision is, it’s your decision to make. I should never have acted the way I did, it was out of line.’
‘Coming back to this place, to you,’ she took a breath. ‘I don’t know how to describe it, but the idea of not returning absolutely broke my heart. I felt lost when I left.’
‘How about you stay for now, and see what happens?’ Benjamin asked, holding out his hand. ‘No pressure. We can just enjoy being together and take it one day at a time, although I can’t promise that I won’t try to show you every reason that I love Argentina.’
Rose took his hand, smiling up at him as he linked his fingers with hers and then pulled her closer so that she was standing directly in front of him. ‘I like the sound of that.’
Benjamin’s other hand gently cupped her chin, tilting her face to his, and she parted her lips as he lowered his mouth over hers. Rose shut her eyes, her lips softly meeting his for a kiss that she knew she’d remember for the rest of her life.
