~ Niamh ~
Massimo slowly pulled Matteo back, his large hands holding onto his small shoulders firmly so he could look his son directly in the eyes.
The lines on his face hardened, and he looked incredibly angry—though I could tell he wasn't really angry with his son at all, but rather with himself. In the very depths of his dark eyes, I could see a painful mix of hurt, raw guilt, and sorrow, and was that regret too?
Massimo gave Matteo a gentle shake, his voice coming out rough and thick with emotion. "Why did you think such a thing, Matteo? Why would you ever think that?"
If it were any other man, I would have stepped in immediately and pulled my son away from his arms and back to my side where it was safe. But I didn't move because of a strong conviction deep inside me that Massimo would never, under any circumstances, hurt our boy.
