Sebastian Gallo’s expression shifted. It was a mix of recognition and surprise.

He nodded once. "Salvatore."

"I didn’t think you were still here. I thought you’d moved south," said Salvatore.

Gallo just smiled. "Time has flown by, Salvatore. You’ve grown so much. Even when I worked with your uncle, I never saw you."

"Well, I never got in touch with anyone unless it was to kill people. You definitely never met me through him."

As they caught up a bit, Felix cleared his throat quietly and glanced at Salvatore’s shirt.

Salvatore looked down. The white fabric was dark with sweat across his chest and shoulders. He had come straight from the yard without thinking about it.

"My bad. I was working," Salvatore said. "I didn’t have time to change."

Gallo waved it off as if he didn’t care.

Salvatore then moved to the sofa and sat down, gesturing for them to do the same.

Felix took the chair on the left. Gallo sat across from Salvatore carefully.

Gallo spoke first. "I know why I’m here. Felix explained it. I have to tell you, I can’t give you what you’re asking for. Not right now."

Salvatore leaned forward slightly, elbows on his knees. "I understand your concern. But you knew my parents well. You know how much they loved that vineyard, what it meant to my family. My family, not my uncle. Before everything fell apart, you know what our wine was. Your family helped build that. I want to take it back and make it work again."

Gallo was quiet. He looked at his hands for a moment. He knew. His parents had served Portello for generations. But he just couldn’t leave Hartley like that.

"When I left Portello, it wasn’t because I wanted to. Not because I turned my back on your family. Your uncle didn’t care at all when we needed financial support. Our workers left one by one. I stayed longer than anyone else. But eventually, I had no choice."

He looked up. "And now I’m with Hartley. I can’t leave them the same way I was left. I have the same respect for them that I had for your family."

"I know," Salvatore said. "I’m not asking you to do something without reason. I’m making you an offer. You come back, you take care of the vineyard and production. Everything. Your family will be fully provided for. You won’t have to worry about a thing."

He paused.

"But if you stay with Hartley, I’m telling you now, you’ll be in a very bad position within the year. They’re going to go bankrupt. It will happen within months. When it does, your family will feel it too."

Gallo stared at him. He didn’t blink for a moment.

"I’m not saying this to scare you," Salvatore continued. "I’m telling you because it’s going to happen. Not because of anything I’ll do to them. I just know it will happen."

Gallo looked down at the floor. Such a dilemma. He knew Portello was truly powerful in the country. They could easily force him to cooperate or kill his family, and now he was even more at a loss as to how Salvatore might be threatening Hartley.

"I’ll give you time to think. But if you decide to refuse now and then realize they’ll be dead, I won’t offer you another chance. I hope you think this through very carefully."

Gallo swallowed hard and looked at Salvatore. The child he had once known as so bright and kind, the one he used to see in the past, had become so grown-up, so scary, and so powerful. He couldn’t believe his own eyes.

But he knew Salvatore was serious.

"If I come back," Gallo said slowly, "how do I know this will last? Not everyone keeps their passion for these things. It takes years."

"As I told you, it’s my family’s pride. My uncle was just foolish. I’ll never let that happen again. You’ll handle everything. I know you’re capable of it. I’ve already started planting the vineyard and rebuilding the building. By next year, we’ll be fully engaged in it."

Gallo fell silent again.

"You knew my parents," Salvatore said. "You know how much they cared about this. I’m asking you to think about that and accept this offer."

Gallo exhaled slowly. A long breath. "I feel bad," he said.

"About Hartley?"

"Yes."

"Andro will die soon," Salvatore said. "When that happens, you’ll be in a very difficult position."

Both Gallo and Felix went still.

Felix looked at Salvatore with a thoughtful expression. Not quite an accusation. Just a look that tried to understand exactly what was being said.

"He’ll die?" Gallo asked.

"Yes."

Salvatore didn’t say anything else about it. Especially since the information came from Milo. He still wasn’t sure, but it was better to tell Gallo to get him to return to Portello.

Gallo sat with it for a moment. Then he nodded slowly, more to himself than to Salvatore. "Please, give me time."

"No problem. I hope you think about it carefully because I won’t make you another offer."

"I understand." Gallo looked at him directly. "I’ll give you an answer soon."

"Good."

Felix walked Gallo out.

Salvatore walked to his room since he needed to leave soon after Roderick returned.

Felix came back through the entrance hall a few minutes later. And he saw him.

Milo.

The young man was walking toward the back of the house, heading for the rear yard. He held a glass of water in one hand.

"Hey."

Milo stopped. He turned around and saw Felix. He looked at him, a bit surprised.

He bowed his head. "Mr. Felix."

Felix walked past him toward the dining room without slowing down. "Get me some food. You know your place well enough. Come and serve me."

Milo stood still for a second. Then he followed him into the dining room. "Do you want something to eat? I can ask the kitchen staff to prepare it for you."

Felix pulled out a chair and sat down. "No. I want YOU to do it. You’re useless otherwise. What exactly can you do besides being a servant in this house? So serve me."