Chapter 15

• "Physically, yes," said Olivia. Her eyes glanced at the oversized photo on the wall. "He looks very different from the one in that photo," she continued, seemingly making Mrs. Claire feel sad. "He doesn't talk much, not like Rayyan or Meizar. He's more like..."
• "Geremia?" Mrs. Claire inquired. Olivia thought for a moment to make a comparison, but then she shook her head.
• "Doctor Geremia's expression always appears cold, but he doesn't," Olivia countered.
• "Zello?" Mrs. Claire asked again. Once more, Olivia shook her head.
• "Neither," she replied honestly. "He seems calm like Mr. Luca. But still not quite like Mr. Luca."
• "Then, like whom?" Granny Claire asked impatiently.
• "He's like Grandpa Antony," she answered then.
• Granny Claire appeared lost in thought. Olivia nodded in agreement with her own thoughts.
• "His way of speaking is very polite and gentle. His gaze is also melancholic, but there's still a mischievous glint in his eyes. His skin isn't as pale as it appears in the photos, and I noticed fine lines on his forehead. He seems... rigid and distant," Olivia spoke honestly.
• Granny Claire fell silent. The woman's face looked flushed, holding back tears. But the corners of her mouth lifted.
• "Thank you," she said, her voice sounding hoarse to Olivia's ears. Olivia even saw the woman's eyes turning red and welling up with tears.
• "He said he's afraid to come back," Olivia said, causing Granny Claire to momentarily freeze.
• "He... spoke to you?" Granny Claire asked eagerly. Olivia shook her head.
• "I asked how long he'll stay," Olivia explained, recalling her conversation with the man earlier. "He said he doesn't know how long he'll stay. But he mentioned he'll be here for quite a while. That's all, Granny," Olivia answered truthfully.
• Granny Claire leaned back wearily.
• They remained silent for a while. Both Olivia and Granny Claire seemed preoccupied with their own thoughts.
• After a few minutes, Granny Claire straightened her back and said, "I need your help again, Oliv." Her tone was pleading.
• "W-what help, Granny?" Olivia asked nervously. "If I can help, I will," she said confidently.
• "I want to buy your time again, Olivia,” the woman pleaded, her eyes begging Olivia for something. Olivia was stunned, confused about Granny Claire's intentions. "Quit your job at the restaurant and help me."
• Olivia fell silent, still feeling perplexed. But then she responded, "Just tell me, Granny. Tell me what you need. You don't need to buy my time; if I can, I'll help you, Granny."
• Granny Claire gazed at Olivia with profound eyes. "I know this will be harder and more challenging. But... I feel like you're the only one who can help me right now, Oliv."
• "Just tell me, Granny," Olivia said, starting to panic.
• "Help me bring Ignazio back to this house and get him closer to Gianna, Oliv," the woman said, her tone pleading.
• Olivia stood frozen in her spot, staring at Granny Claire with a pale face.
• "Olivia?" Granny Claire asked when Olivia continued to remain silent.
• "Why me, Granny?" Olivia asked softly.
• "Because it's only you, the only person who knows Gianna well," Granny Claire said, sounding desperate. "Ignazio keeps his distance from us, his family. But hearing what you said earlier, I feel he might easily open up to you."
• Olivia shook her head. "It's just politeness, Granny. He was just answering my questions, that's all."
• But upon hearing Olivia's response, Granny Claire also shook her head. "No, Granny is sure it's more than that. Whatever you did, Granny is sure and believes that Ignazio is more willing to open up to you, Olivia."
• "But Granny..."
• "Help me, Olivia. Help Gianna so she can get close to her father. Help Ignazio get to know his daughter.
• "You know what Gianna has wanted all along, right?" Olivia knew, she knew very well because she was one of the people who watched Gianna grow up. "It's not that I can't do it. But you've seen for yourself how he's always avoiding us. Especially now, he's not the same person we used to know.
• "I believe you can make him more open.
• "I'm asking for your help because I believe you can do it. You can bring him back here without passing judgment on him.
• "Please, do this for Gianna too. You know how often she cries because she wants her father. You know how much she desires to be acknowledged by him.
• "Gianna needs to know and get close to her father, because only her father can be her confidant after we're no longer here.
• "And Gianna can't approach her father alone. And we can't bring them closer together as long as Ignazio keeps his distance from us.
• "It's only you who can approach him. An outsider who doesn't know anything about his past. And only you can control Gianna's emotions."
• Olivia simply fell silent. She wasn't sure if she could handle such a responsibility.
• Olivia did know Gianna. But it couldn't be said that she was ignorant of Ignazio's past. She might not know Ignazio personally, but the stories about him told by other members of the Quirino family still lingered in her mind.
• What should Olivia do? On one hand, she felt the task was incredibly daunting. On the other hand, she felt a moral obligation to Granny Claire, who had been kind to her until now.
• Olivia returned to her room with a chaotic mind. Granny Claire had given her time to think. And Olivia needed someone to provide her with advice. But clearly, it couldn't be her two foster siblings, as they were just as clueless as Olivia.
• Geremia. Her brother-in-law's name flashed in her mind out of nowhere.
• Olivia then grabbed her phone and called her brother-in-law, asking for his time to meet. Eventually, Olivia was asked to come to their residence, which was quite far from Granny Claire's place but still within the same area.