I didn’t know how to react after seeing that message. At first I was shocked, then I became apprehensive, then I got upset. Of course father would send someone else rather than come to see me, but then again, why the hell didn’t he just call or deliver a letter? The last thing I need is for anyone to realize that Mario is in town.

I didn’t know how I was going to break it to Lorenzo that I needed to leave. His condition was that someone would go with me, but I can’t afford for any of them to go with me. They would misunderstand what is happening and...