Bruna: The tour plans are already finalized, Gino. Why have you come looking for me again?
Gino: …It’s not about the tour.
He nods toward the letters laid out on the desk; one of them is a message from Deano.
What is this?
Bruna: Well… It’s just a letter… Anyone can write letters, can’t they? It’s just—
Gino: Then what about this one?
He picks up a second envelope, its contents written in a forged imitation of Carlo’s handwriting, filled with words of rejection.
Bruna: …
falls silent
Gino: You can’t keep making decisions for Carlo like this, Bruna. You owe it to him to at least let him see these—
Bruna: I can.
She stares sharply at Gino.
I did all of this for his own good. Just like when I made the call to send your mother Florentina to the nursing home.
Gino: Don’t you dare bring that up, Bruna!
You never even asked for my opinion! Have you ever thought about how he’ll feel if he finds out the truth? You don’t care about his feelings at all—you’re just—
Bruna: …You think I don’t care?
She glares hard at Gino.
This family has already endured so much. Do you have any idea how tough it was for me, as head of the household, to lead everyone out of those shadows after everything happened, Gino? No one cares about this family more than I do. That’s exactly why I took these actions! I had to do it. The Romano family has nothing left to lose. You need to trust me—everything I’ve done is for his own good. For all of our good.
A hint of unease creeps into Bruna’s voice.
I’m your older cousin. Why do you keep bringing this up? We’re family, aren’t we?
Gino: Precisely because I’m your younger cousin.
A heavy silence falls over the room.
