Emilia followed Damon to his office. She couldn't help look around and notice how as soon as she stepped in the atmosphere changed.

The house was grand and you could easily tell the family had too much money but despite this, it felt homely however Damon's office did not feel like home, she had only been in his home office a handful of times and it was far from comforting. His office fitted his personality. Dark, unwelcoming and you could tell he had a ton of authority.

Alesandros office was much more welcoming, he had brighter colours yet it was still grand and fancy showing how much power he had.

"Take a seat Emilia"

She reluctantly took a seat, looking at the door, she wondered if she could make it out before he stopped her.

"Now I understand why you didn't tell me but when I asked you could have mentioned it or at least confirmed it" Damon said taking a seat directly across from her.

"Well you weren't exactly talking to me" Emilia mumbled.

"Yes and that's why I understand you didn't want to tell me. Would you have told me if we were all good"

She shook her head in response.

"That's what I thought. Why take the blame, you saw how I have been acting recently and yet you took the blame"

"I want dad" Emilia whispered.

Her eyes widened at the realisation of what she had just said. She wanted him here. It scared her, had she really become this attached.

"Ok but will you anwser a few of my questions first"

"What are they" Emilia asked.

"What did she say today that made you hit her"

"Doesn't matter, I sorted it" Emilia replied.

"Yes and although I'm proud of you for standing up to yourself, I would like to know what happened "

Emilia grew frustrated at this. Btittneys words still fresh in her mind.

Fine. I know it's not bullshit that your mum didn't love you and that your dad is keeping you around because of pity, I bet even your oldest brother doesn't want you.

He only did it for his image, he doesn't love you.

"Just shut up, you don't care, you never have"

"Emilia"

"No shut up"

"Emilia please"

"Fucking shut up, I don't want want to talk to you"

"Language Emilia. Now calm down"

"No leave me alone. I don't want you near me ever again" Emilia cried.

Damon gulped, he didn't take it seriously though because he knew she was emotional right now.

"Ok Emilia. No more questions, I'll shut up, just please calm down" he tried to reach out but she flinched"leave me alone. Leave me alone" she repeated.

Damon didn't know what to do. He had dealt with so many people, he had seen people break down after he was done with them but this, this he was completely clueless on what to do. It was his little sister. He wanted to give her what she wanted but he couldn't leave her in this state.

"How about we go find dad, you wanted him right?" Damon suggested gently.

"No. He can't...no...no"

"Ok no dad, how about mason?" Damon suggested.

Emilia just shook her head.

"Let me go...please"

"Emilia you are free to go whenever you like but I don't want to leave you in this state" he explained.

"Please...Please let me go"

"Ok you may go" he knew it was irresponsible but his presence clearly didn't help. Maybe she would calm down once she was away from him. He felt like shit, he hadn't meant to cause a breakdown but he did. He shouldn't have pushed, he knew he had no right after the way he had been acting but he was worried, he wanted to know what had been said to her. He wanted to know what had happened.

She ran out of his office like it was on fire.

He gave it several minutes before going to check on her. She was in her bedroom, he slightly opened the door and saw her crying.

"Emilia " he whispered carefully.

She looked at him.

"We all love you and want you here no matter what. If you need to talk please come to any one of us. We will all be here for you when you're ready to talk" Damon said knowing her mental health was bad, she still believed she was unwanted and unloved,he needed to remind her it wasn't true.

"I want Dad" she finally whispered.

Damon nodded, he didn't want to leave her on her own so he took out his phone to message his dad.

Damon

Are you home

Yes I'm just about to make dinner.

Come to Emilias room

Why? Is she okay? Dante mentioned something about a bully.

Shes not okay, she had a breakdown, she wants you.

Alesandro was downstairs when he read those words, he wasted no time running up the stairs. He made it to her room in a short amount of time.

He looked at Damon for an explanation "I asked her about the bullying" he told his dad for an explanation.

"Oh bambina" he gently said as he walked up to her. "May we hug" he gently asked. Emilia nodded and Alesandro was quick to respond, he picked her up and sat back down holding her tightly stroking her hair in comfort.

Damon recognized this as a private moment "I'm so so sorry Emilia, just know we love you" he said and left

Alesandro held onto his daughter for dear life, Emilia clung to him as she cried into his shirt

After some time he finally spoke "talk to me Emilia?"

"Why didn't she want me? Why does no one want me?" Emilia said through tears.

"Oh bambina. I don't know why, I want you though, your brother's want you. We all love you. We all care about you" Alesandro comforted.

"No you pity me. You don't want me"

"Emilia I do want you, you're my daughter, I could never not want you"

Emilia tightened her hold on Alesandro and cried harder "I just wanted their love, I did everything they told me to"

"I know Emilia, I know. They don't deserve you" he comforted, stroking her hair as he spoke.

Minutes past of Emilia clinging to Alesandro for comfort and Alesandro silently comforting her.

"I took the blame because I didn't want to talk about it and besides I'm used to taking the blame"

"Do you still not want to talk about it"

"The first time in the cafeteria, she said mum didn't want me,that you pity me and Damon doesn't want me" she finally confessed.

Alesandro fought the urge to go teach the girl some manners.

"Its not true Emilia, I promise you we love you, I don't pity you and Damon wants you here"

"At lunch today she said it again only she said Damon only does things for his image and he doesn't love me" Emilia whispered through tears.

"Well that's a load of bullshit" Alesandro said, he was pissed she had been told all of this.

"You have been to his work Emilia, he's all business isn't he" Alesandro asked.

Emilia nodded

"Damon is cold and closed off yes, he doesn't like attention as you probably noticed by the hatred for the media. He doesn't like to show emotion in public either, If you ask anyone they will call him a cold hearted businessman. That's what he built his image to be like. However Emilia if he truly was all about his image, he wouldn't have taken you to the arcade, he wouldnt have held your hand, he certainly wouldn't have let you give him a cuddly toy, in fact he wouldn't want to be seen out with you. He does all this because he doesn't care about his image, he loves you. We all love you" Alesandro explained.

Emilia hugged Alesandro crying into his shirt still "do you think he will forgive me" she asked.

"You have nothing to apologize for Emilia' Alesandro said gently.

"I swore and lashed out at him. I believed Brittney" Emilia said.

"He's worried about you, he doesn't care you lashed out at him, he just wants you to be okay. He mentioned that you told him how you felt. You know it's completely acceptable that you feel that way but none of us want you feeling that way"

Emilia nodded, she didn't know what to say, she hoped Damon would forget but he obviously didn't.

She suddenly realised how this probably looked. She was being immature, she let her guard down and now she was clung to Alesandro crying and bring emotional.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done or said all that" she quickly said removing herself from Alesandro.

"Why not? You are upset Emilia, you deserve comfort you know that right"

"It doesn't matter if I was upset, I was emotional and I'm being immature"

"Emilia it's okay. You have never had someone to comfort you I guess, but it's normal to seek comfort when upset. It is not immature. Expressing emotions is healthy. I don't know much about how you were treated but Emilia the abuse you suffered, it wasn't okay, it should never have happened"

"They hurt me more if I showed emotions" she whispered.

Alesandro knew she had stopped the hug because she most likely felt uncomfortable with it but he couldn't help it, hearing her say that broke his heart and he pulled her back into a hug.

She broke down again, sobbing into his chest.

"I'm never going to do that Emilia, none of us would ever. You are safe here, we want you to tell us how you feel. We are always here. No matter what" even Alesandro had to blink repeatedly to stop himself crying.

Nothing else was said, they both hugged each other.

Time passed quickly after that and an hour later, Emilia pulled away. The hug had been greatly needed, she had no more tears left to cry.

Alesandro looked down at her with a sad smile "you never have to go through these feelings alone ever again" he told her.

"Thank you" she whispered.

"What would you like to do now" Alesandro finally asked.

Emilia just looked at h with confusion.

"Well you do need to eat, you can eat later, eat now up here, eat downstairs, then we can do whatever you want " Alesandro suggested.

"Can we go down" Emilia said, she didn't want them to think she was overreacting and being rude.

"Of course"

"I should probably sort myself out" Emilia said when she caught a glimpse of herself in the mirror.

Alesandro smiled sadly and nodded "want me to wait" he offered.

Emilia nodded.

Alesandro patiently waited when she went to wash her face. He took out his phone and noticed a few messages from Damon.

Damon

Is she okay?

You haven't anwsered so I'm going to presume she isn't, Im going to make dinner, it should be ready by 7

Damon had taken the breakdown badly. He hated how he had been the one to trigger it. He hated seeing her so broken. When he left her with Alesandro, he went back to his office and maybe just for a moment, he let his walls come down.

Alesandro looked at the time, it was almost 7.

He didn't know if she was up to eating as a family though. When she came back, she looked broken, there was nothing on her eyes.

"So dinner will be ready at 7, would you still like to eat as a family" Alesandro asked.

Emilia nodded, she was determined to show them she was okay.

"Okay" he walked up to her and gave her another hug "I love you Emilia" he told her with so much emotion, it almost made Emilia cry again.

He silently walked behind her and quickly fixed her hair, it was half hanging out. Emilia didn't have the energy to fix it. Alesandro didn't do anything special, he put it into a simple ponytail. He then kissed her forehead once he was done "let's get going" he said taking her hand in his.

"Wanna sit next to me" he asked. Emilia nodded.

She paused as they reached the dining room "do they all know" she asked hoping he would say no.

"I don't know Emilia, if you're not feeling up to it, you and I can eat in that kitchen" he offered.

"No. It's okay, I need to face thrm eventually. Just don't tell them if they don't know"

"Okay but what about Damon? Am I okay to tell him" Alesandro asked since Damon already knew partly what went on.

"I guess it makes no difference, he already saw me break down. He probably thinks I'm weak and pathetic now" Emilia replied.

"Nope. He definitely doesnt think that"

They finally entered the dining room. Damon was eating quietly as his brothers chatted away. He chose not to tell them as he had already promised he wouldn't tell them about her mental health.

His eyes went straight to Emilia as they entered, he looked at her for any clues on how she was. He saw how broken she looked straight away.

"Emilia, come settle a debate, Matteo here thinks Damon is a better cook than me" Mason said spotting her.

"I thought Damon made dinner" Alesandro said as they both took their seats.

"I did but Mason insisted on helping " Damon replied.

"Okay which is better Emilia" Mason asked as he filled her plate with noodles with vegetables and chicken strips with a seasoned chicken breast.

"What's on the chicken" Emilia asked.

"Well there is crispy honey and chilli chicken pieces and a garlic and thyme roasted chicken breast" Mason explained.

Emilia saw he was careful not to say who made them so she reluctantly tasted both. She didn't want to upset Damon anymore today so she hoped it was his whos was the best.

Whilst this was going on, Alesandro and Damon shared a look. Alesandro shook his head, letting Damon know she wasn't okay.

"Um the pieces are better but the chicken is still really good" she hesitantly anwsered.

She was relieved when Mason looked defeated and a small smile made its way onto Damon's face.

"See I told you Damon was better " Matteo said.

"I don't know, I quite like Masons" Dante added.

"Face it, she said me, making me the better cook" Damon said deciding to join in the conversation, he didn't want Emilia to think he was annoyed or anything.

"Dad is better than you both though " Emilia whispered. Not wanting to offend them both.

Alesandro smiled at this "thank you Emilia"

Dinner was mostly ate in quiet.

Damon and Alesandro glanced at Emilia every so often.

Alesandros attention was also on Matteo who was silently playing with his food but eating at the same time. Alesandro was deeply concerned about Emilia but he knew he couldn't just focus on her, he had his boys who needed attention too, especially Matteo who was devolping a eating disorder, he needed to give them all his love and attention.

That was one of the qualities his boys loved about their father, growing up, he treated them all the same, he gave them equal attention, he didn't do favourites. Well until now, the boys knew their father favoured their sister, he had done when she was first born. But they were completely fine with it as they understood why. And despite Emilia being his favourite, he made time for the others.

He saw Dante was upset and invited him on the walk he was having with Emilia a few weeks back.

He made sure Mason wasn't doing too much and helped him with meetings.

He didn't ignore Matteo's eating disorder, he took it seriously despite Emilia's mental health concerning him.

And when he saw Damon was in the wrong, he definitely told him so, he also made sure to have extra meetings in hopes Damon and Emilia would reconnect.

Of course he did a lot more than this, these were just a few examples.

"Dad"

Alesandro looked at Emilia instantly. He couldn't help the smile, it always automatically appeared every time he heard her call him dad.

"Yeah?"

"I'm kinda full" she whispered.

Alesandro looked at her plate, she hadn't eaten much but he didn't expect her too.

"Not even a few more mouthfuls?" he asked.

She reluctantly shook her head feeling guilty. "Okay that's fine, you can leave it if you're full" he told her.

"May I go to bed, I'm tired"

Alesandro nodded.

After dinner

Damon and Alesandro found themselves in Alesandros office.

"What happened? Is she okay? Can I see her?" Damon asked as soon as the office door was shut.

"It's bad Damon. How did this start?"

"Well I was telling her I understood why she wouldn't tell me but I asked her what had happened. She then told me to leave her alone and it went from there" Damon summerized.

"Okay. Well I believe the girl brought out her worst thoughts and fears"

"That we don't want her" Damon said knowing she had told him how she felt.

"Exactly. As much as I want to show her how much she is loved, I think she will only take it as we pity her, the best we can do is reassure her, she hates pity and she will only take it as pity. I am going to speak to a doctor tommorow, I'm not sure she will respond well to therapy as she most likely will see it as us not wanting to hear her problems and we are passing it to a stranger however I will give her this option, maybe I could attend therapy sessions with her" Alesandro said.

"It's a mess isn't it" Damon said sadly.

"Yes. I'm going to go check on her now but Damon tommorow I want you to try talk to her. Don't confront her or make it a serious talk, just a general conversation"

"Is there something I need to know? Why are you telling me to talk to her? We always talk" Damon said with worry.

"She thinks your unhappy with her for how she acted, please reassure her you're okay and that you don't hate her"

Damon nodded running his hand through his hair in frustration "I told her I loved her before I left you guys, I think it's going to take more than my words "

Alesandro sighed "you're right. Figure it out though"

"I will" Damon said

Alesandro turned to leave but decided to ask one more thing "do the boys know what has happened"

"No. I will only tell them if Emilia agreed, until then I won't be saying a word"

"Good"

With that he left to check on Emilia.

Emilia was tired from the events this evening and was currently in bed when she heard a gentle knock. She told the person to come in and like expected Alesandro entered.

"How are you feeling" he asked walking in.

"I'm okay just really tired" she said.

"Well we can't have that can we" he said as tucked her in.

"Damon says he hasn't told the others and he won't be doing" he told Emilia knowing she had asked earlier.

"That's good" Emilia said, her mind elsewhere.

"Is there something on yourond Emilia"

"Will you send me away" she whispered before she lost the nerve.

"Absolutely not. Why do you ask?"

"You sent Lexi away"

Alesandro kept his calm composure but it was hard to do so "Emilia she was sent to a psychiatric hospital because she tried to kill you multiple times, she was a danger" Alesandro explained.

"Yes and psychiatric hospitals are for people who have mental health issues and you guys think I do"