“Raquel . . .” I shake my head at her.
Her eyes meet mine. “No, don’t even think about giving up.”
“Do you think I want to give up? But we can’t cling to nonexistent hopes either.”
“Did you try talking to your grandfather?”
“What for? He already told me he won’t get between me and my father.”
“Go back and talk to him,” she pleads. I shake my head. “Ares, he’s your last resort. Please try again.”
“I don’t want to be rejected again,” I admit, lowering my head. Raquel holds my face, forcing me to look at her.
“One last try. Please?” she asks again. I kiss her softly, my fingers tracing her cheeks slowly. When I step back, I smile at her.
“One last try.”
Grandpa Hidalgo doesn’t seem surprised to see me. He’s sitting in my father’s study. Claudia is sitting next to him, laughing at something.
“Hello,” I say a little nervously. “How are you, Grandpa?” He smiles at me.
“Some days are better than others, that’s how old age works,” he replies. I take a seat in the chair on the other side of the table. “Claudia, my dear. Can you ask my son and Artemis to come in here for a moment?”
He’s calling my father and Artemis? What for? This is not going to end well. Claudia exits, closing the door behind her.
“Grandpa, I . . .” I pause, thinking of how to begin. He raises his hand.
“I know why you’re here.”
I open my mouth to speak, but my father walks in, followed by Artemis.
“What’s up, Dad? We’re busy. We have a video conference in ten minutes.” My father gives me a quick glance but doesn’t say anything. Artemis looks confused.
“Cancel it,” Grandpa orders, smiling. My father protests.
“Dad, it’s important, we’re . . .”
“Cancel it!” My grandpa raises his voice, surprising us. Artemis and my father share a glance, and Dad nods, so Artemis makes the call to cancel. They both sit off to the side, a little distance away from Grandpa and me.
“What happens now?” my father asks with a sigh. Grandpa takes a moment to regain his composure.
“Do you know why Ares is here?” he asks, his voice back to his normal tone. My father gives me a cold look.
“I guess to ask for your help again,” he says. Grandpa nods, prompting Artemis to speak up.
“Which I imagine has annoyed you because you’ve already told him no,” he interjects.
“There’s no need for this, Grandpa,” I say, standing up. “I get it.”
“Sit down.” I don’t dare challenge him, so I sit back down. My grandpa turns slightly toward my father and brother. “This conversation is far more important than whatever stupid business you are conducting. Family is more important than any business, and you seem to have forgotten that.”
Nobody says anything, so Grandpa continues.
“But don’t worry, I’m here to remind you. Ares has always had it all. He’s never had to fight for anything. He’s never worked in his life. He came to me for help, and I turned him down to see if he would give up the first time, but he exceeded my expectations. This kid has been working day and night, begging for scholarships and applications for months, fighting for what he wants.”
Artemis and my father look at me with identical expressions of surprise.
“Ares has not only earned my support; he has earned my respect.” Grandpa looks me straight in the eye, and my chest feels tight. “I’m so proud of you, Ares. I’m proud that you bear my name and carry my blood.”
I don’t know what to say.
Grandpa’s smile fades as his gaze falls on my father.
“I am very disappointed in you, Juan. Family legacy? May death come for me if I ever thought that family legacy was something material. Family legacy is loyalty, support, caring, passing on all those positive characteristics for all generations to come. Family legacy is not a damn company.” The silence that follows is agonizing, but my grandpa has no problem filling it. “The fact that you have become a workaholic to avoid dealing with your wife’s infidelities does not give you the right to make your children as unhappy as you are.”
My father clenches his fists.
“Dad.”
Grandpa shakes his head. “What a shame, Juan, that your son begged you for support, and you turned your back on him. I never thought I would be so disappointed in you.” Grandpa turns his gaze and gestures toward Artemis. “You made him study something he hated. You’ve done everything you could to make him like you, and look at him. Do you think he’s happy?”