Hope vs reality

At this point Paolo was forced to speak.

“I’m having to share with you, aren’t I?”

“Yes you are. A fair division of spoils due to your carelessness. That’s business. No ifs, no buts remember?” If Paolo thought Sofia was softening and had his hopes raised that she might be open to negotiation, that clearly wasn’t going to happen.

Sofia’s issue was that this attractive, albeit rather naive, young man was being exploited and put at risk by Livia to serve her selfish ends. Sofia didn’t once hold up a mirror to review her own shortcomings. She didn’t like Livia.