Luca was too stupefied to say a word. He had heard that word before, numerous times using different synonyms.
"You're weak,"
"You can never be successful."
"Luca, you lack critical thinking."
"Your heart is too fragile for a man."
All uttered by his father, he had heard it all but not once had his uncle made him feel that way too. No, Alfredo had sided with him constantly, being his shield whenever his father descended on him, and slowly, he had because having Alfredo by his side built his confidence so it was a slap to his face to hear the same words that had destroyed him over and over come from Alfredo's mouth.
"Not you too," he managed to whisper.
"I can't coddle you for all of your life, Luca. That was my mistake, maybe if I had done less of that, you would have learned to be more assertive and a lot less than who you are now."
