Chapter 0345
Chapter 0345
My father leads me to a little sitting room just off the dining room, built for little chats like this. We settle on a sofa where we can still see most of the action at the party, and where, indeed, | have a direct view of Tristin, who glares daggers at me while she holds my baby sister on her lap. Romulus leans across her, stealing a piece of chocolate from her plate, about which she doesn’t notice or doesn’t care.
She’s too busy hating me. | grimace a little, but turn my attention to my father, who focuses on me.
“What is wrong, daughter,” he says, raising a hand to my cheek and cupping my face softly in his palm. “I can see that you are worried.”
“It's nothing,” | say, laughing a little and raising my hand to cover my father’s, pretending a fondness and affection that belies the rage that burns in me whenever | look at this man.
Because | have not forgotten, not for a moment, what Ivan told us: that my father was the one who, alongside him, sold Kent out. That in exchange for his information, my father was also able to pass a significant number of his crimes onto Kent's shoulders, adding them to the Lippert rap sheet and wiping them off his own.Exclusive © material by Nô(/v)elDrama.Org.
And that, though Ivan’s sudden departure from the city’s drug scene devastated it and has resulted in a great deal less heroin on the streets of our fair city — which was, in retrospect, probably part of his plan — that my father has absolutely benefitted from this lack, as well as the vacuum in businesses that was left when Kent was arrested.
My father is now, hands-down, the Mafia King now that Kent has been dethroned.
And yet here he is, looking down at me like the kindest, gentlest man who has ever lived - so concerned for his daughter's happiness he'll do anything in the world to help her.
And suddenly, quite suddenly, as | look up at him | want nothing more than to bare my teeth and to use them to rip out his throat for taking my world from me, from Daniel, from Kent.
But | have work to do before | can savor that particular pleasure.
“Please, daughter,” my father says, taking his hand from my face and wrapping it around my shoulder. “I want to make you happy. | know that the rug has been pulled out from under you — that your wedding was hastily done, to account for the miracle growing in your belly. It makes sense that you are worried — please, let me help you, as a wedding gift.”
| look down at my hands, demure, twisting my fingers together and pretending to hesitate. Even though there’s no hesitation in me at all. This is precisely what | was waiting for.
“Well,” | say, looking up at him, shy. “I — | admit that...well, father,” | say now, all in a gush, “you know | love Daniel — | don’t want you to think that | don’t —*
“Of course, of course,” he says, placating, “anyone who looks at the two of you couldn't help but see it, plain as day.”
Yeah, | think. Anyone who hasn’t seen him with Jerome. Inwardly | roll my eyes, but outwardly | press on with my act.
“Well, he’s so good to me father, and so kind, and thoughtful, but. Clcakela Aspatel eatinarid (dk Salk up into my father’s face, “| don’t think he’s very good with money.” Please read the original content at .
My father nods slowly, making soft understanding noises and encouraging me to tell him more.
“Kent left us some,” | say, speaking of him as if he’s dead — which is how | want my father to think of hi anee
well. “But = you Koon salitied up in ag URS We have plenty to get by,” | continue hurriedly, “but...it’s not enough. Not for forever. Especially...” | look down at my stomach now, letting him fill in the blanks. Please read the original content at .
“Not enough for the child’s future,” he says, understanding.
| nod, agreeing even though inwardly | laugh. Daniel and | still have the greater part of i vii dGiisre in wy cash, allohyeide my beach property and whatever it is that Daniel has in Europe. If a single baby can’t be raised on this? Please read the original content at .