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 res daggers at me while she
holds my baby sister on herp. Romulus leans across her, stealing a piece of chocte from her te, 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,ughing 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.
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 n — 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 particr 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 ount 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, cating, “anyone who looks at the two of you couldn''t help but see it, in 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. Clcak
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 NovelDrama.Org.
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 nks. Please
read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.
“Not enough for the child’s future,” he says, understanding.
| nod, agreeing even though inwardly
|ugh. 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 NovelDrama.Org.
Ccontent ? exclusive by N?/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.