Chapter 49
ALESSANDRO’S POV
The only sound in the room was the slow, thythmic ticking of the clock, My ever stayed on the tumbler half filled with whiskey as I swirled it, the ire plusking softly against the glass, Between my fingers, a cigar smoldered, its scent curling through the air,
*You seniorly refused to divorce that son of a traiter and my someone of the opposite sex?“
exhaled, setting my glass down before tuning to face my father. His expression was tight with dissport, his for locked. Anger radiated off him, stiffening his posture. He rolled his shoulders, as if trying to shake it oll
*I don’t know why you keep bringing this up,” I retorted. “You supported my marriage to him.”
es twin sister, Sabrina, that I supported, not that gay,” he hissed.
“It was his
My fingers played with the cigar before I took a slow d for another time.” I tried to change the topic,
drag, letting the nicotine burn through
h the irritation building in my chest. “Let’s save this conversation
He chuckled darkly, shaking his head. “There’s that fundraising event coming up. Are you really going to take that pay wife of yours?”
A bitter smirk bagged at my lips. “I don’t take orders from you anymore,
Pops.”
His face darkened. “Get rid of him.”
The muscles in my jaw tightened. My response was firm, unwavering “Can’t do.”
His nostrils flared, his fingers curling into
“You will do as I say, Alessandro.
Heaned back in my chair, feigning indifference even as my pulse ticked with train. “And if I don’t?”
Silence stretched between us, thick and heavy. Then, his voice dropped to a warning tone. “Then you’ll regret it.”
I took another drag of my cigar, exhaling slowly. “I’m not scared”, I retorted,
ו
He slammed a hand over his desk, “You have to marry a wife again for heaven sake, Alessandro. You need a heir and you don’t just parade your gay public even if you’re the most powerful man in the mafias. In my thirty years of marriage, I have never slept with any man, never touched another woman. Do you think I had a choice? My marriage to your mother was arranged by your grandfather. I fulfilled my duty as his son, as the head of the mafu tamil.”
h me are different from yours,” I stated evenly, tapping the ash from my cigar into the tray.
“Nikolai’s marriage issues with me are di
My father scoffed. “Different? How so? It’s still a matter of duty, of legacy. You’re the head of this family, Alessandro. That position demands sacrifiers.”
I let out a sharp breath, swirling the whiskey in my glass before taking a sip. The bum trailed down my throat, but it did nothing to dull the growing tention in the room. “I’ve made sacrifices.” I muttered. “More than you’ll ever understand.”
“Then prove it.” he pressed. “Annal the marriage. Find a proper wife. Secure an heir
I clenched my jaw, “Nikolai Is my husband. That is not going to change.”
My father’s face twisted in disgust. “A husband,” he sneered. “Do you even hear yourself? You disgrace everything this family stands for.”
I chuckled bitterly. “And yet, I’m still the one in charge. Funny how that works, isn’t it?”
His eyes darkened. “You’re pushing your luck, Alessandio.*
I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knem. “No, you’re the one pushing me. I’ve played your games, listened to your lectures, and madured your judgment. But the? This is my life. My marriage. And if you think I’ll bow to you like some obedient son, you’re sorely mistaken *
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Chapter 49
His lips pressed into a thin line. “And when the time comes, when you need an heir and the world turns its back on your don’t come maning to be r
I smirked, tossing back the rest of my whiskey. “I never have.”
He pointed at my face. “Thất… This is the attitude that got your grandfather fucking murdered before his time. Disespect
1 tilted my head, my smirk widening. “And yet, here I am alive, in control, and still not bowing to you.”
His eyes flashed with something dangerms. “You think you’re untouchable?” He leaned in, his voice dropping to a growl. “You’re only standing where pris are because of the foundation I built. The connections I forged. The blood † spilled.“.
I let out a slow, macking exhale. “And now, you’re afraid all of that will crumble because of who I love?*
His nostrils flared. “Because you’re weak“
A muscle ticked in my law. “Weak?” Lechoed, amusement laced with lice, “Would a weak man run this empire without your help? Would a weak mak survive the wars I’ve fought?”
“You’ve survived because I taught you how,” he snapped. “But you’re making enemies, Alessandro. Dangerous ones. And when they see a crack in your armor when they see the leader of the most feared mafia family parading around with another man instead of securing a future-
I slammed my glass onto the desk, the sound shattering the thick air between us. “Then let them come.”
His gaze didn’t waver, but something flickered behind his eyes, doubt, perhaps. Fear.
I leaned closer, voice deadly calm. “1 am Alessandro fucking Alessandro…. I don’t need your approval. I don’t need your rules. And I sore as hell don’t need an heir to prove my power”
“You think just because you are the head of the family, you are fucking invincible! A bullet! All it takes is a single fucking bullet to your head to fucking end your life, Alessandro! Don’t be a fucking fool…..
He started to speak but violent coughing racked his chest. He grabbed a white, custom–made handkerchief and coughed into it, his eyes still burning with anger as he looked at me. When the fit subsided, he pulled the blood–stained cloth away from his mouth
My chest tightened with dread, I glanced toward the massive window, forcing myself to swallow the unease creeping up my throat, I loved my father. The thought of losing him, ling both him and my mother, gnawed at me, relentless and unforgiving
Upstairs, my mother lay asleep, her health fragile, And here, my father sat before me, spewing blood with every cough.
He sighed, the weight of it settling in the room like a death sentence. “I’m not getting any better, and your mother’s health is failing, Alessandro.” His voice, though hoarse, carried authority. “Get married to a woman Father a son. Secure our legacy before it’s too late.”
1 exhaled sharply. “Eather, I have no intention of breaching the fucking contract with Nikolai.” I rose to my feet, buttoning my jacket with a practiced lack of my fingers. “I just need time.”
“You don’t have time, Alessandro, His voice hardened. “Get rid of him. Stop thinking with your cock and do what’s right for this family.”
My fingers tightened around the doorknob. I hesitated, glancing back at him. His face was paler than I’d ever seen, his body frail beneath the weight of his
power.
But even then, even standing at death’s door, he was still trying to control me.
Without another word, I stepped out and
✔he door behind. I had more business to deal with
