Chapter 63: Chapter 63
Brichese, Italy
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A house, a car, a career, a steady job that paid well, enough savings to let me live comfortably for another year...
Not long ago, I rarely thought about those things for myself. Back then, I just couldn't care less.
But, my parents were right. Like always. My young, stupid, carefree years were over. I oughta act like a man now. No more "trust fund kid" attitude.
It was my own choice to quit the family business, and like my father said, renouncing my current job in the company would mean kissing my affluent future goodbye.
No other choices, no considerations, no other compromise whatsoever. Take it or leave it.
I chose the latter—only because my sanity was on the line.
Pondering my existence after a job well done was one confirmation. SF Shipping would survive without me, since I was nothing but a glorified errand boy to my power-obsessed father and his money-hungry business associates.
I dropped my phone onto the empty table, the thud echoing across my dark dining room while I waited for the ringing to stop. I glanced around in the dimness.
The silence just struck a familiar chord. It almost felt like I'd been alone in this house for far too long. And I was tired of lying to myself. Tired of convincing my own brain that I only wanted solitude...in every sense of the word.
Mykaela should be here.
I missed her bad, missed watching her cook for me in this kitchen. I missed her company pretty much every day. I missed the times I had her all to myself in this house we once shared.
If I only had the choice, I would forget about my family and live here in peace with Mykaela for as long as our families permitted that kind of life.
Then...maybe we could...take it to the next level. After she finished her residency, I would ask her to marry me. We could start a family here and try to live a normal, quiet life. She would never leave this house again if it were up to me.
Never gonna happen, but, I liked to imagine at times.
"Come stai?"
"Pappa, è finito," I sighed over the phone, recognizing my father's steady breathing and the notable silence on the other end.
"Not entirely. Not yet." Pappa's tone sounded calm but stern, as if the news I had for him didn't matter to him one bit. "The entire family needs to be on board."
"What?" I grabbed the phone. "Leandro already signed everything."
"The rest of the family needs reassurance. They don't even know who you are."
"How is that my problem?"
"We had a deal. You want Mykaela to stay safe? Stick to it."
Unbelievable.
The lies and the manipulation...
He couldn't care less that he was blackmailing even his own son. Did he even have a soul left?
"You're saying I can't quit because you'll put her at risk if I did?" I wanted to laugh sarcastically but shook my head instead. The disbelief was already making me hate this conversation. "That contract you made me sign was all bullshit, then?"
"Don't swear at me."
I placed my palms on my face. I couldn't help chuckling halfheartedly at the situation. Dammit. I should've known better. Should've seen this coming. I shouldn't have trusted anything my selfish, artfully deceitful father had promised.
Alright. If he had no problem putting Mykaela at risk, then fine. I'd have to get another job. Or start my own business to earn more money. However, I wasn't much of a businessman. Or perhaps I could borrow some from Ricchar again just to be able to pay for Mykaela's security.
"Think about what's best for you, bambino." Pappa feigned a calmer, more concerned tone now.
As if I would fall for his bullshit reasons. "I...just don't know what else you want me to do."
"We only made you sign to make sure you'll hold up your end."
We? Fucking liar.
"We're just looking out for you." Pappa sighed. "Making sure you have a great future to look forward to."
"Sure. 'Cause brainwashing me might just give you favorable results." I swore to myself. The louder thumps in my chest and the pounding ache in my skull just worsened.
Why wouldn't they just put Ricchar in charge of SF Shipping officially if he badly wanted a Falco to take over the business?
My older cousin was mature enough for the responsibility; Ricchar was even a willing candidate. Why not just hand the throne to his beloved nephew? "What's wrong with putting Ricchar in charge? Just leave me out of it, Pappa."
"He needs to keep an eye on Cloe," my lying crook of a father reasoned. "You know her late pregnancy puts her in a delicate situation."
Sure. Fine. I understood that. But why wasn't I allowed a choice? Why did they seem to enjoy controlling everything in my life? Was I still that naïve and useless in their eyes? "Why can't I choose my priorities but they can?"
"You can't be with someone like Mykaela. Not in the long run." Pappa sighed out loud. Static noise slightly disrupted the line, and his tone denoted impatience.
Why the fuck did he care? Why was he intruding and messing with my personal issues again?
"She's a hard worker, determined to make her goals reality. She's going to be a doctor, and you know that means she'll hardly have time for you."
Wow. Still plain fucking manipulative.
"Like your cousins, you will be busy working for the company, and she will be busy with patients all day, all week. All year round. Does that sound like a healthy relationship to you, Maxim?"
For fuck's sake. How many times did I have to reiterate that I didn't want to work for the company anymore?
"Besides, she's dating Lorenzio now, and they seem to be getting along fine."
"Why am I not surprised that you lied again? Wait. I remember." I scoffed. "All you've done is lie and control every single thing in my life!"
"Calmati."
Calm down? That's all he had to say to that? "Calm down?"
"You sound like a sulking teenager." My soulless father even chuckled.
In defeat, I shut my eyes and sat back.
Why did I even expect a positive response from him? He always treated me like a child, and it was clear he wasn't going to stop manipulating me and everyone around him till he got what he wanted.
"I'm done sulking. Thanks for nothing."
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