“I suggest you do so after doing what we discussed and please don’t worsen your father’s headache," Molly pointed out. Roger felt deflated, running his fingers through his hair. Despite everything, he just wanted to see his father, even if they couldn't speak to each other.
"Okay, Mom, but just a quick look. I promise I won't wake him," he said, his eyes fixed on Lexi as he noticed the smile fading from her eyes.Nervousness filled the air, but Delanie started singing one of her carefully composed songs for Roger, helping him relax.Every time she sang, it captured his attention, and he knew Delanie could have been a superstar given the chance. However, their mother's past experience with fame was a reason for Delanie to get married before facing the harsh world out there."Roger, when did you come back?" Declan asked from the doorway. Roger forced a smile and replied, "Just a little while ago." He was already descending the stairs to embrace hisOver two months ago, Karen made a tough decision after receiving a text message,"You can change your mind if you want because my help isn't for free." Without hesitation, she replied, ‘It’s worth the risk.’ The moment she entered that Maybach, she knew there was no turning back.Roger would never love her, so there was no need to crave his love when his heart belonged to another.“Are you sure about this?” The man who had introduced himself to her hours ago as Van asked her. She took a deep breath and nodded.“Yeah, it’s not worth it. Let me know your conditions.”With no other words spoken, Van stepped on the accelerator. “Where are you taking me?” She was slightly nervous, but if this man wanted to hurt her, he would have done so already.Besides, he was the reason she was still alive. Just a little delay and she would have died from suffocation when the pillow was pressed against her nose, and for that, she owed him a lot“To somewhere Roger will never find you,” he retorted. Kare
Tonia’s look was condescending as usual, and this time she wasn’t alone, but Roger was unaffected, his gaze cold. “Back off,” he said, trying to walk past her, but the man she was with restricted him. “Hey, Roger? What are you doing at a place like this? Your annual income will not be able to purchase anything here.” Roger recognized him as Brad Cooper, a manager at one of his subsidiary companies. Brad was one of the managers on Roger’s kick-out list because of his arrogance. Unlike the others, Roger had not fired him because he had only been with the company for a year. It seemed fair to give Brad a chance to improve himself, which Roger hoped had happened. Brad's work ethics were on point, so for now, he was still useful to Roger. “Wait, is that RD Designs you are wearing?” Tonia chimed in, her gaze accusing. RD Designs was known as the most expensive brand because it belonged to the Dawsons Group. Even something as insignificant as a pair of socks could cost over a thousand do
Startled, Delanie turned around, stunned by the sight of a sun conure parrot perched on a tree branch inside a spacious cage. The parrot was larger than average, and Roger's gaze softened as he looked at it."Milo, it's time to go indoors," he said as he moved to lift the cage, but the parrot retreated from the tree branch. "No, I love Karen, only Karen. Treat her special. Give her the world."Delanie observed, realizing that Roger had developed a special bond with the parrot, sharing his feelings with it, especially since he named it after his favorite late puppy.The vibrantly colored medium-sized parrot was a beauty to behold, and the fact that he was mimicking those words indicated that Roger had repeatedly said them to him.Everything about this mansion had changed. Traces of family were erased, replaced by an absent Karen. Fear gripped Delanie's heart, and she tried to warn him. "What if she falls in love with someone else? You have to let go, Roger.""No," the parrot beat him to
The closet was huge, understandable because it incorporated both Roger and Karen’s clothes. The size was bigger than the enormous bedroom itself.Karen had always loved simplicity, but he felt it was the reason no one ever noticed her. He was determined to change that.“After marriage, I should have invested in her, but I didn’t because I didn’t care,” he said with regret. “They are my collections. I made them specifically for her. These colors would match her skin tone, and those eyeglasses of hers are just too ugly,” he shrugged, a faraway look in his eyes.He had researched a lot with the images of her from the CCTV footage, finding the things that would give her the kind of presence he always craved in his woman.The moment he decided to marry her despite not loving her, he should have done all these, but he was bent on winning Tonia’s love or thinking he stood a chance.Now he realized it too late and also lost the woman he now knew he loved. As to when he fell in love with her,
Giovanni would have shown weakness if it were the young him, but experience had taught him better. Molly was no longer the weak and naive woman he had dated and broken before picking her up in her worst moments again.She had been through hell because of how he left her without a trace, forcing her to marry someone she wasn't supposed to. After meeting again decades ago, he took time to piece her back together, bringing out the best in her.Was he afraid of losing her? No, not because he didn't love her, but because he had trained her to stand up for herself.In her middle age, Molly could take down ten skilled men without breaking a sweat because even in times of peace, they still trained as if there was a war among the mafia, making them undefeatable. She was tough on the outside but soft on the inside."The person will be in for death. Your mother can take care of herself," he shrugged, and Roger knew it was true. Their world left no
Rhoda froze momentarily, feeling as though a sharp knife had pierced her guts. The alcohol in her blood seemed to freeze, bringing her back to a sober state of mind.The man's cold gaze and words would have had no impact on her if she hadn't witnessed the aftermath of his heroic rescue of Karen from the room."I'm sorry, but I don't want to die," she said apologetically, standing up with a hint of fear in her eyes. Roger, taken aback, also rose to his feet."You don't have to be afraid. I can..." he started, but she shook her head, unwilling to listen further. Her family was her priority, and she couldn't risk their safety."My family. Everyone would be in danger if I mention him," she stated firmly, locking eyes with him. "You may be loaded, but you can't compete with Don." With that, she disappeared into the crowd of dancers before he could respond.It was understandable that she didn't trust him since his identity hadn't bee