The Forsaken Daughter

Alina's POV 

“He wants to marry you.”

My father's words fell flatly in the room, pulling away the ground underneath my feet. I froze, unable to believe what I was hearing. 

“You can't be serious.” I laughed bitterly but seeing the serious expression looming on my father's face, I stopped, “Is this some joke? He is a married man with kids close to my age. How can he even think about it?”

“He is willing to divorce his wife.” Georgia smiled brightly, making me frown, “How does that make it better?”

I looked at my father, hoping he would say something but his silence was resounding. I shook my head in disbelief, “I can't believe this. Roy Henderson is a womanizer! Everyone knows he loves to toy with his women.”

“It's all just a rumour. What if he is a really good man?”

“A really good man? Oh, please! You guys may be dumb enough to fall for his lies but I am not.” I stood up from my seat, “I will find another way to save AV.”

“There is no other way.” My father spoke up, “For the past six months I tried everything within my power to save AV. This is our last resort.”

I looked at him, the air around me turning colder with each second, “Then there is nothing much I can do.”

Georgia’s expression hardened, “After everything we have done for you, this is how you repay us?”

“Excuse me?” I questioned.

“Georgia, please don't…” My father tried to grab her hand and stop her but she pushed him away. She walked towards me and spat, “The Whitmore family raised you and you have the audacity to stand there and reject the one thing that could save this family?”

“Raised me?” I crossed my eyes and stepped closer to her, “I was a Whitmore before you were ever a part of this family. Don't mistake your years under this roof for ownership over me.”

“How dare you talk to mom like that?” Lila, who was silent for so long, suddenly raised her voice.

Seeing that things were escalating, father had to step in, “Ladies, please stop! This is not like us to fight like this.” He then turned to me and said, “Alina, you are my daughter. I would never push you to do anything which would harm you. If you agree to marry him, I will make sure you are not walking away without anything.”

I raised an eyebrow, “What do you mean?”

“I will transfer 40% of the company shares to you and make you the executive director.” He said in all seriousness, “You would have enough to secure your future and not depend on anyone again.”

The corner of my lips curled up in amusement, I said, “I am impressed, Mr Whitmore. You really are a businessman through and through. Trying to strike a deal with your own daughter?”

“I am trying to be reasonable, Alina.” He briefly paused and sighed, “It's your mother's company and I know how much it means to you. You can either take up this deal and rebuild the company like how you always aspired or watch it shut down. The choice is yours.”

…

I had replayed the conversation enough times to make myself sick. Forty percent of the company, an authoritative position, a chance to save AV and fulfill my lifelong dream, all in exchange for marrying an old pervert. As tempting as the offer was, the price was equally repulsive. 

“Gosh, how did my life come to this!” I wondered, sitting in a lonely corner of the bar. I thought alcohol would help me clear my head but the more I thought about it, the messier it got. 

Fuck this! I finished my drink and decided to leave.

The parking lot was eerily silent and empty. It stretched all the way from the bar to the main road, leaving me with a long walk beneath the dim streetlights. I wrapped my arms around myself and kept walking, the sound of my heels echoing against the road. 

Even though I was the only one there, I didn't feel quite as alone as I should have. Every now and then, I had the inexplicable feeling that someone was watching me. 

Suddenly, a faint sound came from somewhere behind me. I stopped on my tracks and turned around, my heartbeat escalating as I silently scanned the dark stretch.

“Hello?” My voice echoed faintly through the empty lot before drowning in the silence. Maybe it was the wind… I let out a nervous breath and turned back around.

I had barely taken a step when a hand suddenly clamped over my mouth. I tried to scream, but the sound died against the stranger's palm. Panic surged inside me as I desperately tried to fight back but to no use.

Who the hell were these people? What did they want? 

Before I could make sense of what was happening, something sharp pierced the side of my neck. The world around me began to blur and the last thing I felt was my body going limp in their arms, against my will.

…

When I opened my eyes, the first thing I noticed was the pounding in my head and the second was the unfamiliar room.

I was sitting at a long dining table, surrounded by empty chairs. An elaborate spread of food covered the table, and the warm glow of the chandelier did little to make the unfamiliar place feel welcoming.

Where the hell was I?

“You are awake.” An unfamiliar voice cut through the silence of the room. I turned toward the voice and noticed an old man sitting across the table, calmly sipping his drink while watching me.

“Who are you? What is this place?” I demanded. 

He didn't answer; instead, he glanced at the untouched plate in front of me, “You haven't had your dinner. You should eat.”

I stared at him in disbelief, “Are you fucking serious? Fuck the food.”

He furrowed his eyebrows, “That's not the way to talk to elders.”

I scoffed, “Dude, who are you? Either you tell me your name or I am calling the police.”

The old man finally looked up at me, his eyes empty yet dangerous, “Antonio Voss.”

My blood ran cold and colours drained off my face as soon as I processed his name. Antonio Voss, the ruthless leader of America's most feared Mafia clan, whose reputation was built on blood, power and fear. Even people who had nothing to do with the underworld knew better than to cross him.

A tiny smirk appeared on his face, “What? No more questions?”

I straightened my back and cleared my throat, desperately trying to maintain my composure. I asked, “Why did you bring me here?”

“I just wanted to meet you.” He took a leisurely bite of the steak and answered calmly.

“Can I know why?” I questioned carefully.

He set the cutlery aside and folded his hands, “You don't have to be so tense. I am not going to hurt you.”

I let out a humourless laugh, “Very reassuring coming from a Mafia boss.”

A faint smile touched his lips, “You are just like your mother. She used to hate my profession just as much as you do.”

“Wait.” I perked up in my seat, “You knew my mother?”

“Yes.” He nodded before revealing something that I could not have even thought in my wildest dreams, “She was my daughter.”

“Huh? Your daughter?” I blankly stared at him as my mind struggled to process his words. 

His daughter? 

My mother was his daughter…

Which makes me his…

My eyes widened in shock as the realisation slowly dawned on me. The most feared Mafia boss in America was claiming to be my grandfather.