Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 252

Chapter 252: Chapter 36 Unwanted Family Reunion

Dominic’s POV

I had spent an incredible night with my woman. Gemma was absolutely intoxicating, and this goddess had completely transformed my world. While I had been hesitant about some of her suggestions at first, her passionate response left us both exhausted when dawn finally broke through the windows of my penthouse.

I hated disturbing her rest, but we had committed to Sunday lunch at my sister’s estate. Honestly, I had no desire to go. Something gnawed at me, an unease I couldn’t shake about family gatherings. But I had given my word to Nadia, and backing out now would dishonor the promise I made to my sister.

When we arrived at the heavily guarded compound, Vincenzo bounded over with his usual enthusiasm, wrapping Gemma in a warm embrace and presenting her to everyone like his personal ambassador. That charming little soldier.

Gemma and Nadia connected instantly, diving into discussions about fashion trends while my niece Carmen listened with rapt attention, completely mesmerized by Gemma. My brother-in-law Gerard and I fell into our usual talk about legitimate business operations. He ran a successful supermarket chain that served as one of our family’s most profitable fronts. The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable until Vincenzo’s voice cut through our pleasant conversation.

"Oh come on. Not today." Vincenzo stared at the entrance with obvious displeasure.

"Always such a warm welcome from my beloved grandson." My father strolled through the security checkpoint as if he still had any right to enter Thorne family property.

I caught sight of Nadia’s expression, and her guilty flush told me everything. She had orchestrated this ambush perfectly. Apparently, she had kept Gerard in the dark too, since he clearly shared my disgust for the exile who donated his DNA to create me.

"How wonderful to have my children and grandchildren all gathered together." My father spoke as though he were still some respected family patriarch instead of a disgraced rat who nearly destroyed our operations.

"I cannot believe you set me up like this, Nadia." I shot an accusatory look at my sister, who at least had the grace to appear ashamed.

"Dominic, your sister simply wanted to reunite the family. Stop acting like some temperamental soldier." My father’s condescending tone made me want to put a bullet between his eyes.

"I am acting like a soldier, Marcus?" I asked with bitter amusement. "You are the one chasing after girls young enough to be your daughter, burning through money that I earn running legitimate businesses for this family. Because if I had left our operations in your incompetent hands, you would be begging for scraps in the gutter right now."

"You will show me respect, boy. I am still your father." My father’s voice rose to a shout.

"Oh, you remembered that detail now?" I replied with cutting sarcasm. "We are leaving, Gemma."

"Dominic, please, think about your nephews. Stay for them." Nadia placed her hands on my shoulders pleadingly. "I want my children to spend time with family, with all their family. It is just one meal."

"Dominic, I understand your feelings better than anyone, but please make this sacrifice for your sister." Gemma spoke softly and squeezed my hand reassuringly.

"Fine. But we are definitely having words later, Nadia." I conceded, and my sister beamed before going to welcome the family disgrace.

"And who might this gorgeous young woman be?" My father approached Gemma with predatory interest, causing her to instinctively step backward.

"She is my woman, Marcus. Keep your distance." I growled protectively, my hand instinctively moving toward my concealed weapon.

"A girlfriend? How refreshingly unexpected." My father smiled and moved closer to Gemma, forcing me to position myself between them. "Worried she might find your father more appealing?" He spoke with deliberate provocation.

"Do not even think about it." I warned him through gritted teeth.

Nobody knew the complete truth, but I was the fool who had introduced my father to the woman who destroyed our family. Gisele was barely out of her teens when we met at a family gathering and began seeing each other. I was completely infatuated and stupidly told my father all about her. I was young and still naive about what kind of snake my father truly was. When he expressed interest in meeting her, I arranged lunch for us all. Almost immediately, Gisele ended our relationship, and soon after, my father had abandoned our family operations to run off with her, taking crucial family secrets and contacts with him.

The guilt over my parents’ separation and the damage to family business consumed me. I felt like a complete fool for being manipulated by both Gisele and my father. She turned out to be nothing more than a calculating opportunist who recognized greater profit potential in my father’s position than in mine.

To make everything worse, my father actually tried to justify his betrayal by claiming it was natural for men in our line of work to take what they wanted. He insisted it was normal and acceptable for soldiers to eventually seek new territory, that every man would inevitably need to find fresh conquests to avoid becoming weak. My father was absolutely despicable. But his words planted a seed of terror in me about becoming like him, a worthless traitor with no loyalty. That fear kept me from getting seriously involved with anyone until Gemma appeared and consumed every thought in my head.

However, seeing him there, confronting her and challenging me, awakened something dark inside me. I was terrified of reliving that nightmare. It felt like being that vulnerable young recruit all over again. My father was smirking at me with satisfaction.

"Dad, what can I get you to drink?" Nadia sensed the dangerous tension and quickly guided my father to sit beside her husband.

"That exceptional single malt whiskey that your husband so generously stocks for me. Is that not right, son-in-law?" My father deliberately needled Gerard, who visibly cringed.

"I always provide quality in my home, Marcus, even for the lowest vermin." Gerard replied without humor.

Their mutual hatred ran deep, dating back to my sister’s wedding reception when Gerard discovered my father forcibly groping one of the bridesmaids in the bridal suite, nearly destroying the entire celebration. Gerard even helped us contain the scandal and accept my father’s pathetic excuse about being drunk. After numerous similar incidents, their relationship became open warfare.

When lunch was served, my father dominated every conversation with cutting remarks. Everyone present became targets except Carmen. But poor Vincenzo received the worst treatment, cruel jokes and malicious comments about being too soft and needing to toughen up for family business.

After the meal, I felt like a caged animal and pulled my sister into private conversation.

"For God’s sake, Nadia, can you not see how much damage this man causes all of us? I cannot stand him, your husband cannot stand him, your children cannot stand him." I confronted my sister directly.

"My mother-in-law is smart to travel whenever this scumbag appears." 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify