Exposed to the CEO Behind the Mafia Mask (by Silver Spoon) novel Chapter 466

Chapter 466: Chapter 62 Still Married Crisis

Daniel’s POV

Tonight marked the monthly gathering of the Thorne family women, which meant the men would convene for our traditional card game at Xavier’s secure compound. After escorting Lila to the heavily guarded Thorne estate where the ladies held their private council, I drove through the industrial district to Xavier’s fortified warehouse headquarters.

"Finally, the inspector honors us with his presence!" Xavier’s commanding voice echoed through the reinforced steel doors as I entered the dimly lit meeting room.

"Evening, brothers," I muttered, dropping heavily into the leather chair reserved for Martinez family representatives. Dominic, ever the considerate friend, slid an ice-cold bottle of imported beer across the polished mahogany table, which I accepted gratefully and drained half of immediately.

"What’s weighing on you, detective? You look like death warmed over," Jude observed, his sharp eyes studying me with the practiced assessment of a seasoned enforcer.

I exhaled deeply, feeling the weight of my burden. "Is it that obvious?"

"Brother, we recognize that expression intimately," Caleb interjected, adjusting his cufflinks with practiced ease. "Dominic and I have worn those exact features, and it invariably involves complications with the women in our lives."

This was precisely what I needed - to unburden myself to the only men who understood the delicate balance between family loyalty and personal desire before the pressure destroyed me completely.

"It’s not directly Lila’s fault, but the situation I’m facing could drive her away permanently," I confessed, taking another long pull from the bottle.

"That sounds ominous." Xavier’s eyes narrowed as he leaned forward, his fingers steepled. "Did you finally inform her about your Sasha problem?"

Xavier was the sole member of our circle privy to my complicated history with Sasha. He’d witnessed the entire debacle firsthand, even attended that disastrous wedding ceremony at the Martinez family chapel.

"No, and believe me, this situation is far more catastrophic than that," I replied grimly.

"This cannot possibly conclude favorably, Daniel," Xavier warned, stating what we all knew but refused to acknowledge.

Finn’s brow furrowed in confusion. "Who exactly is Sasha?" He paused, accessing his mental files. "Wait, there was a Sasha who operated in our territory some time back. If memory serves, my contacts mentioned she was some wealthy socialite who married into significant power, extracted a considerable fortune, then relocated to Boston’s financial district."

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance," I said with bitter humor. "I’m that significant power."

Their expressions shifted to collective shock. "Mother of God!" Jude exclaimed.

"Precisely," I nodded.

Dominic looked ready to commit violence on my behalf. "So you haven’t informed Tiny Angel that you’re divorced? Daniel, what a catastrophic mess! She’s going to annihilate you when she discovers this."

"The complication is," I took a steadying breath, "I recently learned I’m not actually divorced at all."

Xavier burst into incredulous laughter. "That’s impossible! You’re divorced. The day those papers were finalized, you celebrated like you’d won the lottery. Gregory and I were both present at your freedom party."

"I believed I was divorced as well. But yesterday Sasha materialized like a vengeful spirit and thrust annulment documents in my face," I explained, feeling the familiar tension building behind my eyes.

"Mother of God!" they chorused in unified disbelief.

Finn, always requiring complete intelligence, pressed for comprehensive details. "Step back a moment. You were actually married?"

I recognized the necessity of providing the complete picture. "Sasha is the daughter of my father’s longtime business associate. We were raised within the same circles, attended the same exclusive institutions, were considered inseparable. We began our romantic involvement as teenagers and married when I came of age. The union deteriorated rapidly. I believed I’d been legally free for years until she suddenly reappeared in my existence like a nightmare made manifest. Somehow, she managed to invalidate the divorce decree without my knowledge or consent through connections in the judicial system. Apparently, I remain legally bound to her, and I had no awareness of this development."

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