Second Marriage, The Billionaire's Planned Love novel Chapter 122

122 Chapter 122 Tactical Agreement

Caleb’s POV

The morning shadows had barely lifted from my penthouse office when my secure line shattered the silence. I answered to hear Gemma’s weary voice cutting through the encrypted connection.

“The snake himself demands an audience with you.

I knew exactly which venomous bastard she meant. There was no avoiding this confrontation. Gemma patched the call through, and Roman Rossi’s grating voice immediately assaulted my ears, launching into what he clearly believed was an intimidating power play,

“How dare you humiliate my daughter in front of the other families like that? She came home devastated, physically ill from the shame and heartbreak your cruelty caused her. Caleb, you’re about to bind yourself to our bloodline. You need to show my daughter the respect befitting a future Syndicate wife:

“What respect, Roman? The respect owed to a scheming viper who drugged a man at a family gathering to get pregnant and trap him into a political alliance? Because that’s exactly what your precious daughter earned. My blood was already reaching a dangerous boiling point.

“You will not speak about my daughter that way!” Roman’s voice exploded through the encrypted line.

“Are you forgetting who controls the family’s purse strings and territory assignments?”

“Caleb, you need to sit down with my daughter properly. There’s a Syndicate wedding to orchestrate, and countless family protocols to observe. You’re coming to dinner at our compound tonight.”

“Absolutely not. If you want this discussion, we’ll meet for lunch at Romano’s. My tone brooked no argument. “Early afternoon, and we’ll settle everything once and for all.”

I immediately contacted Xavier, who agreed to accompany me without hesitation. At the appointed time, we entered Romano’s to find Roman already positioned at a corner table like some self–appointed capo holding court over his diminished territory.

“What’s that street rat doing here? Roman’s eyes narrowed with unconcealed hatred

122 Chapter 122 Tactical Agreement

as they landed on Xavier.

“You brought your leverage. I brought mine,” I replied with a cold smile that promised violence. “If you show Xavier even the slightest disrespect, this negotiation ends before it begins.

Roman grumbled but backed down like the coward he was. A waiter appeared with a bottle of Dom Pérignon, which immediately ignited my fury. There was absolutely nothing here worth celebrating.

“Remove that. We’re not toasting anything” I told the waiter with deadly calm,

“Nonsense, we’re celebrating your engagement to my daughter and the strengthening of family bonds.”

“Like hell we are!” I turned back to the waiter. “Take it away. No alcohol.”

The waiter retreated with the champagne. Just as I felt the familiar sensation of manipulation closing around my throat like a garrote, I snapped to full alert.

“Get your hands off me.”

Yara stepped back, releasing her grip. Yara had arrived with her mother, both dressed in coordinating designer outfits that made my stomach turn with their obvious calculation. I wanted to disappear through the restaurant floor.

“Sit down! And if either of you even considers insulting Xavier, this entire marriage charade ends right now.” I could already read their predatory intentions from their expressions. “So what exactly do you want?”

“Darling, let’s order first and discuss family business afterward,” Yara purred with fake

sweetness.

“Yara, I’m barely tolerating your family’s presence as it is, so get to the point.” I was ready to snap her neck.

“Sweetheart. I’m planning our engagement celebration and the Syndicate

announcement…

“I already told you there won’t be any announcement party!”

“Caleb, she’s my only child, and if she’s marrying into the Thorne bloodline, there absolutely must be a proper family celebration,” Roman interjected with calculated

pressure.

122 Chapter 122 Tactical Agreement

“Here’s what’s going to happen. We’ll have a private ceremony with complete financial separation and an ironclad prenuptial agreement protecting Thorne assets. I’ve secured an apartment where we’ll maintain separate territories under one roof. I fixed Roman with a stare that promised retribution. “You and I will simply coexist in this arrangement because of the pregnancy claim.”

“But I assumed you’d establish residence in the family estate,” Yara’s mother finally spoke up with greedy calculation. That magnificent compound with the fortress–like security. My daughter deserves that level of protection and status”

“Your daughter will never set foot in my family’s stronghold or my private penthouse,” I replied to the scheming witch.

“Caleb, Syndicate marriages don’t function that way: Yara protested with rising panic.

“Well, that’s exactly how this arrangement will function,” I shot back without compromise.

Suddenly, an escalating wail filled the restaurant, sounding like a child’s tantrum. I turned to see Yara sobbing dramatically with calculated manipulation. Christ, it was absolutely revolting. Every time she performed this act, I felt both disgusted and genuinely alarmed by her instability.

“I want a celebration! I want one! Daddyyyy…” she looked at Roman with her mouth hanging open pathetically like a deranged doll.

Xavier discreetly sent me an encrypted message on my phone:

“Agree to the party and buy yourself time. Postpone the ceremony for several months using celebration planning as justification. Maybe we can force the DNA test before any binding contracts?”

Xavier had just thrown me a crucial lifeline. It was brilliant tactical thinking. I hadn’t realized it, but they’d inadvertently given me negotiating leverage and precious

time.

“Fine, I’ll agree to the celebration, but strictly under my terms.” The spawn of Satan looked at me with some grotesque open–mouthed grin, mascara streaming down her

face.

“And what terms are those?” Roman demanded with suspicious calculation.

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