Chapter 176

#175 “After Abandoning Us?”

Alexander’s fists clenched at his sides, his jaw set in a steely line as he glared at the man who had once been his father. He had not seen or heard from the man in years, and the sight of him now only served to reignite the smoldering embers of resentment that had long simmered within Alexander’s heart.

“What do you want?” Alexander demanded, his voice tinged with a simmering fury.

His father’s grin widened further, a wicked gleam flickering in his eyes. I’ve come to collect what’s rightfully mine,” he declared, his tone laced with arrogance.

Alexander’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What are you talking about?

His father’s expression hardened, his gaze boring into Alexander with a chilling intensity. “You know exactly what I’m talking about, son. It’s time you gave me my share of Stone Enterprise.”

Alexander’s eyes blazed with indignation. “You think you’re entitled to something after all these years?

After abandoning us?”

His father’s lips curled into a scornful sneer. “I didn’t abandon anyone, Alexander. It was your grandfather who drove me away, who destroyed my life.”

Alexander’s blood ran cold at his father’s words. “You blame Grandfather for your own mistakes?

That’s absurd. You’ve always been quick to shift the blame onto others instead of owning up to your own failures.”

His father’s smirk twisted into a snarl of contempt. “You may think you know everything, Alexander, but you have no idea what I’ve been through. And now it’s time for the Stone family to pay for what they’ve done to me.”

As Alexander stood in his doorway, facing his estranged father, a myriad of emotions swirled within him. Anger, suspicion, and a lingering sense of betrayal warred for dominance as he met his father’s calculating gaze.

“And how do you expect that to happen?” Alexander’s voice was terse, his tone laced with skepticism.

“Invite me to your apartment and we’ll talk,” his father replied smoothly, a hint of smugness tainting his words.

Reluctance gnawed at Alexander’s insides, but begrudgingly, he acquiesced. With a heavy sigh, he unlocked the door and gestured for his father to enter. As they stepped inside, the air seemed to thicken with tension, the weight of unresolved issues hanging heavy between them.

Seated at the table, the two men faced each other across its polished surface, their silence a palpable barrier that stretched between them.

“Speak,” Alexander commanded his voice a low rumble of authority.

*

As Sophia and Benjamin carefully inserted the key into the lock of the old safe, a sense of anticipation hung thick in the air. With a soft click, the heavy door swung open, revealing a trove of secrets hidden within its depths.

Inside, nestled amongst stacks of documents and folders, lay a treasure trove of information waiting to be unearthed. Sophia’s heart quickened with excitement as she reached for the nearest folder, her fingers trembling with anticipation.

The first folder she opened was labeled “Venillia Family,” and as she leafed through its contents, her eyes widened in astonishment. The documents detailed a complex web of connections, linking Sandro’s father and Kyle’s father to the same Mafia family. It seemed that Sandro’s father had once been deeply entrenched in the criminal underworld, but had since left the Mafia to pursue legitimate business ventures in the United States.

Sophia’s grandfather, she discovered, had played a pivotal role in Sandro’s father’s transition from crime to commerce. As a formidable business consultant in his youth, he had lent his expertise to help establish Sandro’s father’s legitimate business empire. However, in doing so, he had unwittingly stumbled upon some of the Mafia’s most closely guarded secrets.

Sophia’s father, Judge Johnson, had also come into contact with the dark underbelly of organized crime during his tenure on the bench. In a landmark case, he had personally sentenced a high-ranking member of the Mafia, earning himself a place on their list of enemies.

The truth behind her father’s tragic car accident was finally laid bare as well. It had been a retaliation by the Mafia, a ruthless act of vengeance designed to silence him once and for all.

Sophia’s blood ran cold as she absorbed the gravity of the revelations before her. The pieces of the puzzle were finally falling into place, connecting her family’s past to the present dangers that loomed over her.

“What did you find?” Benjamin asked, seeing the shocked face of Sophia.

Sophia’s hands trembled as she clutched the documents, her mind reeling from the shocking revelations they contained. With a heavy heart, she turned to Benjamin, her eyes reflecting the turmoil within her.

“I… I don’t even know where to begin,” she whispered, her voice barely audible above the tumultuous thoughts racing through her mind.

As Benjamin leaned in closer, concern etched on his features, Sophia took a deep breath, steeling herself to share the truth she had uncovered.

“My grandfather… he was more deeply involved with the Mafia than I ever could have imagined,” she began, her words tinged with disbelief. “He helped Sandro’s father transition from a life of crime to one of legitimate business, but in doing so, he stumbled upon some of the Mafia’s most closely guarded secrets.”

Benjamin’s eyes widened in shock, his brow furrowing as he processed the implications of Sophia’s words.

“And my father,” Sophia continued, her voice trembling with emotion, ” he… he crossed paths with the Mafia during his time as a judge. He sentenced a high-ranking member of the organization, and… and they retaliated by causing the car accident that took his life.”

A heavy silence descended upon the room as Benjamin absorbed the gravity of Sophia’s revelations.

The weight of the truth hung heavily between them, casting a shadow over their newfound understanding of the dangers they faced.

“What do we do now?” Benjamin asked his voice barely a whisper in the stillness of the room.

Sophia’s mind raced with possibilities, but one thing was clear: they couldn’t afford to ignore the threat that loomed over them any longer.

“We have to find out what else they’re hiding,” she said, her tone resolute.” We need to uncover the truth behind these secrets before it’s too late.”

And with that, she reached for the next folder labeled: Stone Enterprise.