153 The Truth About Dennis

Dennis recalled the day he went home after he proposed to Diane and she accepted. He was happy and floating all the way to his room. However, as he opened the door, he found Gallante inside, stunning him. Dennis did not know who was Gallante at that time.

"Who are you? Why are you inside?" Dennis asked as he threw his bag on the bed, glaring at Gallante. The latter was unperturbed.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here for an important reason," Gallante said as he patted the space beside him on the bed but Dennis stood vigilant against the door.

"I think you better go out. I don't like strangers in my room," Dennis said, as he reached for the doorknob.

"I'm no stranger to you, my son," Gallante said calmly.

"What? What did you call me?" Dennis cast a glance at Gallante as he was about to open the door.

"I called you my son. I am your biological father. My name is Gino Gallante and you're my first born," Gallante casually said.

Dennis could not believe what he heard. "You're kidding, right?"

"I'm pretty serious and I never joked about this. Your mother might have told you that I was dead or left you, right?"

"Your mistaken, Mama is not that heartless. She won't say anything about my father even when I asked her for the hundredth time."

"Kind sweet girl Rizza. I've loved her but she refused to marry me after she learned the nature of my work of which you will find out later."

"I think you should leave now." Dennis did not waver but opened the door at once. "I don't care who you are and what you do, even if you'll show me a DNA test. I've lived my life satisfactorily without a father. So go."

"I'll be back," Gallante said as he sauntered out.

A month after, Dennis and Diane had finalized their wedding day and they were now in the process of buying their wedding clothes. Days after, Gallante sent men to fetch Dennis when he was on his way to work. He wanted to break away from the men but they thoroughly blocked his path and left him no other way to escape.

"Please, Sir, don't make this hard for us. We are obeying your father's orders. He is waiting for you," said the chauffeur.

"I don't have a father," Dennis said sternly. He kicked a man's belly and bolted away after the man fell. They chased him in the open alley but was caught with no effort by the waiting men at the corner. Gallante's men had predicted his course of action. The following car stopped at his side.

"Please, we are only doing our job." The leader opened the car door for him.

Dennis yanked his arms from the men holding him and unwillingly settled in. They drove to the fruit warehouse. Gallante and his wife were waiting. Gallante embraced Dennis with great enthusiasm of which Dennis did not reciprocate.

Dennis wanted to leave soon but Gallante insisted. With the guards around, Dennis was forced to stay. Gallante toured him in the warehouse.

"Son, if anything happens to me I will leave this business to you. Your sisters are still young and your stepmother is not knowledgeable when it comes to business. I expect you'll take charge and look after them when that time comes." Gallante said, preparing Dennis for Gallante knew he was facing danger daily.

"Please, Mr. Gallante, you only mistook me as your son. I need to go," Dennis said amicably.

Gallante was unruffled. Instead, he ushered Dennis to the office. Glancing at the guards at his back, Dennis followed. They were alone in the office now.

"Dennis, I don't mean to cause problems in your life that's why I didn't show myself to you and your mother since you were born. I always wanted my own son by my side, to carry and play with as you grow up, but I respected your mother's decision. But now, I have no choice."

"What do you mean no choice?"

Gallante did not answer his question. "You also need to leave your fiancee."

"No way. I love Diane. Who are you to tell me that?" Dennis shouted at Gallante.

"Dennis, I'll warn you now before you'll get hurt. The drug lord is having a project and your fiancee's family will be affected. Listen to me, son. This is for your own good."

Dennis reached for Gallante and tugged his shirt's collar. "What are you going to do with Diane's family? Tell me." Gallante did not reply but only stared at him, unfazed.

"Tell me," Dennis said, giving emphasis to each word.

"You have to follow me and my orders if I'll tell you," Gallante stood unafraid and unmoved.

"Tell me," Dennis growled.

"Are you going to follow me?"

Dennis shoved Gallante to the side. "Leave me alone and tell that drug lord, whoever he is, not to touch Diane's family," Dennis hollered and banged the door as he left.

"Where are you going? You're too late to warn them," Gallante yelled as he went after Dennis but Dennis had run off, missing Gallante's warnings.

A distance away from the warehouse, Dennis' phone rang. He took it from his pocket and received the call from Diane.

"Dennis, Papa is dead," Diane said with her voice trembling.

"What happened?"

"A car hit Papa yesterday."

But before he could go further, Gallante's men came and stopped him. He fought back but they caught him. Gallante brought him to his house. There, Gallante told him the truth about the insurance fraud.

"Do you still want to marry her? What if she learns your father is connected to her father's death? Do you think she will not be enraged?"

"I hate you. You're not my father." Dennis snapped and hurled a punch on Gallante's face.

Gallante willingly accepted it. "I let you hit me now, but there won't be any next time." Gallante touched his aching jaw. "Go and tell the police and you'll see her in the coffin tomorrow. The drug lord is not merciful."