Chapter 114 - 114 - Childhood Friend

"I have no choice. Her death was a punishment from running away to her clan." He said.

I saw guilt and was that? Anguish? Was he tormented by Lucia's death? Is he regretting it now?

"Lucia became my fiance months after your mother left me. She was kind and so innocent. The calmest woman I have ever met. I have never seen her mad. She was gentle and soft spoken. She was a childhood friend. That was it. I have never loved her more than that but she was the closest woman to me. I didn't want to marry her but my father chose her. I couldn't do anything. I know she was in love with Chris and I told her they could continue their relationship even though she's married to me. It would be our little secret but she didn't like that idea. She knew if she agreed, my father would kill the three of us. So they ran away and left me. Alone and humiliated." His voice was a mixture of pain and sadness.

I knew his every word was true, I could see it in his eyes. For some reason, I saw him in a different light. He wasn't that bad, he was used and lied to by the people around him. My heart hurts for him. I bit my lips to stop my tears from falling. Fate was just cruel to him. To all of us.

"I wasn't the only one who got humiliated. If it was just me, I would just let her and Chris go. But my father wouldn't let it pass easily. He wanted to show everyone the true power of the Forelli. He would never allow anyone to trumple our name. So he ordered almost everyone to search for them. Whoever finds them and kills them, he would be the next boss of the Mafia." He said.

"So when you found them, you ordered them to kill your best friend? How could you?" Tears started to fall from my eyes.

He averted his eyes, looking at the glass of wine he was holding.

"I have no choice, Margaret. I needed to do it or else another man would and he would become the boss. I ordered them to kill just one. If Chris was there, he would be killed but Lucia was the one who's at the house that time. It wasn't supposed to be her. The spy said that Chris would be there, not Lucia. She had an appointment that day at a clinic but she cancelled it. I found out she knew about our plan so she told her husband to go to another village to check on someone. She also let her son run an errand for her but she didn't expect he would come back early. I knew your husband was there but I didn't say a word and let him go."

"But why did you have to be so cruel? Would you like me to thank you from sparing his life? Her mom was raped and murdered while he watched. He was so young. And you were just outside the door doing nothing. You asked someone to record it and the file was hanging in your neck like a souvenir." I said in an outburst. 

It was so painful. My heart was hurting so much. I was looking at him but he was avoiding my gaze. He didn't answer.

"Then how about now? Why do you want to kill my husband? Father, can't we just forget everything in the past and start over? For a long time, I was longing for a father. Benjamin left me alone with the servants and just about I had the courage to confront him, I found out he wasn't my father. Then I was told that my father was you. I thought I could finally meet you, I was happy but in the end, you were the one who caused the man I love to suffer. He forgives you, for me. But why wouldn't you stop hurting the people I care about? I wanted to be your daughter but how could I do that if you will keep on trying to kill my husband? Why?" I continued to ask him, crying in front of him. Hoping that it would at least melt his frozen heart.

"Margaret, I couldn't be a father to you nor I could promise that your husband wouldn't be harmed. There are people in the Forelli clan who's after me. You have announced to the world that you are my daughter and married to a Castello. They will use you against me. I can't let that happen. I won't hurt your husband but others might. Stay here for the time being." He said in a cold tone.

"No! You don't know me or my husband. You don't know what he's capable of. Please father let me go and I promise you will never see us again. Please! Let me go back to Jayden and to my son." I begged.

"Son?" He asked.

He didn't know? Then I realized I have said something that I shouldn't have.

"You have a son with that bastard?" He asked, almost yelling.

Then he suddenly stood up and held my shoulders.

"Answer me Margaret! Is he at the palace?"

"N-No, he wasn't. Why do you want to know? I swear if you hurt my son, I will never forgive you!" I yelled back at him.

"Who knows about him? Answer me now!" He shouted, shaking me.

"Everyone!" I answered, starting to tremble.

"Where is he?" He asked again, glaring at me with his cold eyes.

I shook my head and was just crying. I will never tell him where Caden is.

"You have to kill me first." I said in a trembling voice.

'Slap'

I felt a ringing sound from my left ear. I could taste my own blood from my lower lip. It was cut and swollen from the impact of my father's hand.

"I am not a patient man, Margaret. Where is your son? If you won't tell me, I will have to kill your husband?" He warned.

I glared at him. I wanted to fight back but my hands were tied at my back."What the hell do you want from me? Don't involve my son or I swear I will be the one to kill you!" I answered with a firm tone.

"I will give you until morning. Choose. Your husband or your son." He said before leaving me crying in the bedroom.