XV. Answers.
. . . . .
As I persistently questioned my father during our walk back to his office, he maintained his silence, not responding to any of my inquiries. Although I anticipated this reaction, my desire to understand the full situation remains strong.
"Father! Please, I'm begging you! Tell me what Dakari meant by me being his fiancée?!" My voice rang out, tinged with a mixture of confusion and desperation as I pleaded for answers.
". . ."
I followed behind him despite being breathless from all the chasing as I waited for his response, but he remained silent. His expression inscrutable.
"How long. . . H-how long are you going to keep me from knowing everything?" My voice lowered, each word laced with disappointment and frustration. The weight of my emotions pressed heavily on my chest, and I could feel the sting of unshed tears threatening to break free.
I want answers and I want them right now. I won't be able to sleep at ease with such troubles bugging my mind. I've had enough overthinking and I'm done being always clueless.
He opened the door to his office, and I hurriedly slipped in before he could even close it shut on my face.
"Father!"
He sighed deeply, his shoulders slumping slightly. "Enough, Lucrezia. Go back to your room." He said, exasperated.
"No. Not until you tell me why that guy was here." My voice was unwavering. I stood my ground, refusing to back down any longer. I'm not going back to my room filled with disappointment. Nope. Never gonna happen. Not now.
"Don't concern yourself on that matter." He said dismissively.
The audacity.
"Not concern myself with that matter? Are you even listening to yourself? How can I not when it's clear that it happened because of me?" I crossed my arms over my chest and tapped my heels impatiently on the polished hardwood floor. "Enough, Father. I'm tired of hearing you say those things. I'm the heir now, yet you refuse to tell me anything. Do you even realize how humiliated I was when Dakari Dimitri pointed out how left out I am, how clueless I am?" I gritted my teeth in anger, ensuring that my frustration was communicated to my father's oblivious mind.
Yet, as always, he did not say anything.
Choosing to turn a deaf ear to my rantings, he stood there in silence, his expression a mask of stoicism that only fueled my frustration. "For fuck sakes! Do you not trust me?!"
I've been ignoring his dismissive behavior, but I can't do that anymore. Not when my instincts are compelling me to get an answer from my father. I have a strong feeling that this information will be necessary.
"You don't trust me, do you? Is that it?! Father?" I yelled, my voice echoing off the walls of the office, filled with a mix of hurt and anger. The words spilled out of me, raw and unfiltered, fueled by the frustration that had been building inside.
". . ." He ignored me again.
"FATHER!!!" The word erupted from my throat, a raw, desperate cry that reverberated through the room.
". . ." And again.
"SILVESTRE, ANSWER ME!!!" My voice rang out, echoing with urgency and frustration. The name felt heavy on my tongue. I stood there, heart racing, waiting for a response that seemed to hang in the air like a thick fog.
I wanted nothing more than to cry in front of him if it meant I would get the answers I so desperately sought.
"Sit down." He growled finally relenting.
My somber expression brightened at his words. The heaviness that had settled in my chest began to lift, replaced by a sense of anticipation for what was to come.
"Really?" I asked, my voice tinged with disbelief and excitement. "You're actually going to tell me everything?"
Father nodded, his demeanor shifting from guarded to open. "Yes, I will. You deserve to know the truth about Dakari and the circumstances surrounding our family."
I quickly took a seat on the couch, the soft cushions enveloping me as I settled in, my body thrumming with anticipation.
With a sigh of frustration, he began to explain the situation. "Years ago, the Viviana's and the Dimitri's entered into a contract," he said, his voice heavy with the weight of the past. "To form an alliance, we decided to have our son and daughter marry into their family. It was all in the interest of maintaining peace and tranquility between the two mafia factions."
The idea of an arranged marriage between the children of rival mafia families was both intriguing and unsettling. It spoke of a world where personal desires were often sacrificed for the sake of power and influence. I am a victim then? "W-wait. . . So, you had my fate sealed before I was even born?" My voice stammered as I muttered.
"N-no. . . It's not that, Lucrezia." He stuttered, rubbing his temples as if trying to ease the weight of the conversation. "Me and your mom never expected to have children. . ."
I felt a mix of confusion and curiosity swirling within me. The revelation that my existence was unplanned was startling, and I couldn't help but wonder how that shaped my family's dynamics and expectations.
". . ." I can only remain silent, confused and dumbfounded.
"I trust that Mrs. Luzuriaga had told you about your mom's condition." The soft gaze he sent me made me feel bad for asking him about this, but I needed to know everything there is I must know.
". . . Yes." I bit my lower lip and asked him, "Father, is that why you sent me away 9 years ago?"
"Partly, yes. But it was more on safety reasons. Your mother knew that you want to have more freedom, she wanted you to experience a normal life in Singapore, not as the mafias daughter, Lucrezia Viviana, but just as Lucia Mendez."
"You guys never bothered to ask if I was okay with the set-up. . . You sent me away without any proper explanation. The only reason you gave me was vague when I was merely a 14 years old girl." I bitterly stated.
He looked at me with a pained expression. "We thought we were protecting you. Your mother believed that by sending you away, you could grow up without the burdens of our world weighing on your shoulders. She wanted you to have choices, to be free to explore life beyond the confines of our family's expectations."
I took a deep breath, grappling with the implications of his words. "But I didn't ask for that! I wanted to be with my family! Can you even imagine the burden that was placed on Lorenzo? I thought I left for his well-being. But instead, I left without any reason and added more stress on my younger brother. I was deluded into thinking my departure was necessary where in fact it was not."
He heaved a sigh and looked over at me with pleading eyes, as if he wants me to calm down. "Lucrezia, look on the bright side, I welcomed you with open arms when you came back because I know you made up your mind about wanting this kind of life."
That was in fact, true.
Flabbergasted, I couldn't stop myself from laughing bitterly. "Y-you. . . make it sound like you trust me. . ."
"I had always trusted you, my daughter. The same way Lorenzo trusted your words 9 years ago. When you said you'll be back. You came back, indeed. And had given your younger brother the chance to explore the places he never gone to after years of being captivated in this place. Bounded by duty and responsibility."
Guilt once again gnawed on me and my conscience. I shake my head to focus and decided to drop the topic. Narrowing my eyes, I asked, "But. . . My true fiancé is Dakari, right? Am I required to marry him then?"
Father fell into heavy silence. "Yes." Was his only vague answer after some time of thinking.
I sighed.
I honestly don't want to.
"—But. . . You're now engaged to Zephyr Caspian. There's nothing Dakari can do about it." He added.
My eyes widened, "So you truly are going against the contract made between the two families?" I stated in disbelief. I leaned back on the couch and looked at father intently. "Will the current head of the Russian mafia agree to this?"
"Damien? He will."
"How are you so sure?"
"He won't initiate war just because of this petty reason. He has more important matters at hand."
"Important matters at hand? How would you even know?" I questioned, a sudden realization dawning on me. Unless. . . "Father. . . Are we truly a double agent?" I cautiously asked, my voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking the words aloud would make them more real.
It's not that I like entertaining these crazy ideas but it's slowly becoming more reasonable.
I won't even judge father for being a double agent since I always go with the flow even if the odds are against me.
His words alone are something that I shall trust in this world, as his daughter, as his heir and as his family.
The idea doesn't sit right in my mind but I'm willing to accept the truth. Especially every single secret there is to know about our family.
". . ." His gaze hardened and he opened his mouth to speak, "I'm tired, Lucrezia. Go back to your quarters and refrain from going out for a while."
I narrowed my eyes, feeling a flicker of frustration ignite within me once again. "Dodging the questions again, aren't you?" I clicked my tongue, my voice laced with a hint of accusation. "You said you trusted me, so why can't you tell me everything right here?"
"There are things that you shouldn't get involve with. Please. Please, leave. I need to rest."
I can only sigh as I stood up from my sit. I decided it's best to drop it as well given how spent and tired he is basing on his tone alone. "Fine. But this won't be the last time I'll nag you about this. Make sure that you have the answers to my questions by then." I walked away and stopped when I reached the doorway. "Rest well, father."
I got out and did not look back, my heart pounding in my chest as I stomped my way back to my room with a grim look on my face. Each step felt heavy. I was filled with a mix of frustration, anger, and determination, and I needed to process everything I had just learned.
Not only was my fate sealed to the Dimitri's, but my father won't even tell me about our family being a double agent. Was a simple yes or no, difficult to utter? As I had suspected, he doesn't truly trust me entirely.
I really can't conduct a private investigation to confirm my suspicions.
If I do, the spies sent by the Dimitri's will sure follow and if they know the heiress of the Viviana's conducted research about something they're also intrigued about. They will do anything to get their hands on the hired investigator who will hold the soon-to-be collected data.
I can't risk that.
I can't risk conflict to arise if ever we're truly a traitor against the Russian Bratva. It will not only endanger the lives of our family but also those innocent civilians living in Russia and here in Italy. Wherever the battle may take place, I can't have them getting involved.
I can't marry Dakari. Even if I have no other choice, I refuse to marry him. I refuse to marry someone like him- someone who is part of a dangerous game that puts my family at risk.
I despise him too much to even think about a future with him. Even if it's just a civil relationship.
No.
He is my enemy.
I can't think of such nonsense. It's just straight-up ridiculous. And that guy— Dakari— is too insane and too much of a trash to even consider as a partner. The very thought of being tied to him in any way made my stomach churn.
Annoying scumbag.
"Regardless of his threats I won't break off my engagement with Zephyr." I murmured to myself as I pulled out my phone from my pockets. Dialing Zephyr's number.
Zephyr
+39 06 xxxx xxxx
It rang for two minutes before he was able to pick it up.
"Zephyr." I started.
I can hear fabric rustling on the other side of the call. "Oh, what's up, Lucrezia. How may I help ya?"
Without beating around the bush, I said, "That man was here." Knowing full well whom I was talking about. He already knew how Dakari frequented our manor since I stayed at their mansion for days.
A few rattling sounds can be heard on the other side. "Wait— WHAT?! Why???" He groaned on the other side, indicating that he must've stumbled upon an object. "W-why was he there?"
Sighing, I told him everything from the start, even the part about the pact made by the two families.
With a saddened voice he asked, "T-then are you g-going to break off our engagement?"
"Fuck no." I growled, rubbing my temples in attempts to alleviate the forming headache I'm having in my head. "No. No. No. I despise that guy too much to even consider marrying into that family."
"Oh phew— then what about the agreement? That won't do you any good. It sounds important to be disregarded just like that, won't it be disrespectful on the part of the Dimitri's?"
"Fuck the agreement. I will continue to refuse, and we will proceed with our marriage as planned."
"That will infuriate the Dimitri's. Are you sure?"
I rolled my eyes at his question. I already made up my mind. "For all I care, it's none of their business to meddle with the Viviana's decision."
"Lucrezia, for all I care, that guy might come for my head." He retorted in a sarcastic manner but there's a hint of seriousness in his tone. "Let's not be rash about this, shall we?"
I subconsciously creased my brows in annoyance. I know he has a point but I just don't like having to think twice about my decisions. "We're not. We already came to terms about this agreement of ours. You needed a wife to fully inherit the Italian-American mafia faction and I'm here to help you do that. Don't tell me you're going to chicken out of this because you're afraid of that lunatic?"
"Hey! I may want to rule but it doesn't mean I'm desperate." He retorted. "That's the problem with Mr. Dakari, he's ruthless. He is crazy. And he is just insane enough to actually kill me."
"Ugh. Fine." I groaned.
A long pause before he started asking questions again. "What do you suggest we do about this situation of yours?"
At this point do I really have much of a choice now? I know I'm acting on impulse and this may not be the most preferable action but. . . "Let's get married 5 days from now."
"—clank clank— MOTHER FRICKITY FRACK MAN— WHAT?!" He yelled quite loudly that I had to pull the phone away from my ears. In fear that it might hurt my eardrums.
I groaned in annoyance as I rubbed my right ear gently. "Hey, stop overreacting. And seriously? Mother what?—"
"I'M NOT OVERREACTING, WHAT DO YOU MEAN WE WILL MARRY 5 DAYS FROM NOW?!"
"Lower your voice. And I meant it exactly the way I meant it the first time."
He cleared his throat and said, "Let's calm down about this. Okay. . . So, you want us to marry already? Lucrezia, we still haven't announced our engagement party yet and now you want to proceed with the wedding in such a short time?"
"Surely, I didn't stutter, did I?"
I can hear him sighing deeply on the other side and finally relented, "Fine. We will arrange everything needed."
I smirked. "Thanks."
"Yeah yeah."
I didn't bid him farewell and ended the call immediately.
Oh well. . . Guess I have a wedding to worry about now.