Chapter 116
Ambers Por
I sat at the elegantly set restaurant table, my pocture figid with pent–up tension. My arms were folded across my chest, a defensive barrier I had erected to shield myself from the storm of emotions I’d feel once my father and I met again after just a few months of cutting him off.
I
Pichard’s revelation about my father’s involvement in Kayden’s illicit activities had left me reeling, a bitter taste of anger and betrayal couring my already fragile and non–existent trust in
him.
I had called Martin Grey–my father–over the phone last night after my conflicting thoughts had subsided. Despite my your to never have anything to do with him again, the need for answers had overridden my resolve. And so, here I sat, my legs crossed in a false display of calm that belied the rage I felt.
I had rented the entire restaurant, a calculated move to ensure the privacy of our conversation. With my growing popularity as Richard’s wife and the Romero daughter–in–law, I couldn’t afford any sort of scandal that could stem from the serious and possibly sensitive conversation I was about to have with my father.
As minutes stretched into eternity, a staff member finally escorted my father to the table, where I sat in ardent anticipation. My heart clenched at the sight of him, a mix of emotions warring in me as he drew closer. A from contorted my features, my gaze laced with a potent mix of disappointment anc
simmering anger.
Martin Grey approached with a wide smile on his face, his eyes alight with a false sense of friendliness. He reached out as if to hug me, but I recoiled, a wave of repulsion crashing over me. “Take a seat,” I said curtly, my voice devoid of the warmth that had once been reserved for him. “I didn’t call you out here for pleasantries.”
He settled into the chair across from me, his smile faltering slightly as he sensed the gravity of the situation. “Amber, sweetheart, it’s been too long. I never expected you to reach out to me first. I’ve missed you,” he attempted to placate, his tone tinged with a hint of contrived affection.
I held his gaze, my own eyes cold and unyielding. “Don’t play the doting father now, Martin. Like I said, I didn’t call you out here to play father and daughter or act like a happy family.” I told him
CLOS
15:43 Wed, 6 Mar GK
$70%
quickly, so he wouldn’t think I’d let him try to kiss up to me. “I’m going to ask you a few questions, and if you have any shame, any shame at all, you better tell me the truth.”
Up to 30% off
The air crackled with tension as I locked eyes with my father, his expression a mix of confusion and apprehension. I could see the flicker of surprise in his gaze, the realization dawning that I was not here to exchange pleasantries but to confront him.
“Did you call me here just to interrogate me, Amber?” Martin’s voice held a hint of reproach, and his brows furrowed in consternation. His attempt at composure was slipping, revealing the guilt that lurked beneath his calm response.
I shrugged nonchalantly, an expression of indifference fixed on my face. “What’s wrong with asking questions. Dad? Especially when those questions involve your involvement in criminal activities,” I retorted, my tone laced with a glaring sharpness.
A mocking smile tugged at the corners of my lips as I leveled a pointed gaze at him. “Did you really think I invited you here for a heart–to–heart after you turned a blind eye to my pain? You should know better than to ever think you and I can ever be father and daughter again.”
The words dripped with bitterness, the echoes of my anger reverberating in my voice.
Martin sighed in frustration, a tinge of exasperation clouding his features. “Amber, why can’t you move on? You and Kayden are divorced now. You’ve found love again. Why dwell on the past? Are you no happy now? Why do you still try to live in pain?”
I shook my head in disbelief, a bitter chuckle escaping me. “You still don’t get it, do you?” |
muttered under my breath, a sense of resignation settling over me. I reminded myself that my father’s indifference was nothing new, a realization that hardened my resolve.
With an unbothered sigh, I shifted gears, my gaze unwavering as I broached the crux of the matter. “Let’s cut to the chase, Dad. Is it true that you’re laundering money for Kayden’s drug business through your company?” I questioned, my words heavy with a hint of accusation and demand for the truth.
Martin’s expression contorted in shock, a flicker of nervousness glinting in his eyes. “What are you talking about, Amber? That’s preposterous!” His voice wavered, a hint of defensiveness creeping into his tone.
1 folded my arms across my chest, a steely resolve hardening my features. Leaning back in my chair, I
—
0
FransactION FORS
CLOS
AD
15:43 Wed, 6 Mar GBR
Up to 30% off
fixed him with a piercing gaze. “Don’t play dumb with me, Dad. You know exactly what I’m talking about, and you better tell me the truth,” I warned him sharply.
“Why are you asking me this out of the blue, Amber?” Martin’s voice held a note of defensiveness, and
his brows knitted in confusion. His attempt to deflect only fueled the fire of my irritation.
I rolled my eyes at his feeble attempt to evade the truth, a scoff escaping me. “Don’t try to change. the subject, Dad. If you want to avoid a jail sentence, you better start talking.” I retorted, the edge of my words sharp with resolve.
Martin’s eyes widened in shock at my brazen declaration, a flicker of fear flashing across his
CLOSE
crypto.com
Buy Bitcoin NôvelDrama.Org content.
with just US$10
Crypto.com
Buy Bitcoin with just US$10
INSTALL
features. “Are you really threatening to send your own father to jail, Amber?” His voice trembled with disbelief, visibly horrified at the turn our conversation had taken.
I scoffed, a bitter chuckle escaping me. “I’ve already sent you to hell, Dad. Jail wouldn’t be much of a difference as far as I’m concerned,” I remarked, the bitterness of my words underscoring the depth of my hurt and betrayal. “Now, are you the one behind the business that’s handling Kayden’s dirty money or not?”
The silence stretched taut between us, and Martin hesitated at first, his gaze flickering. And then, with a heavy sigh, he finally relented.
“You’re right, Amber,” he admitted, his voice tinged with resignation. “I handle Kayden’s dirty money from his illegal businesses.”
A Loyalty Program Built For Everyone
AD
15:43 Wed, 6 Mar B B
70%蘭
Up to 30% off
His confession caused me to freeze–a damning admission of his deep involvement in the illegal dealings.
I shook my head in disbelief, a sense of disillusionment washing over me. “I’ve lost hope in you, Dad. I can’t even begin to wrap my head around the fact that you’d stoop so low and become a criminal for the sake of greed,” I lamented, the disappointment lacing my words with a bitter sting.
My gaze bore into his, a mix of anger and despair churning in me. “I’m so embarrassed to be called. your daughter.”
The tension crackled in the air between my father and me, a force that threatened us both. I held his gaze steadily, the furious storm brewing in me mirrored in the steel of my eyes. Martin watched me for a beat, the accusation heavy in the space between us.
“Would you be willing to give me evidence against Kayden if I asked you to, Dad?” I questioned, my voice edged with anger.
Martin’s features contorted into a frown, a wariness dancing in his eyes. “And why should I do something like that, Amber?” His voice held a note of caution, a guardedness that bordered on defensiveness.
I bit back a scoff, the bitterness of my emotions on my mind. “You can refuse to help, Dad,” I began, my voice measured but laced with rage. “But if you do, I can’t promise that you won’t end up in jail as an embezzler and an accomplice to all of Kayden’s crimes.”
Comments for this chapter