CHAPTER 119: COMPLEX TRAP

"Take a sip," Josh urged gently, his voice soft and inviting. "You look like you’re about to faint," he continued, his eyes watching my reaction intently.

Without thinking, I quickly reached for the glass and brought it to my lips. The taste of the wine was rich and smooth as it glided into my mouth. Its presence seemed to dull the edges of my consciousness and wind down the panic. I stared at the glass as if mesmerized, my hands trembling slightly. Although I didn’t want to admit it, Josh was right-the wine was exactly what I needed at that moment to help calm me down. I knew I needed to gather my thoughts instead of letting my emotions take over.

"What am I supposed to do?" I asked in a shaky voice, barely above a whisper.

"Honestly, that’s entirely up to you. But if you’re smart, you’d realize the real danger. This isn’t just some make-believe world that you can waltz into and then out of without any consequences," Josh replied sternly, a corner of his lips curving upward into a smirk.

I was surprised that Josh had replied to my question-it felt like I was only thinking out loud. His words washed over me, leaving me numb as I nodded slightly and took another sip of wine. Somewhere deep inside, I knew Josh was right. Perhaps it was already too late for my mother and me to leave this world without paying the price.

I set the glass down carefully and looked straight at Josh. His demeanor seemed more casual than before, though his eyes still studied me closely.

"Are you really expecting me to believe all this?" I asked, my voice tinged with doubt. "If Raphael’s family is part of a mafia gang, then you are too?"

"I’m not expecting you to believe it. Whether you do or not, and what you decide to do, is all up to you. But I’m telling you the truth-a truth you can’t run away from or change," Josh replied casually.

The truth felt like it was staring me right in the face, but I was still desperate to evade it.

"But Raphael’s family business is legitimate. I mean, I work there. I know what’s going on," I said, shaking my head slowly from side to side.

Josh leaned slightly forward, resting his elbows on his knees, his expression almost amused.

"Well, you’re not wrong about that. The business is real and completely legal. It’s the perfect front to hide a very shady operation. Behind the scenes, there’s a lot more going on than you can ever imagine," Josh said, letting out a laugh.

"That’s completely insane," I muttered, feeling my stomach twist uncomfortably.

"What’s truly insane is how good we are at it. We’re so powerful and so well-connected that we don’t have to worry about rumors or anyone coming after us. The authorities know better than to interfere-and it’s not like they have any real reason to," Josh said, giving me a knowing look.

"And you’re okay with being part of this? Even though you know it’s illegal?" I asked in disbelief, though I wasn’t sure what response I was expecting.

"Of course," Josh replied without hesitation. "I’ve been involved in it for as long as I can remember-probably since I was a child. I’m not just a pawn in this game, Abigail. I’m aiming for the throne," he said with a chuckle.

"What do you mean?" I asked, feeling my brows draw together.

"Raphael and I both have our sights set on the top. It’s not really a secret in our family. Bennett hasn’t officially chosen who will take over yet, though he seems to favor Raphael right now and is acting as if he’s already decided to retire. The truth is, Raphael and I are head-to-head, whether he likes to admit it or not," Josh said, a calculating look settling on his face.

The tension in the room grew heavier, and the weight of his words crashed down on me. For the first time, I realized that my mother and I had entangled ourselves in one of the most dangerous power struggles imaginable.

"More wine?" Josh offered smoothly. Before I could respond, I heard the sound of liquid being poured into my glass. The truth of the situation was becoming too much for me to handle, and the wine suddenly felt tempting and inviting. Josh smirked slightly as I brought the glass to my lips and began drinking again.

"Raphael is a tough rival to handle, if I’m being honest. He’s good at what he does-both the legal and not-so-legal businesses," Josh said, smiling at me.

I didn’t know what to say as I tried to process everything Josh had told me about Raphael. His words flowed so smoothly that it became hard for me to keep up. As he kept talking, I felt my head start to spin, a wave of dizziness washing over me. I raised my hand to press against my temple, hoping it would help me feel better. The words coming out of Josh’s mouth felt distant, and it seemed like he would never stop talking.

–To be continued...