CHAPTER 62: 62

A small smile crossed my lips as I noticed Cicila’s little pout after hearing what I had just said.

"Uncle, aren’t you cheating Aunt Carmela by doing that?" She placed both hands on her hips, trying to act grown-up, which made me chuckle again.

"I just don’t want to lose to your aunt," I lied.

"But she deserves to win, Uncle..." Well, I might have agreed if Carmela had been in the right, but she wasn’t, and I couldn’t let her get away with it.

I motioned Cicila over and squatted down to her level. "I’ll help you if you promise to let me and my brother live with you. I don’t like staying with Daddy." She stretched out her pinky finger, and I linked mine with hers.

"I promise," I whispered with a smile.

"I’m sorry to interrupt, young master, but the little miss is ready to leave," said the head of security. I lifted Cicila into my arms and led her to the car.

"See you soon, Uncle," she waved as I closed the door.

"Make sure my meeting with her stays between us," I instructed firmly, then headed back inside, where a representative of Old Aron was waiting.

After months of silence, he finally decided to reach out this could only mean two things: either he was nagging me about giving him a grandchild, or it was about my uncles.

"Young master!" The representative greeted me with a slight bow as I sat across from him.

"Let’s not waste time. Why are you here?" My tone was sharper than intended, so I leaned back, masking my irritation with a smile.

"Your grandfather asked me to deliver these documents." He placed a file on the table. "He also wanted to inform you that T&C Construction Group has agreed to sign the contract on the condition that both you and the young lady attend the signing party."

I leaned back, tapping the armrest. Another game. The T&C Construction Group’s assets were meant for Carmela after our marriage, but the management had changed, making it impossible to access. After several failed attempts to secure a contract, it became clear that something was off as nothing in the will had been modified.

This wasn’t just business anymore; it was a chess game, and my grandfather was now a piece on the board.

The problem was Carmela. She wasn’t in a place where I could fully trust her.

"Young lady!" the butler stood abruptly, his eyes locking on the doorway.

"Huh?" Carmela raised an eyebrow, her hand cuffed to her bag. She had changed into a white joggers and a matching jacket with a pink inner. The butler’s gaze lingered on her hand, but I had to hide the truth of our reality to keep my uncles from gaining leverage.

"If you’ll excuse us, my wife has a class to attend," I said, standing up but never breaking eye contact with her. I needed answers, and the only way to get them was to get her out of here. I took her hand, and though it felt like it belonged in mine, she slipped it away the moment we left the room.

"Excuse me?" She stepped back, and I exhaled, choosing my words carefully.

"You have a class soon. Let’s go." I walked ahead, but instead of following, she turned in the opposite direction.

"Should we stop her?" My head of security asked through the earpiece, but I waved them off. No matter where she went, I could keep track if I wanted to. If she didn’t want me involved, then I’d let her handle things on her own.

...

I kept glancing at my watch. It was almost time, but she was nowhere in sight. "Did she forget?" I muttered, kicking the air in frustration. Just then, our eyes met across the crowd.

"Baby!" she called, arms open wide as she rushed towards me. I shot her a side-eye, unimpressed. "I’m sorry I’m late," she apologized, wrapping her arms around my waist. I pouted, ignoring her, though I could feel the eyes of passersby on us. To avoid drawing attention, I softened and turned, laughing as we locked eyes for a few seconds.

"You’d make a great actress," Amina teased, still laughing.

"Let’s get out of here first," I replied, gripping my luggage as Amina waved her car key at me. She never ceased to amaze me.

I had contacted her shortly after escaping captivity. At first, I wanted to inform Nix of my survival, but instead, I got in touch with her. I never remembered having a cousin named Amina Sorrentino, but her charisma was undeniable. When she revealed the possibility that my mother was still alive, I abandoned the idea of contacting Nix. She showed me a letter with my mother’s stamp, urging her to protect me. That letter had come from Paris years ago.

I decided to play along with Damian and the scientist while trying to uncover my mother’s whereabouts. But instead of finding her, I discovered even darker secrets.

"I can’t shake this question." Amina glanced at me as she drove. "How did you escape the scientist’s experiment? You should have no memories."

I stared out the window, debating whether to tell her about the third-party involvement or make up a story. My hand absentmindedly touched the metal bracelet Nix’s demon had given me after we made a deal. It had caused excruciating pain at first, but once it settled into my skin, the pain vanished. When the scientist tried his experiment, I was just as shocked that it didn’t work.

"Someone gave me a gift and it saved me," I said, my eyes still on the passing scenery. Amina nodded, seemingly satisfied. "What’s the plan? Where are we headed? What about the tracker and proximity sensor? And your grades?"

"One question at a time," I chuckled. "My grades are fine. I had the professor tell Damian otherwise to create this opportunity to meet Nix. As for the sensor, I’m sure Nix took care of it last night." I smiled, touching the rough spot on my shoulder. "The tracker is handled. As for our destination have you heard of the Betas?"

She raised an eyebrow but made a confused smile. "Just like there are four Alpha families, there are eight Beta families. Without them, the Alphas are powerless. If we want Nix to become the next heir, we need their support at least one of them."

"But isn’t having the rest of the Betas’ support enough?"

"Absolutely not." I tightened my seatbelt. I thought I could ignore this particular Beta family, but after hearing Damian and the scientist’s plans, I realized they were essential. If they wanted to take Nix down, they’d have to go through me first. Making Nix the leader was my final mission. After that, I would leave, as promised but not before I removed myself from Nix’s life, either by making him forget me or hate me.

"What’s in the suitcase? Why’s it cuffed to you?" Amina asked, breaking the silence.

I smiled. "We’re meeting someone special, the leader of the most powerful Beta family... Womenare the ones who hold the real power, and that’s our chance for revolution." I bit my lip, glancing at the suitcase. The look Amina gave me suggested she thought I was crazy, and she wasn’t wrong. I was about to make a deal with the "craziest woman in France."

"Make a U-turn; the casino is just a few minutes away."

After I was transferred to paris my first week at school wasn’t as easy as I had expected and for some strange reason I kept bumping into Ice. From the rumors around I discovered she was in the same department as me and was also leaving while I was being admitted but I unintentionally picked her interest after falsely accusing her of trying to steal my work..

But anyone in my position would have thought the same after seeing a creepy person snooping and taking shots of their unfinished piece.

And just like that I became her ’spectacle of fun’ as I love to refer to it as she would always come to school just to pick at me which I found childish.. but thank goodness Tommy came to my rescue,but who would have thought I’d be needing her help?

"I usually picked at you on campus because I thought you were naive and innocent but I never knew you are the killing mechanic everyone talked about in the dynasty" her hands left her pocket, running through her hair and then went back into her pocket and the corner of her lips continuously rised and dropped.

Little trail of white substance were on the skin beneath her nose and she contiously rubbed the bridge of her nose with her other hand that wasn’t in her pocket. My eyes caught the trail of white powder on her table which looked like it was hurriedly wipe..drugs. "How about you offer me a seat?" I raised an eyebrow and she nodded pointing the chair before me, was this getting out of hand? Is this my cue to leave?

"I won’t beat around the bush,I need your support in making Alpha one the next heir" I broke the slience but got no reaction instead she lit up her stick taking a puff before throwing her head backwards. "ive always wondered who the lady behind the veil was who would have thought it was you"her response was far from what I could imagine nor react to "Don’t be confused baby.. you must not be aware of the things going on in the dynasty so I’ll fill you in a bit.." she picked up the bottle of whiskey before us and filled her glass before taking a sip "Ever since the dining event in the dynasty,I’ve always been curious of who the woman that nasty man picked and no matter how much I’ve tried I’ve never gotten a picture of her face it’s either she’s wearing a mask or he’s overing her.. it almost like he doesn’t want the public to know the truth identity of his wife.."

"So what makes you think I’m the one?"

"What makes him keep close tabs on you?"

"Excuse me?" I retrothed as this was no longer going as planned. "You wore a leg chain all though your stay in school and surprisingly he also wears a similar chair around his wrist,you came to paris to study and surprisingly he comes back to paris where he once ran from,you get kidnapped by his Uncle and boom his uncle his dead in less than 24 hours.."