Chapter 5 - Whispers and War
The family dinner at the Rossi Estate was a masterclass in psychological warfare.
Valentina sat at the head of the long marble table, her eyes scanning the room like a hawk looking for prey. Liam sat beside her, his face pale and drawn, his eyes constantly darting to me and then to his father. Amber sat next to Liam, looking entirely out of place in her cheap, sequined dress, her fingers constantly twitching.
Nico sat at the opposite end of the table, his presence commanding the entire room. I sat to his right, wearing the emerald-green dress and the diamonds he had gifted me.
"So, Luna," Valentina said, her voice dripping with venom as she sliced her steak. "I must admit, I was surprised to see you here. I thought a girl of your... modest background would have returned to her little apartment after Liam ended things."
"Liam didn't end things, Valentina," I said, my voice calm and clear. "I threw him out of my apartment after I found him in my bed with my sister. But I suppose disloyalty is a family trait in some circles."
Liam flinched, his face turning red. "Luna, that's enough!"
"No, it isn't," Nico said, his deep voice instantly silencing the table. He set his fork down, the clink of metal against porcelain sounding like a gunshot. "Luna is speaking the truth. And in this house, we respect the truth. Liam, you behaved like a boy with no discipline. You brought a street girl into your brother’s bed—"
"She’s my sister!" I corrected, my voice cold.
"And she is a thief," Nico added, his gray eyes turning to Amber. "A girl who steals from her own blood is not a woman to be trusted. She is a liability. And yet, Liam, you brought her to my table."
Amber looked like she was about to cry. "Mr. Rossi, please! I love Liam. I didn't mean to hurt Luna. It just... happened."
"Nothing 'just happens' in my world, girl," Nico growled. "Every choice has a price. And your price is about to go up."
Valentina slammed her hand against the table. "Nico! Stop this! You are humiliating our son for the sake of this... this gold-digger! She doesn't love you! She’s using you to get revenge on Liam!"
Nico slowly rose from his chair, his imposing frame casting a long shadow over the table. The room went dead silent. Even the servants standing near the walls seemed to hold their breath.
"You think I don't know that, Valentina?" Nico asked softly, his voice more terrifying than a shout. He walked slowly around the table, stopping behind my chair. He placed his hands on my shoulders, his grip warm and protective. "Luna wanted revenge. And I wanted a woman with the fire and the courage to stand beside me. We made a deal. But somewhere along the way... I realized she is worth more than this entire family combined."
I looked up at him, my heart skipping a beat. The intensity in his gray eyes was no longer just about the game. It was real.
"Nico, you can't be serious," Valentina whispered, her face pale.
"I am entirely serious," Nico said. He looked down at Liam. "Effective immediately, Liam, your trust fund is frozen. Your position at Rossi Enterprises is terminated. You are no longer an heir to the Rossi syndicate. If you want to live like a king, you can go build your own kingdom with your new blonde queen. But you will do it without my name. And without my money."
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"Father, no!" Liam screamed, rising from his chair. "You can't do this! You can't strip me of my birthright for her!"
"I just did," Nico said coldly. "Now, get out of my house. Both of you."
