Chapter 36
Marianne Pov.
We finally arrived at the Estate, but we couldn't just return straight to our Mansion without reporting about our honeymoon to Giovanni, yeah, Ricardo's father and my supposed father-in-law.
I didn't want to sound like I wasn't minding my business, but I noticed Ricardo's face had changed the moment he drove into the Estate leading to the General Mansion.
I saw a mixture of fear, anxiety, and nervousness and I swear I heard him gulp down no fewer than a million times. Okay, that's a bit of an exaggeration but it was more than fifty times. His fingers were shaking at some point and I feel guilty. Maybe Ricardo was getting scared of coming face to face with his Father after failing in the mission, and it was my fault. He finally alighted in front of the General Mansion, and as usual, it was quiet, with only the chippering sounds of the birds and the tense dark atmosphere. The Mansion is giving horrific vibes.
Ricardo parked at the parking lot where many other cars were parked. I didn't wait for him to open the door for me, I opened the door and quietly got out of the car. Emilia got out of the house and rushed to me, giving me a big hug, I guess she missed my absence and I missed her too.
"Welcome home, big bro." Emilia waved with a smile at Ricardo, which he didn't return.
"Is Dad home?" Ricardo asked, ignoring her greetings.
I saw the look of hurt on Emilia's face but she should know better, her brother is a cold Mafia, what did she expect?
"Yeah, he is in. Grandfather is in too." Emilia responded.
"Grandfather is around?" Ricardo asked looking shocked and just like that, he rushed inside the Mansion leaving I and Emilia outside.
"My brother will never change." Emilia beamed the kind of painful beam.
"Let's give him time, he will change." I smiled at her, even though I knew that was super impossible.
The maid came and took the bags in while Emilia and I walked inside the Mansion.
I saw Ricardo's grandfather, Luciano D'Onofrio, hugging him. Trust me, I don't know how to pronounce his name right.
"Welcome back, grandson!" He said with a twist of excitement in his voice.
"Thank you, Grandpa," Ricardo replied.
I walked gently to him and bowed my head a bit out of respect. Luciano's grandpa is the oldest in the D'Onofrio's Mafia family.
"Hello, Grandpa." I greeted him.
"Hello, my dear beautiful daughter. I hope you had a great honeymoon." He asked and I forced a smile.
I think he is the opposite of his son, Giovanni.
"Yeah, it was the best." I lied, recalling everything that happened in a flash.
"That's good. I'm glad you enjoyed it." He said.
Giovanni, my father-in-law joined us. He was holding a cigarette with one hand and the other a thick Alcoholic wine. I don't understand his combo but he will puff the cigarettes and gulp the smoke down with the alcohol. Amazing, right? "Good day, Father." I greeted him but he ignored my greetings and kept his gaze on Ricardo.
My eyes were fixed on Ricardo and Giovanni and I noticed he signaled him to a corner. Immediately I saw the eye signal, I felt scared.
Giovanni must have heard about the failed mission and he will take it hard on Ricardo.
"Let's go to your room, sister-in-law," Emilia said, interrupting my thoughts.
I smiled at her and walked together to my room at the general Mansion, but my eyes, nor my mind ever left Ricardo. I just felt all is not right, at all.
Emilia and I arrived at my room and I sat on the bed.
"Finally, a space to breathe," Emilia said, spreading her hands.
"I missed you so much, I felt so lonely because I really didn't have anyone to talk to." She complained with a pout.
I wanted to chuckle but the thought of Ricardo can't get out of my head.
"I'm sorry you were..." I tried to say but she interrupted me.
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"No, it's fine, Marianne. Everything sucks in this mansion and the only time I am happy is when you are around." She muttered.
"It's going to be fine," I replied, trying to cut the conversation.
I really need to hear Ricardo's conversation with his Dad. I know Ricardo had asked me to back off and stay off his business but I cannot. I caused this for him and I should be punished and not him.
So many thoughts in my head calculating how to escape from Emilia. Don't get me wrong, I always enjoyed her company but right now, I care about the safety of my husband, I mean Ricardo, whatever. "You seem off, is everything okay?" Emilia asked and placed her hand on my shoulder and I winched.
She opened her mouth when she saw my hand bandaged.
"Oh my God! What happened to your hand? Why is it bandaged? I didn't even notice. What happened Marianne?" Emilia asked worriedly.
I will have to tell her everything but that's not what's important at the moment.
"I will explain everything to you, Emilia. But can you please give me a minute to get some fresh air? I'm feeling a bit hot in here." I lied. Emilia understood.
"With those smelly cigarettes, you had to feel hot. It's okay, I will wait for you." Emilia replied with a dramatic shrug.
I was relieved to be able to convince Emilia and I'm surprised she really let me without trying to come with me.
Trust me, Emilia can be very clingy and I feel bad for her that she never gets her brother's affection, she really needed one.
That aside.
I walked out of the room and went straight to Giovanni's office. I'm sure that's where Ricardo is, with his father.
I hid behind a door as I saw the figure of my husband and my father-in-law.
"How was the Mission, Ricardo? Let me guess. It was successful, right?" My father-in-law asked, I'm sure he knew about the failed mission but was just trying to mock Ricardo. Ricardo stared at the ground, his body shaking.
As you reach the final pages, remember that 000005s.org is your destination for the complete story. Share the joy of reading with others and spread the word. The next chapter is just a visit away! "I asked you a question, Ricardo!" Giovanni shouted.
"The Mission failed, Father, I'm sorry," Ricardo said in a low tone and all the confidence I knew in him disappeared from him.
"Wait... I didn't hear that well, you what?" My father-in-law muttered angrily as his hands were reaching out to something.
"The mission failed. Father." Ricardo said again.
"More like I failed the Mission. That's what you were supposed to say." Giovanni shouted.
"I failed the Mission," Ricardo replied, shutting his eyes and I knew why he did because a loud slap landed on Ricardo's face. It was so loud that I felt the pain on my cheek.
My hand touched my face and if it was on my cheek, I would take a straight journey to heaven.
"You failed the Mission! It was just a simple task! But you failed. I'm so disappointed in you, what should I even expect from a loser like you? You are nothing but a wasted sperm I should have aborted or rather worn a condom to avoid giving birth to such a disgrace like you!" His father spat between gritted teeth.
I saw the pain, the anguish, and how his father's words hurt him.
Now I understood why Ricardo was so mad at me, it's all my fault. If I had minded my business as Ricardo had always reminded me to, this wouldn't have happened to him.
His father began punching his face like he was sort of a punching bag and Ricardo didn't retaliate at all. He is standing there, his head bowing down to his Dad and his mouth bleeding due to the punch he received from his Dad. "You are such a disappointment! I regret that you are my son!" He shouted angrily.
Giovanni's sight was monstrous and I saw him pick up an iron rod. He is definitely going to hit Ricardo with this and no, I cannot let that happen. I cannot watch Ricardo get punished for my crimes, no, enough. I have to do something. Ricardo didn't move a bit, he was waiting for his dad to hit him and I don't know what to do, but whatever, that rod must not land on Ricardo.
Without thinking twice, I burst the door open and both of them were shocked to see me. Going in there alone without Giovanni inviting me would cause me a punishment, but I couldn't care less.
Ricardo stared at me with his bleeding face.
"Stop!" I shouted as Giovanni was about to hit the rod on Ricardo.
I could see the shock on my father-in-law's face, shock at my nerves.