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However, Aunt Esme’s words have no effect on my godfather and she seems devastated.
Why is everything falling apart around me?
Is my love that forbidden and wrong that it causes so much destruction? All of them kidnapped their wives, Uncle Lucian included, and forced them into marriages, yet they judge me when I’ve never forced Jimena into anything.
“Padrino, whatever I did…”
“Don’t call me that. Don’t ever call me that again.” I still, something inside me breaking from hearing this. “I do not have a godson who gets my daughter pregnant and takes no responsibility for his actions. I do not have a godson who lies to me and his friend. I do not have a godson who acts like a coward and not a man.” Somehow, this is worse than any punch in the face could have been. A man who knows about my deepest pain cutting me off just like that kills something in me, and I hate how vulnerable it makes me feel. “I don’t want to ever see you again.” An ache forms in my chest, and I wince. However, I do my best to stand straight and accept all his fury despite resentment building up in my chest at all of this. “Effective immediately, the Price family is no longer welcome here or in any Cortez property.” He addresses my dad, who still stays silent. “Any businesses we have together will be divided. I want nothing to do with your family. I have no place in my life for people who don’t know what honor is.”
A hollow chuckle slips past Dad’s lips. “You do that, Lucian, and then some. However, your daughter is carrying my grandchild. You can’t keep my son away from his kid.”
“I can and I will. The baby belongs to us.”
“The baby is a Price. You want to take us to court? You do that too. But while you declare war on us, remember one simple thing. I’m not one of your little victims. My wealth and power are equal to yours, so you won’t win this.”
I know I should say something but all I can do is remain quiet as the tension between our fathers escalates.
“You think I will allow your son near my daughter after what he did?”
“What did he do, Lucian? Had a consensual sexual relationship with her that resulted in a pregnancy? Last time I checked, she was an adult who can make her own decisions.” He laughs. “Oh, and wasn’t your wife twenty years old when you kidnapped her and then got her pregnant? The age gap between you and her is bigger than between Florian and Jimena. So don’t you dare call my son any names. If he has no honor, you don’t either.”
“My wife didn’t grow up in front of me. I’m not surprised you don’t see anything wrong with it. A dynasty of whores produces questionable men. I should have seen that earlier.”
Again the fucking insult, but this time it sets my fury free. “Enough, Uncle Lucian. You have a problem with me, not my entire bloodline.”
“Your bloodline shaped you into the man you are now. So I have a problem with all of you. Get off my property, Florian.”
“If he’s gone, so am I,” Octavius speaks up, rolling his shoulders back. “If it’s a war, I’m on his side, Uncle Lucian.”
“That’s your choice, and you will face the consequences accordingly.”
Maybe we should just listen to him and stop talking because he’s acting irrationally even for someone with the Cortezes’ infamous temper. I barely recognize my godfather, and I notice Jimena’s eyes fill with tears. All this is not good for her or the baby. “Let’s go.” Later, I will find out why she agreed to marry Maxwell and teach my cousin a lesson while simultaneously claiming my woman again so she has no doubt she won’t be wearing anyone’s ring but mine.
My words fall on deaf ears, though. “Dynasty of whores,” Dad repeats, and judging by his tone, he’s had enough of the insults as well. Compared to my godfather, Dad’s rage was always simmering, and he never allowed his emotions to rule his actions.
“You have a powerful empire and a family because of us. When you traveled all over the world searching for your son and didn’t give a shit about your business, I was the one to pick up the pieces. My wife took care of yours, and my kid was there for yours. We were with you every step of the way and supported you to the best of our abilities. We are the dynasty of whores who don’t know what honor, loyalty, and respect are?” Dad shakes his head. “No, Lucian. It’s your family who doesn’t know what those things are. Look at my own godson standing there and saying absolutely nothing as you insult me.”
Santiago grits his teeth and turns his head away in shame. At least his anger doesn’t automatically translate to my family, but the Cortezes’ loyalty to each other comes above anything else.
“You want war, well, you have it.” He glances at Aunt Esme. “My apologies Esmeralda.” His focus shifts to Jimena and his gaze softens. “I’ll talk to you later. Don’t stress over this, and make sure to take care of yourself, princess.” His face hardens again as he meets Uncle Lucian’s eyes. “I’ll never forgive you for this, Lucian.”
“Likewise, Jacob.”
“Let’s go,” Dad orders, spinning around and going to the car while I sweep my gaze over everyone else and zero in on Jimena, who swallows hard, wiping away her tears. “Florian and Octavius, now.”
I can’t believe they treat us like fucking kids at this age, but we have no choice but to comply since we got them in this mess in the first place. “I’m sorry, Uncle Lucian. I never wanted you to find out about it this way. I’m not sorry, though, for loving your daughter. You might consider it wrong and sick, but it’s not to me. And they, her and the baby, belong to me and no one else. Remember that.”
“Get the fuck out, Florian, before I shoot you.”
Grabbing Octavius, who wraps his arm around Isla, we walk to the entrance toward our cars as my parents and Grandpa drive away.
The inevitable happened.
Tonight, I lost half of my family.
They say love doesn’t come without sacrifices.
I guess that’s mine.
