Page 16 of The Billionaire's Destiny

I let out a sharp snort. “What a spineless wimp. But why am I always the last to know when you make these moves?”

“Because it just happened. You like to ponder things. When opportunity knocks, I take it.”

Grandmother always warned me about Mama’s impulsive streak and her fear of being alone.Was she chasing after that new guy, Gavin?“You’re going to live there alone?”

“Yeah, but I’ll have security, and it’s a great location. I can handle it, Lina. His lawyer is coming back to pick me up. He’s good-looking. I wonder if he’s single.” She let out a dry laugh.

I rubbed the space between my brows. “No. He’s too young for you.”

She snorted. “You’re just like my mother. Too uptight.”

Pride filled my chest. My grandmother had grown on me. After learning all that she endured with Luca, she rose above her pain and gave my mom, Jacob, and me a chance. Instead of just marrying me off, she educated me. Yes, she was strict, but when I faced a future with Percy, who treated me as beneath him, she intervened and helped bring Rocco back into my life. I only wished to be as strong as her. “I’ll take that as a compliment. So, you’re really moving to Manhattan?”

“Yes, Manhattan. Me, Lina. Moving to Manhattan,” she sang out. Mama always talked about her time as a teen in New York City before she married my father. Jacob and I would listen to every story as if it were the first time we had ever heard it, no matter how many times she repeated it, because it was the only time we saw her happy.

“Well, I guess that’s good?”

“Yeah. I need to disappear. You wouldn’t believe the trashy messages I get now. Glenn’s friends offered me millions to become their call girl. They think of me that way now.”

“Assholes,” I hissed.

“Yeah. I know your father spread the rumor.”

I clenched my jaw. “Screw them. You were trafficked—”

“Trafficked? What’s that?”

“Sold and abused against your will for money, Mama.”

“Yeah, but who’s going to want a woman who’s used that way? Gavin doesn’t.”

My heart ached, and I frowned. “Who cares what Gavin thinks? He was only a fling, right?”

“It was getting more serious, but I bet it’s over now.” Her voice lost steam.

“If Gavin can’t support you, he’s not worth it.”

“Would Rocco support you if you were used that way? No. If you were, my parents would never have tried to arrange a marriage for you.” While I loved my grandparents, Mama was right. They had a purity obsession. But then she said, “That’s the reason we sent you out of the room that first night. They wanted to know what he did…” She went quiet, and I was back in the room with Mama on her knees, begging her parents to take me in. I had always thought my grandparents were debating whether to let me stay at the house. It hadn’t occurred to me that they were discussing whether my father had tried something more than hitting me.

“Are they talking to you?”

“Yes, they released a statement with the Marinis about privacy and family matters, but they’re not going to do damage control this time. They’re going to stand with us.” Her voice broke.

Her parents finally stood with her. Not trying to cover up what happened or force her to hide away was something she’d always hoped for. Despite everything, I felt grateful. “Good. I’m happy to hear that.”

“Yeah. And that’s why I wanted to talk to you and let you know what your father has been up to. There’s a discussion about him having to step down as a judge, and he hired nasty lawyers who sent threats. He even showed up here.”

“What? He did?”

“Yep. Eric demanded I lie and make you give me money. He even showed me a few photos and videos of stuff from that time.” She sniffled.

“That’s illegal,” I pointed out.

“Yeah, well, once it’s out there, it’s out there. That’s what I told the lawyer. Eric even offered to drop the money and walk away if I just told the press that you’re mentally disturbed.”

My pulse sped up and sweat broke out across my body. I had to ask the inevitable question.Did Mama give in to his demands? Would she lie to protect him?Something I’d watched her do time and time again. “What did you tell him?”

“I…I told him no. I told him there’s no way I can protect him now. He’ll have to stand alone. Honestly, there’s nothing he can do anymore. I can’t stop the public from digging up my past, and I’m not the woman that I was years ago. I don’t love him.”