107. My Decision was Final.

DEANGELO.

I sat at the home bar with my father, sipping on a glass of whiskey. We were discussing business, but the conversation took an unexpected turn when father brought up Elena. I wasn't sure how he knew, but I wasn't surprised. My father always had a way of finding out things he shouldn't, one would think he stalks me even.

"I know you and that girl are an item now," Father said, taking a swig of his own drink. "and I can not bring myself to understand why any sane person would decide to go down the same lane twice! Especially for someone you literally found like some rat in your bathroom, she is literally a nobody and could drop you in a twinkle of an eye if she was given the opportunity to. Something just does not sit right with me about that girl and I do not know why you do not see it either!"

I bristled at the insult. I knew that Elena was nothing like what father described her as. How dare him insult Elena like that? She was more than just a girl to me for fuck’s sake. She was someone I cared about deeply, and I refuse to just let anyone speak ill of her.

Not even my father.

"You don't know anything about Elena," I said through gritted teeth. "And she's not using me for anything. I love her."

Father snorted. "Love? Don't make me laugh. You're just thinking with your dick at the moment, son. You need to start using more of your brain. This dick was what got you into your previous one that ended up killing the poor woman!"

I felt my anger boil over. I have had enough of my father's insults and belittlement. I slammed my glass on the counter and stood up, towering over his father. "Excuse me?" I said, my voice low and dangerous.

"You heard me," he said, setting down his glass. "That girl is trouble. she is an opportunist, and she's going to drag you down with her."

I clenched my fists. "Elena is not trouble, and she's not dragging me down. She's one of the best things that's ever happened to me."

Father scoffed. "You're blinded by your infatuation. You'll see the truth eventually."

I knew father would never understand. He had always been more concerned with appearances and revenge than anything else. Elena didn't fit into his narrow view of the world, and he would never accept her.

"I think it's time for you to leave," I said, standing up from the bar.

Father raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"I said it's time for you to leave," I repeated, my tone firm. "I won't have you insult the woman I care about in my own home."

Father looked taken aback, but he quickly regained his composure. "Fine. If that's how you feel, I'll leave. But mark my words, Deangelo. That girl will be the death of you and if not, you will end her, either one or both!"

I watched as father grabbed his coat and walked out of the room. I felt a sense of relief wash over me. I knew it wouldn't be the last time we had this argument, but for now, I was glad to have done with.

Minutes later however, I also watched as my father was about to storm out of the house in a very dramatic way. I saw the tears streaming down the children's faces when I looked around the room. They begged him to stay, but he was too consumed with his anger to listen just as I was. Beatrice remained silent, looking on with a blank expression. For the first time, I wondered how she coped with being married to a man who didn't seem to care about her.

Now that I think about it, it looked like Beatrice was an unhappy woman who had used money and material possessions to fill the void in her life. I couldn't imagine living like that, trapped in a loveless marriage, but I honestly could not even give a fuck about her nonetheless, she chose this life due to her love for money after all, she has to live it.

Elena also tried to reason with me, to appeal to my sense of reason. But I couldn't change my mind. Father had insulted me and everything I stood for, my ex wife and Elena as well. I wouldn't stand for it. I already knew that my decision was final, even as Elena pleaded with me to reconsider. I swore to her that I wouldn't back down, that I wouldn't let anyone disrespect me in my presence, I was the alpha now and I was no longer the twelve year old boy he could control. He needed to learn to respect me and my decisions.

But as angry as I was, a small part of me couldn't help but wonder if he was right, if I was going to be the end of Elena just like Jules. I couldn't let go of the nagging feeling that there was something more to this, that he had every right to be wary for me. But for now, all I could do was stand by my decision and wait for the storm to pass.