Daughter of the Mafia's Consigliere
Chapter 37

RICARDO'S POV.

Dad was so mad at the failure of the Mission and I expected him to be. All thanks to Marianne, I will have to see the wrath of my father.

All I ever wanted was to impress him, was for him to see me as a worthy son and not a son he had wished to use a condom or flush down at the hospital. That had become a ringing tone in my ears.

When I finally thought I had a chance at impressing him, Marianne spoiled it.

Dad was about to hit me as usual, it's a punishment I get whenever I fail a mission.

"Stop!" Marianne's voice cut in and I was shocked, Dad was shocked too.

Not even Emilia has the guts to enter his office without permission from Dad. Here she comes again, crossing her limits.

"I know you will probably kill me for stepping in here and rudely interrupting your conversation, but at this point, I don't care. I'm sorry, but I can't continue watching you hurt my husband." Marianne muttered and I was taken aback. Did she just address me as her husband Wait, this girl is crazy, because what the heck is going on with her?

What is she even doing here in the first place?

"Marianne, you need to leave," I said to her.

"No, Ricardo, I can't watch you get punished anymore, I cannot," Marianne replied.

She bravely walked to Dad, who cannot believe she just did what she did.

"I'm so sorry. But if there is someone that should be punished, then it should be me." Marianne muttered, before glancing at me.

Has she gone insane? What does she think she is to interrupt my dad and volunteer to get punished instead of me?

She is weak, I am strong, I can take in whatever punishment Dad has for me, but she cannot survive even his cigarette smoke.

Yes, I saw her reaction when he puffed the smoke on her face and how she struggled not to cough, and here she is, acting all brave like she could take up gunshots.

"What are you talking about?" Dad asked her.

Marianne took a deep breath and adjusted her dress.

"I stepped out when Ricardo asked me not to and it turns out I went to the club Ricardo has a mission at.

I ended up overstepping my boundaries and I was almost killed by the enemies.

Ricardo had to lose the mission to save my life." Marianne exclaimed.

And all I did was stare at her and was surprised she actually cared enough about me to get herself involved so Dad wouldn't hurt me.

She walked closer to me.

"That day, I thought that was the end of me. But my husband came like the hero that he is and saved my life. He fought them so hard and took me away, but saving my life also cost him his Mission." She added.

I can hardly believe Marianne is saying all these, the fact that she is addressing me as her husband leaves me speechless.

"Ricardo had to save me, your daughter-in-law. So he shouldn't be punished, I should be. He shouldn't be called a disappointment because all he talks about is how to make you proud... I was stupid and I should be punished." Marianne muttered, looking sad.

Her words touched me, and for the first time, I felt emotional with something about her.

The anger I felt on her suddenly disappeared and I was mesmerized by her bravery. Facing my Dad alone takes a lot of nerves and Marianne had that nerve to face him.

The way she personified 'my husband' made me feel kind of pleased. I've never seen this side of Marianne,

Now I'm more worried about the silence of my father as I knew his silence only meant danger.

"I'm not asking you to forgive me for what I did and for being stupid, but please, if you are going to punish your son, then..." She paused and walked to me, then surprisingly took my hands in hers, inserting my fingers and I was just staring, not understanding what she was doing.

"Then you have to punish us together." She said, staring into my eyes.

For the first time, someone stood up for me and it felt good.

"Leave." My Dad said in his loud cocky voice and I was shocked. "What..."

I tried to say but he shouted.

"Both of you, leave!" He shouted and to say I'm shocked is an understatement.

This was the first time my Dad had ever let me go out of my punishment.

Marianne didn't let go of my hands and Dad's face was fuming with anger, the best thing to do was to follow his command and I took Marianne out.

Immediately we stepped out of the dark room, Marianne let go of my hands. I had so much to say to Marianne but I don't know how to begin with.

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She was so crazy for thinking her weak self would ever stand up for me.

Without saying a word, I walked out, leaving her alone.

I went to my office still replaying everything that happened vividly. I can't believe what just happened. Dad let me go because of Marianne.

I remembered all the times I failed some missions and how Dad would give me terrible punishment and how he even shoved me off the stairs and I ended up in the hospital.

Accomplishing missions mean so much to Dad, as that only will keep him in the position and claims of wealth, power, and strength.

I was still deep in thought when I heard a knock on the door. This should better not be Marianne because I'm not ready to face her yet.

The door was pushed open and it turned out to be my grandfather.

"Grandpa!" I exclaimed, with a smile.

"What happened to your lips, Ricardo?" Grandpa asked and I looked away.

"It's nothing big, Grandpa." I chuckled.

"You failed a Mission, Ricardo," Grandpa said. Yeah, he already knows what his son is capable of doing.

"I'm a failure, that's why," I muttered, bowing my head down.

He lifted my head slowly.

"No, my child. You are not a failure, you are my grandson. Luciano D'Onofrio' grandson and it's okay to fail sometimes, we cannot always be winners." Grandpa exclaimed. "But Dad always wins, but can't I?" I replied.

"That's what he appeared to be all the time. A winner, but believe me, there were times when he failed and he still failed and that's part of life. He has to stop taking it hard on you." Grandpa stated. That's one thing about my grandpa. I somehow always replace comfort in him and speaking to him.

I don't know how they turned out to be related to my dad because they are two opposite people.

Grandpa on the other hand used to be a successful, most feared Mafia, yet easygoing, and Dad too, also successful, but never easygoing. He always wants one word, winning.

While speaking to Grandpa, I noticed he looked down, or sad rather.

I clasped his hands.

"Is everything okay, Grandpa?" I questioned.

"My child, Ricardo. I don't know what awaits me but promise me that you will avenge my death if eventually I die." Grandpa answered and I didn't replace sense in what he was saying but he didn't look like he was joking. "What are you talking about, Grandpa? Is something going to happen to you? Has someone been threatening your life? Please tell me." I pleaded.

His words got me scared, no, I cannot lose Grandpa. Absolutely not.

Grandpa giggled and placed his right hand on my shoulder.

"Just avenge my death, son." He said and just patted me and left.

What's going on?

Without having the chance to think about it, Enzo came at that moment.

"Your father said I should drive you and Marianne to your personal Mansion." The driver said.

So Dad is really going to let me go just like that? And he won't punish Marianne too? That's overly strange.

I nodded and followed him.

I guess Marianne was already informed as I met her already in the car, she was bidding Emilia goodbye.

"I will visit you soon, okay?" Emilia, my sister said.

"I can't wait to have you at our house, Emilia," Marianne replied and the two hugged.

These two have really gotten so close. I mean, nothing is interesting about Marianne's personality.

I got in the car and instructed the driver to drive.

The car drove out of the General Mansion and I can't just hold it, I have to ask her why she would do that.

"What were you thinking when you did what you did?" I half yelled but she didn't reply.

"I asked a question, didn't I?" I asked again, getting pissed.

"I only did what was right, I had to clear my guilty conscience." Marianne replied and silence ensued between us afterwards.