Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father by Caroline Above Story
Chapter 0327

Chapter 0327

The luncheon we have a week later is...awkward, to say the least. I say a little prayer of thanks about every ten seconds thatDaniel hasn’t left my side for a moment, charmingly fending off questions and making small talk with both the Biancis and theAldens while I stay quiet, smiling prettily.

I look up at my handsome fiancé and I shake my head a little at the laugh that bubbles out of his throat at something my fatherjust said — something decidedly unfunny. But the way Daniel reacts? You'd think my father was a damn comedian.

Daniel glances down at me and sends me a little wink that makes me burst into a smile.See? I think. He’s got me charmed too. These damn Lippert men.

I look around the room, taking it all in. Janeen, of course, stayed home with dad — no one here wants to acknowledge myadoptive family as anything but a footnote in my life — but everyone else of note is here. Even Jerome stands by the door inablack suit and sunglasses, playing the role of our personal body guard.

My eyes flick to Natalia and Alessi, who did indeed fly in from Italy the moment Daniel called them and asked them to comeback. Alessi was characteristically thrilled when we told him about my pregnancy. He kissed me four times — twice on bothcheeks — and told me I was a wonder and a Madonna. Natalia, also characteristically, had been more reserved, offering hercongratulations with narrowed eyes.

As I watch them now, delicately selecting their lunch from the buffet table my father generously provided, I can see in the sternset of her features that this is not a celebration lunch for her. No, she’s got something up her sleeve. And I, particularly, would liketo know what it is.

“Isn't that right, Fay?” Daniel asks, and I turn my face up to him. And then I do my best to blush and pretend to be embarrassedfor being distracted.

“What?” I ask, turning to one of his Bianci cousins and smiling even though I honestly don’t care what he said.

“Anthony was just asking if we have plans to honeymoon,” Daniel says smoothly. “But I told him...probably not until the babycomes. Right?”

“Yeah,” I say, grimacing and leaning into Daniel's side as if I’m the most infatuated girl on earth. “As much as I'd love to run awayto Paris with this guy tomorrow, I think it’s probably better to go when I can enjoy the wine and the unpasteurized cheese, right?”

Daniel and his cousin laugh politely, but they’re cut a little short as Natalia’s voice cuts smoothly in, a barb on her tongue asusual.

“That’s our Fay,” she says, smiling around at us as she joins the conversation. “Always worried about where the next drink iscoming from.” She gives me a simpering little wink and I work hard — really hard — to keep the smile on my face. “There is moreto life than that, girl! But,” she shrugs, “you will see.”

“Yes,” I sigh, placing my hand low on my stomach. “I’m sure motherhood will open many doors for me. Do you ever regret it,Natalia? Not having children?”

Daniel subtly elbows me but I don’t feel any guilt as I see the smile fall from her face.Screw her, I think, hoping she reads it in my eyes.

She’s going down anyway. It’s just a matter of time.

I turn and look up at Daniel, ignoring her. “Can we get something to eat?”

“Of course,” he murmurs, gently running his knuckles down the length of my cheek and smiling at me fondly. Then, together, wemove off to the buffet. Luckily, no one else is filling their plate just now, so we’re alone.

“What the hell was that,” he murmurs. “We're supposed to be courting their friendship, Fay.”

“We're supposed to be courtingAlessi’s friendship,” I reply, putting myhead on his TN rieplare for he! playing theever-considerate fiancé anddad-to-be. “Natalia can kick rocks forall I care.” Please read the originalcontent at .

Daniel sighs and shakes his head, but he doesn’t fight me on it. He’s falling into the old patterns his dad established: trusting theone in charge, not asking any questions.

We both turn towards the center ofthe room as we hear my fathertapping a fork against-tiis wice( glasste-getgvensine’>attention, I leanharder against Daniel as my fatherstarts talking, sighing and nibbling ona strawberry as we settle in for a longspeech. Please read the originalcontent at .

My father drones on and on aboutthe new ties between the Bianci andthe Alden family, about which he is,predictably, thrilled, Ashe, sped I!novieetirat ao Che nota singleperson — mentions Daniel's actuallast name, and that none of theLippert relatives have been invited tothe party. Instead, it’s as if Kent hasbeen wiped from the books entirelyand Daniel has been swept up intothe Bianci family. Please read theoriginal content at .

Which, frankly, is precisely what I wanted.

But still. lt makes me clench my jaw to see how easily Kent is dismissed. Kent made of these people he made filthy rich, andnow they’re picking at the corpse of his empire and raising their glasses to me.