Page 64 of Forced to Marry the Bratva

I sit there, stunned at what I have heard. All this time, in the back of my mind, I wasn’t just angry with Damien for just keeping things secret. I hadn’t realized, but a part of that anger was because I couldn’t believe he’d think my father could have embezzled funds from the very company he’d helped build. A part of that anger toward Damien now fades away and is directed toward my father.

“Father, you don’t have any right to what’s not yours,” I say, my voice shaking with disbelief at his confession. “It’s illegal and immoral.”

“Morals are for those who can afford them,” he snarls. “The world is not fair, Genevieve. Either you take what you want, or someone else will.”

“Is that really what you believe?” I ask, my heart aching at the realization that this is the man who raised me.

“Absolutely,” he replies without hesitation. “And if you were smart, you’d do the same.”

“How could you do this to me, Father?” I plead, my voice trembles. “How could you steal from the very family you married me into?”

“Genevieve.” His tone is dismissive, as if my feelings mean nothing to him. “You’re just collateral damage. This is business, not personal.”

“Collateral damage? I’m your daughter!” Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I refuse to let them fall. I won’t give him the satisfaction of hearing me break.

“Enough of this nonsense,” he snaps with irritation. “I need you to help me. You can smooth things over with the Zolotovs. Make them believe it’s all a misunderstanding.”

“But… that would be a lie,” I whisper.

“Then lie if you must. If you don’t think you can convince them without raising a red flag, tell them you’ve cut ties with me. Stay away from me, but spy for me from the inside. You can still be an asset,” he says coldly, his strategic mind thinking of nothing but himself.

At this moment, it becomes evidently clear to me just how twisted my father’s sense of entitlement has become. He truly believes that he deserves the Zolotovs’ wealth, regardless of the consequences, and nothing I say can change his mind. My hands tremble as I grip the phone tightly, struggling to comprehend the magnitude of his betrayal and deception.

He only ever wanted to use me. That’s why he’s been giving me more attention, dictating what I do. It’s not out of concern for me; it’s all been about him.

I take a deep breath, steeling myself for what I’m about to say. “No, Father. I won’t help you. I refuse to be a part of your lies and manipulations any longer.”

“You ungrateful brat!” Gerald roars, his fury slicing through the air like a knife. “After everything I’ve done for you, this is how you repay me? By turning your back on your own family?”

“Using your daughter to further your selfish goals is not love, Father. That’s not what family does.”

“Love is for fools,” he sneers. “And you, my dear Genevieve, are the biggest fool of all.”

“Maybe so,” I reply, my voice steadier now. “But at least I can look at myself in the mirror without disgust. Goodbye, Father.”

I hang up the phone, my hands shaking with rage and sorrow. The man I once looked up to, the man I thought loved me, is gone—replaced by a stranger consumed by greed and bitterness.

***

Tears burn my cheeks as I struggle to catch my breath, to make sense of this all. At this moment, there’s only one person who can truly help me: my brother, Gael. He’s the only one who knows what Father is truly capable of, who would understand the nuances of my pain. Besides, I need to protect him from the trickle-down effect of our father’s actions. Gael is innocent, and I don’t want the Zolotovs coming for him just because he is Gerald Russo’s son.

I quickly dial Gael’s number, my fingers trembling slightly. The phone rings twice before he picks up.

“Ginny?” His voice is cautious, filled with concern. “Are you okay? What happened at Boris’s office today? Father’s really upset.”

“Hey, Gael,” I say, trying to keep my voice steady. “I need you to come to the hideout we brought Damien to the night we escaped from the cops at the fight ring. You remember the place?”

“You’re there?” he asks quietly.

“I had nowhere else to go,” I admit, a lump choking my throat.

“Of course,” he agrees instantly, his loyalty never wavering. “I’ll be there as soon as I can.”

“Thank you,” I murmur, my throat tight with emotion.

As I wait for Gael, I can’t help but replay the conversation with my father in my head, the cruel words he spat at me echoing in my ears. My mind goes to Damien, and how confused I am by all of this.

After some time, a knock on the door startles me from my dark thoughts, and I hurry to let Gael in. He steps inside, his eyes immediately searching my face for any sign of distress.

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