Page 3 of My Sweetest Temptation

My heart thundered in my chest as I approached, my voice trembling. “Is something wrong?”

“Where have you been?”

They knew.

Deep down, I knew I couldn’t keep our relationship a secret for much longer. Ultimately, our relationship was doomed from the beginning, but I believed our love for one another was strong enough to face whatever came our way.

Taking a deep breath, I steadied myself against the weight of his gaze. “I was with Alphonse Gambino.”

His face contorted with rage. “So, it was true?”

“Papa...”

He raised his hand to silence me. “What the hell were you thinking, talking to Alphonse Gambino?” he demanded. “Our families are enemies, Angelica. Or have you forgotten that?”

“No, Papa. I haven’t forgotten,” I replied. “But I love him.”

His expression twisted into a grimace, his brows knitting together like dark storm clouds. “You’re in love with him?”

“Yes,” I said without hesitation.

I didn’t understand why my father insisted on viewing the Gambinos as our enemies. It was my grandfather who put a hit on them, not the other way around.

Papa pushed himself off the chair and stood tall. “Be careful, Angelica. You’re about to cross a very dangerous line?”

“Papa, I can’t help who I love. Alphonse is a good man. He is not the enemy. He’s?—”

Papa let out a harsh laugh, shaking his head in disgust. “A good man? You think he cares about you?” he interrupted. “He will use you to get to me, Angelica!” He slammed his fist against his chest.

A knot of anxiety tightened in my stomach. The room seemed to shrink as he silently stared at me, his breath ragged with a murderous look on his face.

“You’re wrong, Papa. If you just gave him a chance, you’d see?—”

Papa’s face hardened as he closed the distance between us, his tall frame looming over me. “You think I would welcome him—our enemy—to my home? You’ve forgotten your place in this family. It looks like I’ll have to remind you of who you should be loyal to.”

“Is that a threat?” I scoffed, bitterness lacing my words. “You would actually hurt me? Your own daughter?”

“Angelica, you are willing to put him before your own family despite the history between us. Do you expect us to turn the other way?”

“No!” I shouted, the words spilling out before I could stop myself. “What I expected was for your support and understanding. I’m telling you because—because I’m pregnant.”

A cold silence fell between us. My mother gasped, her hands flying to her mouth.

My father’s expression shifted from anger to something darker. His body stiffened, and his face turned an alarming shade of red, as if his blood was boiling beneath his skin. I took another step back but stopped when the backs of my legs hit the couch.

“Tell me you’re lying, Angelica. Please tell me you are mistaken.” He stepped closer until he was just an arm’s length away. “TELL ME!” he shouted.

“Papa, please understand,” I pleaded, desperation creeping into my voice.

With a roar, Papa raised the newspaper above his head. “Silence! You will not disgrace our family! You will get rid of that abomination growing inside you!"

“No, I will not?—”

But before I could finish, the newspaper came down hard across my face, stinging my cheek. I stumbled back with my hand to my cheek, the world spinning as tears blurred my vision.

His eyes narrowed to slits. “You think I’ll let you carry that bastard’s child?” he snarled. “You did this to yourself. Remember that during every lash you receive for your betrayal and lies. I will not stand by and watch my daughter consort with our enemy. You will not bring shame to this family. Do you understand me?”

I gave him a quick nod, and everything around me faded into darkness.

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