It doesn’t get sweeter than this.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Viktor’s POV.
I called Senator Romano and asked him to meet me at the Mansion. I already knew this would be our last meeting because I couldn't stand the sight of him. In less than an hour, one of my men came upstairs to inform me that Romano was downstairs. I dressed up and came down to meet a depressed man who had lost all hope in life.
“Let's take a walk. I believe it will be more conducive to our conversation.” Romano didn’t utter a word, but followed like a humble lamb. He had black eyes, and his hair was a mess atop his head. Nothing about him was put together. Not even his cologne.
I took him to the garden away from the mansion. I offered him a seat and looked at him. He looked so broken. All thedebts and disgrace he piled up for himself after all these years, while being a father who was just a coward. Who couldn't protect his own daughter from harm, painted an accurate picture of worthlessness.
“I know it looks so stupid of me to ask for forgiveness from you and my daughter, but I'm sincerely sorry. I didn't realize how my actions affected her. I thought that was the only way to get away from the debt. I was so convinced that was the right decision,” he held his head in his hands and cried.
I, on the other hand, couldn't believe that he could utter such a strange thing. He knew quite well that signing his daughter up as collateral was going to affect her in ways she couldn't even imagine.
He kneeled and begged for mercy. For a second chance at life. And I had no pity for him because of what he put Emilia through. He left her alone without a care. I had no doubt how heartless he could be.
“You failed her, and I will never forgive that,” I told him while he was still on his knees.
“I know I failed her, but I wish I could make things right again."
“You can't make things right. You're incapable of handling her right. Look at you. You can't even handle yourself right. You're a disgrace, an imbecile to those who look up to you. You're a failed man, and it would only be right for me to kill you myself.”
He shrieked, crying like a newborn child. His sniveling disgusted me, and I wanted to slap him in his face.
“But, for her sake, I will not destroy you.”
“Thank you so much, Sir. Viktor Lobanov.”
“I'm not done speaking to you, moron!”
“My apologies, Sir.”
“Rather, you will vanish from her life, no more debts and no more shadow. Do you understand?”
He looked so relieved and shattered at the same time.
“I appreciate that you are not going to destroy me even though you have every right to, I will vanish from her life and never come back again, but can I at least see her one last time?”
“I guess you didn't understand what I said.” I grabbed him by the collar and said, “You will vanish from here right now and never look back or come back into her life again.” Then I let go of his collar and watched the horror bloom in his eyes. The realization that he would never have the chance to see his daughter again.
I watched him walk away, and I hoped for his sake that nothing would come up from the shadows or show up in Emilia's life again. I resolved that I wasn't going to tell Emilia about this cowardice, and I was going to spare him further embarrassment that would come from telling Emilia. No. I loved Emilia too much to watch her go through pain again and again, and I'd do anything in my power to make sure that she's happy.
At this point, the only thing I could think of was how I was going to erase every last one of the rival political faction so they would never dare move against the Lobanov name again. I called Dimitri and asked him to get me the list of all those to whom Senator Romano owed debt, the assets seized, and the number of necessary assassinations of all the political rivals who went up against me.
It took Dimitri two days to get me the list of those people. I carefully went through the list and started working on them as quickly as possible. In no time, I was already done with clearing the debt and clearing the assassinations. All that was left for me to do was to clear the asset seizures so no one would dare go against the Lobanov name, and that needed to be done before sundown.
**********
I returned to my suite. Emilia lay asleep on the bed, facing the open windows. The fresh air swayed the curtains until they danced in unison. She looked stunning in her lingerie, and I knew she was calling me. So I approached her and kissed her forehead, right before I placed my hand on her stomach. I couldn't believe it. My Emilia is carrying my child. We weren't going to be just a married couple anymore. We were going to be a family. The thought of parenthood struck me right in my gut as I quickly recalled my Dad.
I had no clue how to raise a child. If the baby is a boy, then my fear is to let him stray from discipline. I need my son to be a true heir just like me. He should be more than the son of his father. He should be a leader, and a fearless one at that. A made man. But if it's a girl, I'll love her beyond measure.
While growing up, the maids were the ones who did most of the work. They dressed us up in suits to go meet our parents, to sit for dinner, attend meetings, and dance in soirées. That discipline was priceless, and my children will uphold the tradition. At least, that's what I’d hoped for before I heard Emilia groan. Her eyes opened, and I planted a kiss on her forehead.
“Good Morning, my love.”
“Good Morning.” She smiled. Her skin glowed in the sunlight.
