Because I need him to show the world who he really is. I need him to prove that all this time, it wasn't me. Wasn't Gio. Wasn't anyone else he's tried to ruin.
It's him. "I gave you everything!" he growls, inches from my face. "Your school. Your goddamn future. And this is how you repay me? Throwing it all away for a street rat?A criminal?"
He shakes me. "I did it. I fucking did it, yeah. I called the police to his house." He hisses. "But you keep pushing, keep defending that thug, and I swear to God, I'll bury you both. You being my son won't stop me."
…Perfect. Fucking perfect.
I can feel the phone still recording from across the room. I can feel Lorenzo's presence like a silent shield.
Every word Charles says is another nail in his own coffin. My eyes sting, but I don't look away. I let him see me.
Let him see that I'm hurting, yeah, he's still my father.
He still knows how to hit where it cuts. But I also let him see that I'm not going to stop. Not now. Not when Gio is finally safe.
He reels back like he wants to hit me again, but something changes in his face.
He looks around.
Realizes how quiet the room's gone. Realizes he's not alone. And then he sees Lorenzo. Phone still up, still rolling.
"Smile for the camera, sir!" Lorenzo says coldly. Behind him, my mother. Her hands are shaking as she wipes her tears, and I can tell that they told her.
She knows the plan. She's crying, but she's not stopping it. She lets it happen. Because this is the only way out. I swallow the lump in my throat, but guilt still curls in my chest.
She doesn't deserve this. But it has to happen. This has to fucking end today. Charles starts to move, toward Lorenzo now, but Lorenzo doesn't even flinch. He lifts the phone higher.
"Eh? Touch me and I send it. Trust me, you don't want that. Prison's not a fun place these days!" His tone is light, but his eyes are dead serious.
Charles freezes for a moment, calculating. "Look," Lorenzo starts again, cocky, "you so much asbreathein the direction of my cousin ever again, or lay one finger on this family," He waves the phone lazily. "I swear to God, I'll upload this footage to every cloud in existence. I'll fax it to the pope. Don't test me!"
Charles clenches his fists, but says nothing.
"You think you're the only one with money and connections? Please." Lorenzo scoffs.
"Don't be fooled just because I play the clown! I am funny, but I'm not playing."
For the first time ever, Charles looks cornered. "You're all fucking sick. Every single one of you!" he yells, red creeping into his face. "This?Thisis what you've become? A house full of degenerates and traitors, defending him? That boy?"
He points at me like I'm dirt. Less than. Lorenzo raises an eyebrow and says nothing. Charles turns to my mother now. "And you. You just stand there? Crying like some helpless little thing while they ambush me in my own home? You've always been weak. Always—"
"Enough!" She steps forward, her hands shaking. God, I've never seen her like this. "Don't you dare blame me for this! You did this! You created this mess, Charles! I've been cleaning up after you for years. Covering, explaining, lying. I did it for the children. I did it because I thought maybe, maybe, you'd change. But you didn't. You got worse. You are a monster. And I'm done protecting you."
He stares at her, stunned. And for the first time, speechless. Her chest is rising and falling, her face streaked with tears, but she doesn't look away. "Don't ever come back here," shewhispers. "You don't belong in this family anymore. You made that clear."
Charles clenches his jaw. His pride bleeding out in front of everyone. He looks at me again. "I feel so sorry for your future students," he says, eyes cold. "God help them."
I clench my jaw. But I don't speak. I don't need to. His words don't carry weight anymore. He turns to my mother. "Send me the divorce papers," he mutters. "I'm done. I'm leaving this sickness behind. Good luck keeping the company alive without me."
Mom flinches, but she doesn't back down. Her hand stays on my shoulder. She's grounded. For the first time in a long time.
"Don't worry, boss man," Lorenzo says casually. "She's got us. We know business too. Bye bye now!" Charles pauses. But there's nothing left for him here. Not control, not respect, not family. He walks out. Slams the door.
And suddenly there's air in the room again.
37) Canada Plan
Gio
