The table went silent.
It was so quiet that the faint clink of a spoon against a plate sounded deafening.
With his teeth clenched, Xavier finally broke the silence.
“What about me, Grandfather?”
Old Devereaux slowly lifted his eyes from his plate and stared at him.
“I can’t trust a man who can’t even be loyal to his own brother.”
Xavier’s jaw dropped.
He pushed his palms against the table and leaned forward.
“This is unfair.
I’m your oldest grandson.
Why should Matteo be Don when I’m right here?”
Old Devereaux stared at him for a few seconds before simply turning his attention away.
“So, who are you going to marry next after Tristan fumbled the arrangement?” he asked Matteo.
Xavier’s fingers curled into tight fists beneath the table.
Not even a response.
His grandfather had completely ignored him.
His nails dug into his palms as he lowered his gaze, the humiliation burning through him.
This was exactly why he had spent years trying to take everything Matteo had.
The position should have been his.
He was the oldest grandson.
He had always been told that everything would eventually belong to him, yet Matteo had somehow taken the one thing he wanted most.
If his grandfather refused to give it to him willingly, he would take it himself.
“Vanessa Voss will be my replacement bride.”
Matteo’s words made everyone at the table turn toward him.
The silence returned for what felt like the hundredth time that night.
Fiona’s eyebrows shot up.
She hadn’t expected Matteo to still want to get married, especially after Tristan’s betrayal with Noelle.
“Don’t you think you’re rushing things?” she asked, resting her chin against her palm.
“Who knows?
She might run off with another man.”
Her lips curled slightly.
She knew exactly why Matteo wanted a wife.
It was because Bianca needed a mother.
And Fiona wasn’t about to let another woman take that position.
She glanced at Matteo, hoping to catch even the slightest hint of emotion on his face.
Nothing.
“The wedding is in a few days.”
“That’s good, son,” Mr.
“Hopefully, she’ll be a good mother to Bianca so the child won’t have to look for her worthless mother.”
“Father!” Xavier shot to his feet, his chair scraping loudly against the floor.
“Xavier!” Old Devereaux’s voice cracked through the room.
Xavier froze.
One look from the old man was enough to make him slowly lower himself back into his seat.
“I think that will be all for now.”
No one argued.
The sound of forks scraping against plates soon filled the dining room again.
Matteo barely touched his food.
His eyes remained on the plate in front of him, his fingers occasionally tightening around his fork.
He had no intention of eating anything prepared in this house.
After all, he knew exactly what kind of man his grandfather was.
Dinner eventually ended, and everyone disappeared into different parts of the mansion.
Matteo followed Old Devereaux into his study.
“How long until the weapons arrive?” the old man asked.
“Three months.”
Old Devereaux nodded slowly.
The family had their hands in several illegal businesses, and every shipment came with its own risks.
One wrong move could attract the attention of the authorities and bring the entire operation crashing down.
“As for the other business?” Old Devereaux asked.
Before Matteo could respond, Xavier stepped forward.
“I’ve recruited a good number of women for the job, Granddad.
You can leave it to me.” His voice was almost too eager.
“You know how women tend to trust other women more.
They approach the victims, pretend they need help, and lure them away from crowded places.
Once they’re isolated, the rest is handled.”
He rubbed his palms together.
“There’s been a high demand in the black market, so we need to keep up.
But don’t worry, Granddad.
I have everything under control.”
The room remained quiet.
They were talking about human trafficking.
It was one of the newer businesses Old Devereaux had introduced into the family’s criminal empire.
Women were being abducted and sold to wealthy men who paid enormous sums just to abuse them.
Many of those victims never returned home.
Matteo’s jaw tightened.
He had listened to enough.
He might become the next Don, but this was one business he had no intention of continuing.
Once the position was his, he would shut down many of the operations his grandfather had started.
“Make sure you do what you’re supposed to do,” Old Devereaux instructed.
Matteo pushed his chair back.
“I’m leaving.”
“What’s the rush?” Xavier called after him with a grin.
“Let’s have some drinks and catch up.”
Matteo didn’t even turn around.
Xavier’s smile slowly vanished, his hands curled into fists.
He had barely managed to contain himself during dinner, and Matteo walking away without giving him so much as a second glance only made his blood boil.
Outside the study, Matteo walked down the hallway, his expression dark.
He had already spent enough time in that house.
Besides, Bianca was waiting for him.
He could already imagine her sitting in bed, clutching her favorite stuffed toy while waiting for her bedtime story.
He had barely reached the stairs when he spotted Fiona standing there with her arms folded across her chest.
Matteo walked past her.
“Matteo.”
He kept walking.
She hurried after him and caught his arm.
“Are you really going to marry another woman?” she asked, her voice softening as she tilted her head.
“You’re just going to throw everything we had away?
Just like that?”
She stepped closer and slowly draped an arm over his shoulders.
“I know you’re still angry with me, but we can talk about this.
If you want, I’ll come back to you.”
Her fingers lightly brushed his shoulder.
“You know Bianca needs a mother.
I’m the best choice you have.”
Matteo slowly turned his head toward her.
Fiona searched his face.
Nothing.
Not anger.
Not sadness.
Not even the slightest trace of the man she used to manipulate.
“Get out of my sight,” he said through gritted teeth.
Her smile faltered.
“I know you’re still mad, but—”
“Even if you were the only woman alive,” Matteo cut her off, his eyes turning cold, “you wouldn’t be worthy of being Bianca’s mother.”
Fiona’s face fell.
For the first time that night, she had nothing to say.
Footsteps sounded behind them.
“What’s going on here?” Xavier’s voice echoed through the hallway.