871 Give Her Time
“You could have told me?! How could you hide that kind of secret from me, Roger?!”
“I was trying to protect you!”
“How is thid protection?! You practically put our little girl in danger! Look what’s happening now!”
Those were the arguments that greeted Mimi and Leon when they arrived in front of the door. The both of them looked at each other unsure, however, Leon stepped back knowing that this wasn’t his business. It was a family issue.
“When you guys are done, there’s dinner waiting to be served.” He informed her just in case.
“Sure, thank you.”
Leon was about to turn and leave when he suddenly stopped and said, “You and your family are welcomed here, so feel comfortable and don’t hold back on my account.”
Mimi nodded her head in understanding right before she turned the knob and went into the room, the arguments dying down instantly.
Her mother was the first to set her eyes on her and she had to admit, the woman looked stressed. Mimi began to feel guilty for putting her through all of this.
.....
“Mom?” She called, taking a hesitant step towards her.
“God, Mimi,” Hannah didn’t care about her hesitation and pulled her into her embrace, hugging her tight as if she didn’t want to let go.
“I’m so sorry,” Mimi apologized, tears springing up in her eyes as she buried her face in her shoulder, “I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark. I’m so sorry.”
“Hush, it’s okay.” Hannah told her, running her hands through her hair, “All that matters is that you’re safe now.”
Minutes later, the whole family was seated for a conversation.
“So Victor is not really a businessman but is a consigliere to Marcel, who is the leader of the family and the family business is dealing with arms.” Mimi’s mother, Hannah, was still trying to wrap her head around everything.
“Well, one of them. They practically dabble in everything illegal, gambling, labor racketeering, loan sharking, tax fraud schemes, and stock manipulation schemes, I mean, that’s what makes them the Mafia. Isn’t it?” Mimi was still talking when she saw the way her mother’s eyes widened in terror and she realized that it was the thing she said.
“Well, everything except drugs, and trafficking. Doing drugs is lucrative but there are many dangers, including addiction. The government would crack down on them faster. I’m not trying to say they are innocent but compared to the others, they do operate with a moral code.” Mimi said, swallowing nervously.
While she would still be together with Victor, even if her mother doesn’t approve of him anymore, she still didn’t want it to come to that point. Her mother doesn’t have to understand why she chose him out of the billions of men out there in the world, she needed her to accept it.
“Why h-him?” Hannah asked, her voice cracking at the end. She went on to say,
“We gave you everything that you could ever want, Mimi. We gave you the best life, sent you to the best school, and even supported you when you didn’t want to take over the company and didn’t know what to do with your life, I understood that as your mother. So why him? You could have many far better men and not him. Do you realize what this means for you? For him? You can’t outrun the law forever. One day, they would come for him and you’d be left all alone. Even without that, look around you, and see what’s happening. Is this the kind of life you want?”
Mimi was not able to speak for over a minute knowing that her mother was right. Her future with Victor was not certain. He could die or get arrested. Worse, she could also die. She would never be safe with him. None of them would be safe. But then, that was a sacrifice she was willing to make.
“I failed you.” was all Mimi said. She shook her head, “But I can’t stop now. There’s no turning back now, mother. I love Victor and I’m having his baby. Everyone knows about us now and I’m sorry, but there’s nowhere that I can go that I would be safe, if not beside him.”
“She’s right, Hannah. Our daughter is most safe with the Luciano family now.”
“You say that, but what do you really know about them or all of this?! You are just a businessman!” The woman lashed out at her husband.
Roger didn’t answer, rather he looked at his daughter, and an understanding passed between the both of them. Unfortunately, Hannah saw the interaction and something hit her.
She narrowed her gaze at her husband, “Is there something you’re not telling me as well?”
Roger swallowed his gaze meeting with Mimi and held.
“For sure, you have. How then, would you have held onto her secret?” Hannah looked at her husband, “Let it out now while I’m still being nice.”
Roger let out a deep breath, using his tongue to wet his lower lips. He confessed, “I’m a businessman, Hannah. That means I have done one or two things that would mark me guilty in the face of the law. I’m not innocent, Hannah.”
“Dear God,” The woman gasped, running her hand through her hair. There were just so many confessions that it sent her head reeling.
“I think I need some air.”
“Mom….” Mimi called, tears glistening in her ears. She tried to reach for her mother, but Roger grabbed her and shook his head when she looked up. She had to let her go.
Without even looking back, Hannah left the room and that scene broke Mimi’s heart so she burst into tears.
“I think she hates me now.” Mimi cried out hard, “I have failed her.”
But her father pulled her into him, comforting her.
“Your mother doesn’t and would never hate you. This is all new to her and she needs the space. We all lied to her and couldn’t change her view in one day. Give your mother time, Mimi.”
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