How is that possible? How the hell did she just get into an expensive car? I know that type of SUV—that's one of the kinds my dad owns. My dad has about fifty different cars. He's a billionaire. I know that car is expensive.
If she came here for his money, then how the hell does she have that kind of car? Or was it a boyfriend? Someone else she's seeing who came to pick her up? No, no, no… that doesn't make sense. She has a rich boyfriend—that rich—and she's still coming for my father?
Something isn't right. Or maybe… maybe I'm the one who's wrong. Maybe I shouldn't have assumed she's after his money. I don't know her background. She might not even be rich. I really don't know.
Jace said this to himself as he stared out the window, his mouth slightly open in shock. After a moment, he closed the window and walked back into his room.
The clothes he was folding—he left them on the bed. They were for tomorrow, when he was going to meet a certain organization. He wanted to work for them. He already knew it was a very big and risky organization—a popular mafia group.
He wanted to join them because he had a connection. But even with that connection, it hadn't been easy. They didn't just accept him outright. They told him to bring a certain amount of money—a lot of money. And he did. He planned to bring it in full, in cash.
He was doing all this because he wanted to find out what really happened to his mother. Tomorrow was the big day.
"It wasn't easy," he muttered to himself. "For almost seven months, I did everything I could. Every single thing—just to get into that organization. What made it easier was my friend. He was already in. He's part of the mafia there. He's the one who gave me the connection."
That's how Jace got his chance. They told him to bring a large sum of money to prove he was serious, and in return, they would let him in. But even that wasn't enough. He still had to prove his loyalty.
"I have to prove I'm loyal," Jace whispered to himself as he jumped onto his bed and stretched out his arms, feeling a brief moment of relief—forgetting, for a second, about Serena trying to take his mother's place.
Finally… I'm starting to understand where all of this began, he thought.
Just then, he heard a knock on the door.
"Who is it?" he asked. "Who could possibly be knocking on my door?"
"Open up now," his father's voice replied from the other side. "We live together and the maid isn't around."
Jace stood up and walked toward the door, then opened it. His father stood there, staring at him.
Jace frowned. "Why did you do that? Why did you do something like that?" his father asked.
"What do you mean? Why did I do something like what?" Jace replied. "I don't understand what you're talking about. And if you're here to lecture me, then please—just leave my room."
"Hey, little boy," his father snapped. "Mind the way you talk. Don't forget you're under my roof. I can kick you out if you push me."
"Okay, I'm sorry. So now, what did you come here to tell me? Because you're invading my privacy," Jace said.
"You know exactly what I came to talk to you about," his father replied. "Why did you speak to her like that?"
"What do you mean by that?" Jace asked.
"I'll say it again—why did you talk to her like that?" his father repeated.
"And I'm going to say this too—why are you talking to me like this? What are you trying to say?" Jace snapped.
"Serena is going to be your stepmom, whether you like it or not. So you'd better behave yourself, little boy. You have everything you could possibly want. Money has given you happiness, comfort, and luxury. How many cars do you own? I bought you three—expensive ones. You have more than enough money. You even have one of my debit cards with millions of dollars on it. You could use it to buy anything you want, even a house if you felt like it. So why are you still being stubborn? I really don't like your attitude.
"If you were in my shoes, do you think you'd live twelve years without a wife?" his father asked.
"You say I can buy anything I want," Jace replied, voice sharp with emotion. "But can money buy back my mom's life? No, it can't. So stop throwing money into everything you say.
"Yes, you give me all this and all that. But that still doesn't mean I'll ever accept her. I can't accept her as my stepmom. She's almost my age! And you don't even know what happened today."
"What do you mean, what happened today?" his father asked.
"It wasn't anything big… but please—I don't like Serena. I don't want her coming into this house," Jace said, firm now.
"You just hate her for no reason! She hasn't done anything to you. That only shows how selfish you are," his father replied, pointing a finger angrily at him.
"Please stop pointing at me, Dad," Jace said, stepping back slowly.
"But you're going to come for the wedding, whether you like it or not. Otherwise, I'll cut you off from my property. You won't inherit anything I own," his father threatened.
"What do you mean I won't inherit what you own? I'm supposed to! Huh? All of this because of a girl? A girl! She's still a girl. She's almost my age—I'm sure of it, even if she hasn't said so. I know she's almost my age. You haven't told me her age either, but I'm sure of it.
"And because of her, you're threatening to cut me off if I don't come to the wedding? Fine. I'll come. But I'll never have anything to do with her," Jace said bitterly.
His father stepped closer and placed a hand over his own chest.
"Jace, you're a man. Just come to the wedding. That's all I'm asking. If you come, it's enough for me. It means a lot. If that's the only way you can show me a little appreciation as your father, then thank you. I'm very glad you said you'll come."
But Jace didn't respond. He quietly walked back to his bed and sat down. His father kept talking, trying to continue the conversation, but Jace didn't say a word. Eventually, his father gave up and left the room, quietly closing the door behind him.