Chapter 135 I won't fall in love again

Chapter 135 I won't fall in love again
A heavy sigh escaped Declan. For a long time, he kept things to himself but now, it was time for him to take advantage of his family’s solace.

“During my master’s program two years ago, I met a girl. She was so beautiful and down to earth. We dated, and as expected of me, I kept it a secret from everybody. She was in her final year in college, and I knew she loved me for me, so I planned to introduce her after her graduation.”

Declan paused, fighting his emotions once more. The revelation was so sudden that everyone was too stunned to react. Declan had been quiet, so everyone thought he was fine.

“What happened?” Chad asked out of curiosity. Wade smiled. “Chad, you’re here?”

He nodded, but his attention was focused on Declan’s story. Right now, they all seemed like one big family, so indeed, they cared about the outcome of what his love life had turned out to be.

“She said she wanted to break up.”

“What?” Delanie asked in shock. Declan’s smile was far from reaching his eyes.

“It was unexpected because she gave me her all, her first time, her money, emotions, time, and everything you can think about. I begged her, asked for explanations, but she informed me she could no longer date me because I was too broke.”

“Do you know about her parentage?” Roger questioned, Declan shook his head. “No. She always said they weren’t important, and when she was ready, she’ll introduce us, but she never did.”

“And do you think she’s hiding something?” Giovanni asked. Declan nodded.

“That’s what I thought before, but a few weeks ago, I saw her at one of our shops with a guy she called her husband.” He smiled bitterly. “I gave love a chance, and I think it’s not for me.”

Molly was stunned by everything. She was always there for her children but this important detail slipped right through her fingers. “Why didn’t you ever tell us?”

“At first, it was fun, and I was preparing it as a surprise, but after everything ended, I felt like I failed you all,” he wiped a tear. Molly embraced him. “I was a fool once, loving the wrong person, but it never made me a failure.”

Declan had only heard it recently, feeling pained about it all. “Perhaps if you had told us about how imperfect your love was in the beginning, I would have considered it, but now, it’s too late,” he continued in the same bitter tone.

Giovanni and Molly thought that by leaving the past buried, it would give their children a healthy home, but it did the opposite. Their mistakes were needed to give them the light to clear their paths and move them in the right direction.

“I'm so sorry, it's all my fault," Giovanni apologized. Declan smiled, and this time, it was a happy one. "I'm already over her, but I'm not allowing any woman to break my heart again. I had great hopes for Lexi, but she turned out to be something I can't even describe."

Delanie knew how much Declan liked Lexi, but she was too obsessed with Roger. For a moment, she was even ashamed of herself for once being like Lexi and wanting to destroy her brother’s marriage.

"I respect your decision," Giovanni smiled and pinched him gently on the cheek. "But if you ever change your mind after the announcement, then you only just have to understand that you will have a lot of proving to do."

Declan nodded. "I know for sure that I won't fall in love again."

"About the announcement," Wade interrupted. "Can it wait until I'm back on my feet? I need a little time to put the company back together, then an extravagant wedding for my wife. I owe her that," he said seriously. Giovanni smiled.

"You are not alone anymore. Just focus on getting better. But as for your adoptive parents, I want to know their complete details."

Wade agreed, giving him the information, but little did he know Giovanni was going to put it on the black market.

They chatted and had breakfast together when Giovanni got feedback. His expression changed as he beckoned Hank, who, with Nora, was laughing heartily beside Roger and Wade.

"So, what are you going to do now?" Hank asked. Giovanni smirked. "Let's pay them a visit."

"Dad, Uncle Hank, where are you going? I want to come too," Roger suddenly spoke up. The two men were stunned.

Their voices were barely audible, but Roger seemed to have heard everything. "No, just focus on getting better."

"I'm fine, and the doctor said I can be discharged tomorrow. We can as well make it today."

Giovanni thought of a way to discourage him and threw a bait. "Fine, you can come with us if you'll share information on who was behind the shooting."

Being something, Roger didn’t want to share, he thought it was enough to make him back down but was met with a surprise.

"Okay, I will share the information, but we all have to work together. You won't go without me. It's the least I can do for my niece or nephew," Roger said seriously. Giovanni nodded. "Fair point."

The next day, Roger was discharged, but Wade had to stay a couple more days, healing faster due to what was going on with his businesses. The sudden rise in his stocks was something he couldn't explain, but he faintly guessed it was due to the involvement of the Dawsons.

With Delanie working on his discharge procedures, he had no idea that three men from the Dawsons family had gone to visit his adopted parents.

The middle-aged couple were stunned when their security reported the presence of the trio, having mixed feelings.