Chapter 72

Chapter 72
Mom was crying as she approached me. She knelt down and hugged me. Damn it, Ivan. Even your own mother is hurting because of you.

"WE TOLD YOU TO STAY AWAY FROM THAT RICARDO’S SON! BUT WHAT DID YOU DO, HUH? YOU STILL WENT TO HIM! AND NOW YOU’RE PREGNANT!" Dad shouted, throwing the vase he was holding across the room.

"That's enough, Ivo! Our son just made a mistake! What are you even saying?" Mom cried.

"WRONG? JUST A MISTAKE? FOR GOD’S SAKE, JANE! THIS IS A HUGE DISGRACE TO OUR FAMILY! AND YOU'RE JUST GOING TO TOLERATE THAT CHILD? HE’S ABUSED YOUR KINDNESS!" Dad’s voice thundered through the room.

I just folded my arms and hugged Mom tighter. I didn’t care about Dad anymore.

"YOU’RE REALLY GOING TO STAND UP FOR RICARDO’S SON—REGARDLESS OF WHAT WE SAID? HE’S THE ONE YOU CHOSE, ISN’T HE? WELL THEN, DON’T EXPECT ANY INHERITANCE FROM ME!" Dad shouted again before storming out. He violently opened the door and slammed it shut behind him.

“Ma… I’m sorry,” I whispered as I took her hand and kissed the back of her palm. We were now sitting on the couch. She had stopped crying, but I still saw the pain in her eyes. They were swollen from all the tears.

She smiled sadly at me. Damn, am I lucky? Even though I’m not her biological child, she still takes care of me. I don’t deserve her. She's always been kind—and Dad was right. I took advantage of that.

"You don’t have to apologize, son," she said gently. "You just made a mistake. If anything, I should be the one apologizing to you—for not defending you in front of your daddy. I’m sorry, son..." Her tears fell again, and I immediately pulled her into a hug.

"Mom, I didn’t mean for this to happen. I was just carried away by my emotions. I love her so much..." My voice cracked as I bit my lower lip and cried in her arms.

I wasn’t ashamed to cry—not in front of her. She always told me it’s okay to show my emotions around her. That she’d understand.

She rubbed my back gently. “I know, son. I know you didn’t mean for this. But… it’s unfortunate. I had so many dreams for you,” she whispered. “But I’m not mad. Never. I promise—I’ll help you fix everything. I’m always here, okay?”

I leaned on her shoulder. Damn, why does Mom have to be so kind?

“Mom, I’m so ashamed. You should be angry. Just… not like this. You’re being too good to me…”

She gently pulled away and looked at me. “It’s part of being a mother, Ivan. I love you so much that no matter what mistakes you’ve made, I’ll still forgive you. Didn’t I tell you before? There are two kinds of love.”

I nodded, and she smiled faintly. “The love that forgives… and the love that stays. You, my son—I love you so much that I’ll do both. I’ll forgive you as many times as you need, and I’ll stay by your side, always.”

“But, Ma, because—” I couldn’t finish. I just broke down again, sobbing harder. It hurt. Because I knew she was hurting too.

Her hand trembled as she wiped away my tears. God, I was so lucky to have her. Even if I didn’t deserve her.

“Your daddy was right about one thing. You need to take responsibility for Rigella. She needs you—especially now that she’s pregnant,” Mom said softly.

“I’m going to lose my inheritance, Mom…” I muttered.

Her brows furrowed. “Ivan, don’t say that. You’re sounding like your father. Don’t just think about money or wealth. Think about your responsibility as a man. Your family needs you.”

“But…” I sighed. “We’re so young. I’m not ready, Mom…”

“There’s no perfect age for parenting, remember that. But I’ll be here for you. You can rely on me, son. I’ll never leave you.”

\---

And so, the day came when I had to accept my unexpected responsibility. Rigella and I got married—but even then, I couldn’t fully accept how easily it all happened. I didn’t even get the chance to court her properly.

Even though we were married, I avoided her. She tried everything just to talk to me, but I buried myself in my studies. I didn’t want to speak to her—not yet. I needed time to think, to calm down. I didn’t want to say something I’d regret.

I loved her—I knew that. But I couldn’t accept that I hurt her. I wasn’t mad at her—I was mad at myself. Her family's reputation was ruined because of what I did. Our parents were the ones suffering now.

"Have you eaten?" she asked with a smile one night when I came home from the university. We were living in our own house now—just the two of us.

“I already ate,” I replied without looking at her.

From the corner of my eye, I saw her expression fall. “Oh… I cooked caldereta. Isn’t that your favorite?”

I stayed silent. “You eat if you want. I’m going to bed.”
Damn it, Ivan. You idiot.

I thought for a few more days about what I should do about our relationship. I decided I’d start trying again. I wanted to make things right.

But before I could…
That night, men grabbed me. They tied me to a chair and blindfolded me. I tried to fight, screamed for help, but there were too many.

They were monsters. The moment I escape, I’ll kill them one by one. I had planned to take Rigella out on a date that night, but everything changed when they abducted me.

“How are you, bro?”

That voice—
I immediately lifted my head. No… I couldn’t be mistaken.

I heard footsteps coming closer. My breath hitched. Why now?

“Take off his blindfold,” a familiar voice ordered.

A moment later, someone removed the blindfold. I blinked, adjusting to the light—
And my eyes widened.

“Seymour…” I whispered. I knew it was him.

He smirked and stepped closer. “You still remember me, huh?” His tone was sarcastic.

“When did you get back?” I asked.

“Does it even matter? What—have you already forgotten about me?”
Damn it, why did he sound so bitter?

“That’s why you got the person I love pregnant, right? Because you forgot about me.”
He raised a gun. My heart dropped.

“Seymour, I didn’t mean to. I tried to stay away from her—even though I loved her—because you were my friend, but—”

“But what?!” His voice darkened. I couldn’t respond.
He cocked the gun.

“But what?!” he roared, and fired. I flinched, shutting my eyes.
Shit!

“You bastard, I trusted you, Ivan!” he screamed.
“I told you to watch her! But what did you do? You did more than watch! You traitor!”

He walked up and kicked me hard in the face. I fell over with the chair.

“You knew how much I loved Rigella! Damn it, I never should’ve made you my friend!” he kicked me in the ribs, and I gasped in pain.
“I would’ve accepted it if you only dated—but damn it, you got her pregnant, you bastard!” he kicked again.

He knelt beside me and punched me in the face.
“You animal! I thought you were different. But you’re worse than my old friends! You stole what was mine! You stole the woman I loved!”

I was humiliated. My whole body ached. But I didn’t fight back—I couldn’t. He was right. I betrayed him.

“You didn’t even think about how I’d feel! I was in America working my ass off to fix our company and prove something to her father—and you ruined everything!” He punched me again. My vision blurred from the pain.

“Lift that bastard up!” he ordered.

Two men picked me and propped me back on the chair. I hunched over, trembling.

“I wasn’t going to continue my revenge on them because I wanted to marry Rigella. But after what you did, I hate her family even more now,” he sneered.
“I’m going to kill them, Ivan. They killed my father—so I’ll kill them too.”

I gasped, then muttered, “Don’t…” as I felt myself start to black out.

“Don’t?” He laughed without humor. “After what you did, you still think you can stop me? Idiot.”

I didn’t reply. Blood dripped from my lips. This pain was worse than any beating—I was betrayed by my best friend.

“Fine. I won’t hurt them—but only under one condition,” he said. I lifted my head weakly.

“W-what condition?”

“You join our organization. A mafia group,” he grinned.

My eyes widened. Mafia?

“You’ll do illegal jobs with us—drugs, guns, you name it. You’ll earn—but your life will always be in danger,” he added.

“Creed and Xyleus are already in. They want to protect their loved ones. If you don’t want your family and Rigella’s to suffer, join us.” His grin vanished. “You don’t know me anymore, Ivan. I’ve changed. Join us before I change my mind. Or you might not like what happens next.”

“Seymour, please… don’t do this…” I begged.

He smirked—cold and merciless. “You have no choice. If you refuse, I’ll order my men to blow the heads off everyone you care about. Snipers are watching them now.”

I shut my eyes and cursed under my breath.
He wasn’t bluffing. He kidnapped me, didn’t he? And I remembered—he once told me his uncle led a mafia group.

I can’t let my family be ruined. Especially not Mom… and Rigella. She’s pregnant.

It’s okay if I’m the one who gets hurt. But not them. Never them.

I opened my eyes and met his gaze.

“Fine. I’ll do it,” I said, voice heavy with pain. For my family.

He smiled immediately. But that wasn’t Seymour anymore.
That was a demon in my best friend’s body.

I bowed my head in defeat. If wagering my life is the only way to protect the people I love—
Then so be it.

I just hope… God forgives me for what I’m about to do. Because I’ll never forgive myself.