Becoming Strangers Again by Lily

Chapter 153

RYAN

I knew I had to meet Angelo at the club. It was the only place where I could be sure my mother wouldn't overhear the conversation I was about to have. I couldn't risk her finding out about any of this things were already messy enough. As I stepped into the private booth, the dim lighting and muted sounds of music in the background gave the room atmosphere we needed to have this conversation.

I spotted an extra glass already set on the coffee table. Without a second thought, I grabbed it and poured myself a drink, feeling the burn of the alcohol as I took a sip.

"What do you have on them?" I asked Angelo, cutting straight to the point. This wasn't the time for small talk.

He didn't miss a beat. "More on her mother than anyone else," he replied, leaning back slightly in his seat as he casually placed a thick envelope on the table in front of me. His gesture was almost inviting, beckoning me to take a look.

I didn't hesitate. My hand quickly reached for the envelope, and as I opened it, I pulled out several photos of men, each face different but all unfamiliar to me. "Who are these guys?" I asked, frowning as I studied their faces, trying to make sense of what I was looking at. "Salome's scandals," Angelo answered. He shifted in his seat and leaned over slightly. "All of them are married men. Maya's mother had affairs with every one of them."

The realization hit me. "My father wasn't the first?" I managed to say, disbelief coloring my voice.

Angelo let out a low, almost mocking chuckle. "Not even close. On the list of men she's been with, your father doesn't even make the top ten." He sat back in his seat, crossing his legs nonchalantly, like he was enjoying the absurdity of it all. "I even sat down with some of the angry ex-wives. Trust me, they didn't have anything flattering to say about her."

I continued flipping through the photos, each one making me feel more disgusted. I couldn't believe my father had gotten himself involved with someone like this. "And what exactly did they say she did, besides wrecking their marriages?"

"Her strategy was simple but effective. She'd get hired as a nanny, worm her way into their lives, and then start an affair with the husband. After that, the blackmail started. She'd demand money, threatening to expose the affair to the wife if they didn't pay up. But here's the thing-most of the men didn't even care about saving their marriages. They beat her to the punch by confessing to their wives before she could do any damage."

I shook my head, trying to process it all. "So my father's case is different," I mumbled, more to myself than to Angelo.

his wife.

in the book, and yet my father had fallen for it. "For someone with her kind of character," I said, my voice heavy with skepticism, "there's a lot to doubt." The question that had been gnawing at me

trust them. None of them. I turned to Angelo. "I need you to go to the estate and get me a sample of her

raised an eyebrow. "Do you want her to know

thing." If she's not related to me, I'll sit back and see what game she's really playing.

"No offense, but getting into the estate without knowing if she's home could be

ahead of him. "I'll take care of that. I'll invite her and her mother to a meeting at my office tomorrow. While they're here, you'll have access to the estate. The security system hasn't worked since the house went up for sale, so you won't have to worry about being caught on

said

her to set up

************

following day, right

demeanor. It was unsettling how well

trained on me, waiting for me to explain why I had called them here. "After thinking it over," I began slowly, gauging their reactions, "I've decided not to sell the

flickered toward

on the other hand, wasn't satisfied. She leaned forward, her voice

want it transferred

us."

at her audacity. "You want the house?" I repeated, trying to

said, "I'm entitled to

but the way her daughter is fighting for a house