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.

out early on that your father actually loved his wife. That's why she went

her kind of character," I said, my voice heavy with skepticism, "there's a lot to doubt." The question

"I need you to go to the estate and get me a sample of her hair. I want a

raised an eyebrow. "Do you want her to know

"No. I'd rather find out without her knowing a thing." If she's not related to me, I'll sit back and see what game she's really playing. Because if she doesn't get what she wants, she'll go public. She'll claim she's my father's illegitimate daughter, and when that happens, I'll have her arrested

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

you'll have access to the estate. The security system hasn't worked since

said with

her to set up a meeting with Maya and

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

day,

practically written all over her face but her mother, entered the room with a cool, collected demeanor. It was unsettling how well she masked the evil she was capable of. "Please, have a seat," I said,

trained on me, waiting for me to explain why I had called them

eyes flickered toward

whose expression barely changed, though I could sense her relief. Maya; on the other hand, wasn't satisfied. She leaned forward, her voice steady but demanding." "That's not enough, Mr. Williams. The deal has changed. We

want it transferred

us."

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

daughter," she said,

or something else, but the way her daughter is