The Godfather’s Twenty Year Dream Was Her Chapter 09

The Godfather’s Twenty Year Dream Was Her Chapter 09

Alistair could read what I was thinking. He asked, “I only called you shallow because I was angry. But I need to know—besides the money, what does he have that I don’t?”

This was the first time Alistair and I had talked so openly about us.

I thought for a long while, then answered honestly. “You make everything feel like work, Alistair. You’re so focused on the end goal that you drain everyone around you.”

Our divorce in the past life hadn’t stemmed from some huge explosive fight.

No cheating, no dramatic disputes.

Maybe after years together, I’d finally grown tired of his cold detachment. Everything felt empty.

Alistair had said, “You’ve got too much free time on your hands. Have a baby. That’ll stop you overthinking.”

Then he’d pulled me off my job and told me to stay home and try to conceive.

That was always his way of solving problems—one-sided, entirely goal-driven.

There was nothing inherently wrong with it. I just didn’t want that life anymore.

After a long silence, Alistair asked, “If I’d voted for you in that debate tournament, would you still have said yes to him?”

“I told you, it had nothing to do with that. And besides, you never would’ve picked me.”

When I got back to school, I learned Rafael had also taken leave those past few days. My stomach dropped.

I did the math. In my past life, Rafael had left school around this time to go to Europe.

Was he leaving again this time?

The weight of it hit me all at once. Maybe I couldn’t change fate at all. What was meant to happen would always happen.

During break, I went to the restroom.

As I stepped out, I heard girls talking inside one of the stalls.

“Did you hear? Sera from our school is playing two guys.”

“Flirting with star student Alistair while dating the school troublemaker Rafael.”

“And that’s not all. Word is Sera and Alistair both took time off school together. Someone saw them outside a motel. Do you think…”

I’d already walked out, but hearing that, I turned back and kicked the stall door open. “Think what? That I’m pregnant?”

The girls’ faces drained of color. I recognized them—all from the school debate team.

Beatrix, their leader, stepped forward first. “Aren’t we right? Alistair dropped out of the debate team this morning.”

“He quit because of you. Everyone knows you’ve been pressuring him ever since that debate vote. Now the competition’s coming up and we’re down our best debater. Are you happy?”

He dropped out?

In my past life, he’d won nationals and used the prize money for his mom’s surgery.

Had my money removed the very pressure that drove him to succeed?

This wasn’t the time to unpack that. Right now, I needed to shut this bitch down.

I looked straight at Beatrix. “What does Alistair quitting the team have to do with your lies? Stop twisting things to guilt-trip me.”

“Everything you just said is defamation. I hope you’ve thought about how you’ll defend yourselves in court.”

Beatrix relied on her dad being principal and kept fighting back. “Can you honestly say you have nothing going on with Rafael and Alistair?”

I refused to fall for her trap. “I have relationships with them. But none of it’s your business, so stop gossiping behind my back.”

“Keep talking, and I won’t go to the administration. I’ll go straight to a lawyer. Your dad’s title won’t save you from a lawsuit.”

When I left the restroom, a crowd had gathered outside. They’d heard the shouting and were craning their necks to watch the drama.

One of Rafael’s friends was in the crowd—the one who always knew everyone’s business.

I walked over and cut straight to the point: “Where is he?”

The guy blinked, realizing who I meant. “He’s out sick with a fever, I think.”

No wonder he hadn’t replied to my texts.

“His address. Now.”