Chapter 4: "You killed him"
After the death of Orlando Karper, Russell Cartel attended an urgent meeting which Alexander Cora had called for.
He planned to break out the news of Orlando's death. He wondered how Mila would feel knowing her father died a miserable death and her mother was left uncared for in the hospital, while she kept enjoying herself in the house of the man who had caused all those.
He was the last person to be present as part of the syndicate for the meeting. Russell always wanted to show he could defy and disobey Alexander's command in everyone's face.
He walked in majestically as he took his seat.
But to his surprise, Alexander was yet to be seated too.
Russell had thought he would be waiting for him by now, and because of him, the meeting would be on hold.
"Why should we wait for him when he keeps delaying us here? We all have something meaningful doing too," he puffed in annoyance.
"Russell, one of his men had started the structure of the meeting before you came in. It was you who came late," Leandro silenced him.
Just then, Kaine walked in, pulling out two high seats at the front of the table.
Mila Karper walked behind Alexander Cora, both in fur coat wears, making them look like rulers.
She never knew this was his plan, that was why he hurried the maid to dress her up.
So it was to involve her in his dreadful business and life.
Russell, on the other hand, was boiling in anger. He had vowed to get Mila by all means. He wanted her first and he wanted her forever. If he doesn't get her, then no one will.
He tried controlling his anger and listened to whatever Alexander had to say.
Mila's parents never told her about Russell asking for her hand in marriage, so she never knew what was going on in anyone's mind presently nor noticed the look on Russell's face.
"I don't have much to say in this room... but I have a new rule to input," Alexander continued.
His voice gave a chilling aura.
"Mila Karper here is now my Lady."
Words stuck in Mila's throat. She looked at his face, but all she could see was fact.
The fact that he meant it.
She wondered.
"Why would he do such a thing?"
She watched him closely, even down to his lips as he spoke. Immediately, his lips drew her into an unknown emotion.
She remembered that night their lips met. It was so soft and pleasing to her.
"The respect you give to me is what you should give to her. If not, such a person will face my cruelty."
His remaining words broke her wild imagination.
Mila's heart began to heave heavily. She could understand the mixed feelings she was having for Alexander.
She wanted to know more about him, desperately wanted to see through him and be his support.
The protectiveness and care he showered her in these few days, she had never gotten it from anyone outside her parents.
It surged her emotions up.
"Kaine!"
"Move down to the business of today. How's the stock market doing?"
Just then, the projector on the wall showed a picture of their stock market, the market in which they moved their weapons and drugs.
Russell couldn't take it anymore. He reacted on time.
"Wait everyone!"
He stood up like a gentleman.
Everyone gave him a "you want to die" look as he spoke.
He paused.
His eyes slowly shifted to Mila.
Careful. Observing. Calculating.
"So haven't we heard of Orlando Karper's death..."
Another pause.
"...and his wife hospitalized?"
The words dropped slowly.
Deliberately.
He watched Mila's face closely as he spoke.
"That is the information I recently got from his syndicate network."
Mila felt her chest tighten.
Her fingers trembled slightly.
Mila knew her father was once a mafia, but she also knew it wasn't Alexander or this man's syndicate.
"What? Are you for real?"
She stood up, shaking.
"My Lady, I will never speak of false things. You can ask Alexander about it."
Russell smirked as he sat down.
"Or you want to tell us you never knew?"
He faced Alexander boldly.
Mila turned slowly.
Her eyes were already filled with tears.
Her heart pounded violently.
What if it's not true…?
Her lips trembled.
No… it has to be him…
"You... did you really know that?"
Silence.
"You killed him... you killed my father."
Her voice cracked.
"Just so you could have me? How wicked are you?"
Tears rolled down her face uncontrollably.
She couldn't breathe properly.
Her chest tightened painfully.
She turned and ran out of the room in tears.
"Jason! Go after her now and make sure she is safe."
"Yes, Don," Jason responded and left.
Without being called, Kaine came to Alexander's presence.
"I'll immediately investigate it, Boss."
Alexander nodded his head and stood up.
"Russell, and if what you said here today turns out to be false, then your life is mine."
He then took a cigar and continued the meeting, acting as if all was okay.
Alexander never flinched.
Never.
Jason drove Mila to where Orlando had died. His dead body was still there. But it didn't look like an accident to Mila, because she clearly saw the gunshot on her father's forehead.
Her legs weakened as she stepped closer.
Her hands were already shaking.
In tears, she watched her father's lifeless body.
"Dad, why?"
Her voice broke.
"We promised to stay together and live our happy life. Just why?"
She dropped to her knees.
Her fingers trembled as she reached toward him but couldn't touch him.
Jason just stood nearby, informing Kaine of what he had seen and Mila's safety.
On her father's car seat was his phone. She saw the screen lit up as she took it.
Her hands were unsteady.
What she saw was a typed note left by her father on his phone.
She took it and read.
Her breathing became uneven.
Her mind in chaos.
"What was this?"
"Mila, my precious daughter, I never thought Alexander would come after me and your mum because we came to beg for your freedom this morning. He had his men push your mother down, which led to her critical condition in the hospital. And me, he had me assassinated just as I was about going to pay for your mum's surgery. Mila, Alexander Cora is an evil man, run away from him, run!"
The phone nearly slipped from her hand.
After the message was the address of Rosell's hospital.
Mila bent and cried.
Her shoulders shook.
She was completely broken.
Why?
Why was he so evil to ruin her family? The only family who had given her everything she had wanted in life.
How would she live from now on?
Then Mila slowly stood up.
Her tears still falling.
But her eyes had changed.
"Jason!"
"Yes, my Lady."
"Take me to the hospital address now!"
Her voice was firm, but it trembled slightly.
She commanded, using the authority Alexander had wrongly given her today.
He never knew he had given her the power to ruin his instead.
"And find someone to take care of my father's body properly."
"Yes, my Lady."
Jason obeyed and drove her to the hospital.
At the hospital
"Mila, Mila."
Rosell's weak voice signaled Mila to come hug her.
Mila quickly wiped her tears before moving closer.
Her hands were still shaking.
"How? How did you escape from him? And where's your father?" she asked weakly.
Mila forced a smile.
Her lips trembled slightly.
"Mum, Dad went back to his old friends to regain our business and get your surgery money. I have also seen the doctor before coming in."
Her voice almost broke.
She hugged her mother and helped her sit up.
"Mum, you don't need to worry. Dad and I will take care of everything. Just focus on your healing, please."
Her grip tightened unconsciously.
"Mila, but I don't think I can make it," she sighed.
"Mum, no... you will make it."
Her voice cracked this time.
"Mila, go tell your dad to come back. I need to see him and you. Let's make a reunion."
Tears dropped down her eyes.
Mila froze.
Her chest tightened again.
She looked away quickly.
"Mum... we are fine... we will be."
Her voice was no longer steady.
As she was consoling her mother, Rosell's medical machine started beeping.
"Tuuummm, tuuuumm."
Rosell started gasping.
"Miiiiilllla!"
"No mum, mum, stay with me!"
Mila panicked.
Her whole body shaking now.
"Doctor!"
"Doctorrrr, come rescue her!"
She ran out.
"Doctorrrr!!!!"
"Alexander Cora… I will never forgive you."