My Family Faked Mom's Death to Stop My Wedding—My Adopted Sister Had My Fiancé's Baby novel · Chapter 21 of 24
Chapter 21: To Our Livia
The restaurant on Arthur Avenue had held my birthday dinner every November since I turned six.
Tonight it held ninety people.
I had sent every invitation myself, on my grandmother's paper, in my own hand.
The board of Benedetti Foods took the long table by the window.
Dad's friends from the Knights of Columbus sat in the middle, with their wives, all dressed for a party.
Lorenzo and Rocco stood by the kitchen door in dark suits.
My mother sat at the head of my side of the room, beside Claire and the baby.
Bruce stood behind my chair, and did not sit.
At five past seven Dad came in alone.
He stopped on the threshold.
Ninety faces turned toward him, and no one stood.
He walked to the empty chair at the head of the table, because it was his chair, and he sat in it.
The waiter poured him a glass of the red he liked.
"Livia," he said, and tried the gentle voice. "This is a kind thought."
"Thank you, Dad."
"A birthday dinner."
"Early."
"I always make the toast."
"I know," I said. "This year, let me."
I stood, glass in hand.
My legs held.
"Every November," I said, to the whole room, "my father stood here and said, 'To our Livia, who makes it all worth it.'"
A few of the older men smiled.
"I thought it was love. I know now what it was worth. It was worth thirty-four million dollars to him."
The smiles stopped.
"My grandmother left me a trust. For five years, my father spent it through the man I was engaged to, and he used a family rule to keep me from marrying until he could put it back."
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