Badboy for a Boyfriend

Chapter 6.1

“I apologized for this Mr. and Mrs. Roswell, and to you, George. But he is my son, whether you accept him or not, my family will. He will be part of the Silvero Ventures. I will also fix the matter at school. You see, many students step up to claim their group was a bully. It’s the reason why their parents wouldn’t file a complaint.”

“Do they know who did it? And do they know he’s your son?”

“My wife’s right. Everyone will soon know. Still, I promise to be fair with my judgment once the students’ parents decide to open the complaint.”

A slow, mocking clap resonated around the room. I almost closed my eyes in frustration. Daniella looked like she would cry if it took longer. Razbill deliberately shook his head to join his slow claps. Mrs. Silvero glared at him in disbelief.

“This is why I don’t agree with a welcoming party,” she said to her husband. Razbill nodded and stood and walked around his chair to push it under the table. All eyes looked up at him as if we’re all anticipating something bad he would do. Frankly, I already feared him.

“Don’t worry, Mrs. Silvero, I hate parties, too.” He chuckled to himself and softly muttered a curse. I almost fell on my seat as I gaped at everyone! “Why does it sound like I’m referring to my mom.”

“Your mom is never a Silvero!” Mrs. Silvero replied. Her eyes bulged out in anger. It looked like she was crying with how liquid formed around her eyes but she wasn’t. I guess she had been trying to control her temper since she got here and this guy’s action wasn’t helping at all.

So far, this was the most intense meeting I had with my family.

“Right. But unfortunately, I am.” He jerked his head to his father. His brows furrowed. “People often address my mom as Mrs. Silvero because of my name. You have no idea how hard it was to convince them we’re not related to this family at all. You see, my mom was never proud to be a mistress but it was even hard to believe it had to be with this family.” He devilishly smirked.

“Don’t you disrespect my mom!” Dayshawn shouted as he closed his eyes. His hand on the table fisted so tight his knuckles turned white. Daniella took hold of it to calm him. Then he slowly turned to Razbill; his eyes were red and wet with anger.

The two squarely glared at each other. I don’t understand the loathing in their eyes. I would be thankful to have a sibling. Our family would be a mess if it’s out of wedlock but I’d be happy to have someone around me, especially my age.

Razbill was the first to break the tension between him and his brother. Only because he had more to say. “I guess I’d be named a liar on top of being a bastard once the news about me came out.”

Dad grabbed the bottled water in front of him and took half of it in a gulp. Mom was worried about him but dad lifted his hand to keep her from reacting. He stared at Razbill with the look that would make me cry for the whole night. Yet, Razbill didn’t bulge. He shrugged to feign his apology.

I had no idea how this would end. Until Daniella’s sob broke through the silence. The sound of it as she tried to suppress nearly made me burst into tears, too. Dayshawn was already there to comfort her but Daniella aggressively shook her head and muttered an apology before running out of the room.

As we watched her go, Razbill pushed Daniella’s chair to the table with his feet so hard the table vibrated. A surprised squeal escaped my lips. I jumped on my seat. My eyes closed as his heavy footsteps left the room, too. It was when mom’s hand gently laid on my shoulder that I was able to open my eyes.

“Are you okay?”

My lips and throat were dry. I looked around to see everyone was dazed and slowly nodded. But my hands were sweating on my thighs.

“This is what you want?” Mrs. Silvero asked her husband who could only pinch the bridge of his nose. His forehead creased with frustration. My dad’s hand was laying flat against his chest as he tried to make sense of what just happened. I had never seen anyone react that way to their parents. All the Silvero boys could be so naughty at times. To other people, yes. But in times like this. My dad sometimes wished he had a son like any of the Silveros. I bet he wouldn’t wish for that particular Silvero.

***

We had to leave the building after dad relaxed. Mom decided we should all stay home for that day. It would be a nightmare for the employees if dad continued to work for the day. On our way home, I never dared open my lips and tried to be as invincible as I had always been. Dad was silently seething with anger and I don’t want to be on the receiving end of it. I salute the driver who didn’t flinch as his back was fired with dad’s fiery glares.

“George!”

I was already on the stairs when dad screamed my name. I quickly went back to the living room. He’s on his two-seater chair while mom is on the adjacent sofa to watch over him. The maids brought them something to drink and dad’s medicine. He has no sickness but his blood pressure often rises with literally everything. No wonder his face looked much older. Mr. Silvero’s wrinkles were because he smiled often. Which was rare in my dad’s case. I wonder how his glasses never shattered every time he seethed like this.

“Stay away from that Silvero! You understand?” He pointed a finger at me. Mom urged me to at least nod but I could not move. “Denver will regret his decision to accept a bastard in his family. A bastard! What was he thinking? They are better off without him! Gretchen should do something about it before it affects their family. Especially her children!”

Mom pursed her lips. Whatever her opinion about this matter, she kept it to herself so as not to add up with dad’s fury. I would have told him to let them worry about their own family matters if I was brave enough like that new Silvero. I grimaced to my own thoughts. Why would I wish to be as rude and disrespectful as him?

When my mom nodded at me, I took it as a cue to head to my room. I hadn’t realized I was holding my breath until my door closed behind me. I leaned on it to pant for air. I have to move to the bed and lay there on my stomach before my knees give up.

I grabbed a fistful of my hair and buried my face against my pillow to scream. Today’s event was overwhelming. I couldn’t really blame my dad because I have the same reaction as him. Only that mom and I couldn’t express it as we have to think about him first.

I took deep breaths and turned around to stare at the ceiling so I could process everything.

That new guy is indeed a Silvero. The third child among the five. But how? Mr. Silvero didn’t look like the type who would do it to his family. It’s been years, too. Where had he been? Has the family learned about him recently? Daniella would have told me about him if she knew him. She had always been proud of her brothers as the youngest and only daughter.

“Where you to throw me out to keep this family’s name clean.”

They sent him to that delinquent school? How old is he now? 17? 18? We had been friends with their family for forever now. I was with Daniella from preschool. I never learned about him until now. And where is his mom? How old was he when they… outcasted him?