Antonio POV

Once the girls were out of the room and the door closed I turned my attention to the people sitting around the table.  "Because my daughter has pleaded with me to spare your lives, I have decided to grant her request. However, this comes with a stipulation."

"If any of you ever pull a stunt like this again, I won't hesitate to kill each and every one of you! I want this understood, Catrina is my daughter and you will treat her with the same respect as you would me. The same applies to her mother. You are dismissed. Geraldine, mother, Vanessa's mother I need to speak with the three of you alone."

"As you wish Don."

"Mother, it had come to my attention that you have committed several acts of treason against this family and against me.."

"Don't be foolish. I'm your mother. I have always had your best interests and the best interests of the family at heart."

"Is that so? Tell me mother, why did you meet with Geraldine's father to discuss Geraldine and I being engaged without speaking to father or I about it?"

"As I've already explained, it was what was in the best interest of the family. This feud between Geraldine's family and our family needed to end. There had been too much bloodshed. I did what neither you or your father were willing to do. I sat down and negotiated a peace treaty between the two families."

"That was not your place. You were not Father's consigliere nor mine. Next question why did neither you or father, inform me that Crystal had come to the house the day of my wedding to Geraldine to speak with me concerning an urgent matter?"

"Because it didn't matter. You were getting married to Geraldine. I knew that Her being there would have only caused complications... We couldn't afford for you to back out of the arrangement. There was too much at stake... So we did what was best in the best interests of the family. We sent her away..."

"You had no right authority to make that decision. Being the new Don all decisions concerning what was in the family's best interest were mine alone to make. The day she came to speak to me, she was there to tell me she was pregnant wasn't she?"

"Yes."

"Yet, you felt that it was in my best interests to keep this information from me?" Why?"

"You had just taken over the family. The last thing you needed was to have a wife that no one respected. You weren't ready for the responsibility of being a father.."

"Again, that wasn't your decision to make."

"It has also been brought to my attention that you threatened to sue for custody of my daughter."

"I only wanted what is best for my grandchild. As her father, you could provide a more stable environment for her to be raised in. Unlike her mother who shuffled her to different homeless shelters and strip clubs."

"Geraldine were you aware of my mother's intent to sue for custody of my daughter?"

"Yes. When I discovered that Crystal and Catrina were not only living in homeless shelters but above a strip club, I knew we had to do something to rescue the poor girl."

"Why not come to me and let me handle the situation?"

"Because...." Geraldine looked over at my mother for answers.

"If I wanted my mother's answer I would have asked her the question. Or could it possibly be that the two of you were collaborating together all along?"

Suddenly Geraldine rushes over to a nearby trash can and throws up. I cock an eyebrow at her . "If this is a stunt to make me feel sorry for you it won't work." Before she has a chance to reply she rushes back over to trashcan and throws up again.

"Antonio can't you see that she is sick? Please She needs a doctor."

"All three of you could have cost me the most precious treasures in my life and you want me to just let it slide? What type of message would that send to my men?"

"Please..."

Before I could reply there was a knock on the door and I sighed. "Yes?"

"Sorry for the intrusion Sir but I've been informed that Your daughter wishes to speak with you Sir." A servant says timidly. "Shall I escort her in?" I nod.

"Daddy."

"What is it Princess?"

"Is mom sick?" She points to Geraldine who frowns at her.

"I am not your mother." She grumbles glaring at me with an irritated expression on her face.

"As my wife you are her mother."

"Step mother." Geraldine replies with a grumble.

"Step Mother or not you are her mother. Especially now that Crystal is in a coma from which she may never awaken."