THIRTY TWO_IN_LAWS
The ride back to the DeLuca mansion was quiet.
Aiden sat beside Alexander in the back seat of the black car, staring out the window as the city lights passed by.
His mind was still replaying everything that happened at the warehouse.
Marco’s words.
Alexander’s confession.
And the kiss.
Aiden felt his cheeks warm slightly again and quickly looked away.
Beside him, Alexander noticed.
“What are you thinking about, kitten?”
Aiden cleared his throat.
“Nothing.”
Alexander smirked.
“You’re a terrible liar.”
Aiden crossed his arms.
“I’m just tired.”
“That’s a better excuse.”
The car finally pulled into the large gates of the DeLuca mansion.
The moment they stepped out, one of Alexander’s guards rushed toward them.
“Boss.”
Alexander frowned slightly.
“What is it?”
The guard looked nervous.
“You have visitors.”
Alexander’s eyes narrowed.
“At this hour?”
“Yes, boss.”
“Who?”
The guard hesitated.
“Your… in-laws.”
Aiden froze.
“My what?”
Alexander slowly turned his head toward him.
“You didn’t invite them, did you?”
Aiden shook his head immediately.
“No!”
Alexander sighed.
“Of course not.”
They walked into the mansion together.
The moment Aiden stepped into the living room, his stomach dropped.
Two very familiar faces were sitting on the couch.
His stepmother.
And his stepsister.
The same people who had made his life miserable for years.
The moment they saw Alexander, both of them stood up quickly.
Fear was written all over their faces.
Aiden noticed immediately.
They’re scared of him.
Alexander’s reputation clearly reached them.
His stepsister forced a fake smile.
“Alexander… it’s nice to see you again.”
Alexander looked at her coldly.
“I can’t say the same.”
The woman flinched slightly.
Aiden stepped forward.
“What are you doing here?”
His stepmother suddenly grabbed his hands dramatically.
“Aiden! My dear son!”
Aiden immediately pulled his hands away.
“Don’t touch me.”
The fake kindness on her face disappeared for a second before returning again.
“We came to apologize.”
Aiden blinked.
“Apologize?”
His stepsister nodded quickly.
“Yes! We realized we treated you badly before.”
Alexander leaned slightly against the wall, watching the entire scene silently.
His eyes were sharp.
Aiden crossed his arms.
“Now you want to apologize?”
His stepmother smiled nervously.
“Well… you’re married now.”
Aiden’s expression hardened.
“Say what you really mean.”
The woman hesitated.
Then she glanced at Alexander.
“We just want to fix our relationship with you.”
Alexander finally spoke.
“Interesting.”
Everyone turned toward him.
His voice was calm but cold.
“Because the last time I saw both of you…”
His gaze became sharper.
“You were treating him like he didn’t exist.”
Both women went pale.
Aiden looked surprised.
“You’ve seen them before?”
Alexander nodded slightly.
“I told you before. I knew your family.”
His stepsister quickly spoke again.
“That was a misunderstanding!”
Alexander chuckled quietly.
“No.”
His voice dropped.
“It wasn’t.”
The room fell silent.
Aiden looked between them.
“Why are you really here?”
His stepmother sighed dramatically.
“We just want to visit our dear son.”
Alexander’s patience clearly ran out.
“Guards.”
Two men immediately stepped forward.
The women looked panicked.
“Wait!” the stepmother said quickly.
Alexander crossed his arms.
“You have ten seconds to tell the truth.”
His stepsister swallowed.
“…We need help.”
Aiden stared at them.
“What kind of help?”
The woman looked directly at Alexander.
“Financial help.”
Alexander laughed.
The sound was cold.
“I knew it.”
Aiden shook his head slowly.
“You came all the way here for money?”
His stepmother tried to smile again.
“You’re family.”
Aiden’s voice turned firm.
“No.”
Both women looked shocked.
“No?” his stepsister repeated.
Aiden looked at them calmly.
“You never treated me like family.”
The room went quiet.
Alexander looked at Aiden with something close to pride.
His stepmother’s expression turned angry.
“So this is how you treat us now?”
Aiden didn’t move.
“Yes.”
Alexander finally spoke again.
“Throw them out.”
The guards immediately moved toward the door.
Both women started protesting loudly.
“You’ll regret this!”
“Ungrateful boy!”
But the doors closed behind them seconds later.
The mansion finally became quiet again.
Aiden exhaled slowly.
“That was exhausting.”
Alexander looked at him.
“You handled that well.”
Aiden shrugged.
“I learned from the best.”
Alexander smirked.
“Oh?”
Aiden walked past him toward the stairs.
“Yes.”
Then he added casually—
“Cold, scary mafia boss energy.”
Alexander laughed softly.
“Careful, kitten.”
Aiden turned back slightly.
“Why?”
Alexander’s eyes gleamed.
“You might start liking that side of me.”
Aiden smiled faintly.
“Maybe I already do.”
And for the first time that night…
Alexander looked genuinely surprised.