A Shotgun Wedding with the Mafia Don-Chapter 44: Old dogs couldn’t learn new tricks

Three bees busily buzzed around the greenhouse, hovering above the long lines of flowerbeds, eagerly dipping their tube-like mouths in the numerous varieties of flowers, as if enjoying a buffet.

Meanwhile, a diverse array of butterflies of varying sizes with distinctive kaleidoscopic patterns fluttered through the air, adding color and beauty to the already radiant sunny morning.

"It’s a glorious day, isn’t it, Taylor?" He mumbled as fresh, crisp air rushed into his lungs and adrenaline pumped through his veins.

His nose heartily sniffed the sweet, musky scent of the vibrant roses, gardenias, chrysanthemums, lavenders, and other wide array of botanical plants that spread before him.

"It is indeed, Sir." His old dear friend and butler agreed with him, bowing his head.

"Something tells me that this would be my lucky day." He dropped the mini shovel on the table, grabbed the pruning scissors, and cut three freshly blooming roses, trimming off their thorns and excess leaves.

"Just look at my roses." He proudly showed off his latest masterpiece. "Aren’t they lovely?" A few wrinkles appeared on the corner of his eyes as his lips curved into a bright smile.

Since retiring from his position as the CEO of the Morton Group and handing the reins of the Mafia Don to his son, he had diverted his free time to cultivating these beautiful flowers for his wife.

Every morning, he would search for the best blooming flowers from the different batches and pick them. Then, he would place them on his wife’s bedside so that as soon as she opened her eyes, it would be the first thing she would see.

"I’m sure Madam Dianne would love them." Taylor nodded, clearly agreeing with him. "They are quite breathtaking."

"Well, not as breathtaking as my wife." He said, picturing his wife waking up with a wide, brimming smile on her face once she saw his gift.

For years, his wife had patiently stood by his side, providing him with quiet strength and unconditional support. Behind the scenes, she had helped him build his empire.

Furthermore, Dianne gave up her dreams to become his wife and mother of his children, loving their family without demanding anything in return.

Now, it was his turn to return the favor.

"Excuse me, Sir, but Maddox just arrived." One of his security guards alerted him before several men entered his private garden.

Following Maddox were several of their men and a man whose hands were tied securely with a thick rope.

As soon as Maddox stopped in front of him, the other two of their men pushed their captive in front of him, forcing him to drop to his knees.

"So, what did you do again, Mitchel?" He asked, seeing the swollen eyes, the busted lips, and the heavily bruised body of the man kneeling before him.

"I swear... Max..." Mitchel raised his bloodied hands. "Don, I didn’t do anything. I was framed." He claimed, insisting on his innocence. "You know me."

"These assholes are accusing me of something I didn’t do." Mitchel continued.

But he just stared at him, studying him.

"You were caught red-handed by the security tapes. You were counting cards again." Maddox threw his accusation. "Don’t bother denying it." Kicking him on his legs to force him to confess.

Then, Maddox took out his phone and played the video on the screen for him to see the said evidence.

It was clear as day, the way the man’s eyes twitched, and his lips curved into a smile even before the dealer showed his card. It was as if Mitchel already knew he had already won.

Besides, this was not the first time his security caught Mitchel with this trick. But it seemed he would never learn.

As they said, old dogs couldn’t learn new tricks.

"You know you’re my friend. But I can’t keep tolerating your gambling habits. It’s simply terrible for business." He expressed his dismay.

Mitchel was a childhood friend. They roamed around the same social circle. Due to his bad habits, his family’s luxurious lifestyle, and disastrous investments, his company and wealth had slowly drained until they had to declare bankruptcy.

Now, his friend was buried in debt.

"Max... My Don... I swear... I’ll stop." The man fumbled with his words as fear crept into his eyes. "I’ll never do it again." Finally, admitting his mistake. "Please think of Grace and Kelly." He used his wife and daughter to beg for forgiveness.

"You already used up that card the last time my man caught you. I think it’s time that we teach you a lesson you’ll never forget." He signaled for Maddox to take care of the matter.

"Please, Max..." Mitchel pleaded repeatedly, asking for mercy, but this time, he turned a deaf ear.

Mercy was not supposed to be in a Don’s vocabulary, but for his friend, he had turned a blind eye several times before. But not anymore.

"I’m sorry, Mitchel, but I need to make an example that this type of behavior is not acceptable." Such an act could not be left unpunished, or others might take advantage of him and think he had truly gone weak and powerless.

Soon, the cry of pain and suffering filled the silence. Then, red, thick liquid spilled on the floor, slowly spreading until it stopped just a few inches from his feet.

"I hope you won’t cross the Don again." He heard Maddox’s voice, who still called him the Don even if he kept insisting that the title didn’t belong to him anymore.

Then, he watched his men drag the limped body of his friend out of his greenhouse. He just hoped that his friend would not repeat his mistake again, because the next time, his punishment would be far worse.

"Sir, I’ll have this clean..." Taylor said as he waved his hand, but he stopped him.

"There’s no hurry." He turned his back on Taylor and returned to trimming his plants.

"Sir, about Maria’s daughter, Leah..." Taylor said, slightly showing signs of hesitation.

From the way Taylor was behaving, he could tell that he was concerned about the girl.

"Where is she?" He asked, dusting off the dirt that clung to his gloves before pulling them off his hands and setting them aside.

When he heard about yesterday’s incident, he was not mad. But more like curious. He had heard about her, but hadn’t seen her yet.

"Leah, come in." Taylor guided the young girl into his garden until she stood a few meters away from him.

Immediately, he noticed how she slightly flinched when she noticed the pool of blood that spread on the tiled floor, and how she slightly hesitated when the piece of index finger blocked her path.

Surprisingly, she just skipped the appendage and continued walking, not minding if she stepped on some blood.

"Did the blood frighten you?" He asked as soon as the woman stopped just a meter away from him.

Something told him that it didn’t. But he believed most girls would tremble at the sight of blood, especially if there was a piece of finger lying with it.

"No, not really," Leah boldly answered, hands balled into a fist by her side, shoulders squared, body stiffened as a ramrod, and head bowed.

"My Mom already told me what you do. But like what my mother said, what happens in this house needs to stay in this house."

"I see." He could tell that Maria had raised her daughter well. "Did she also tell you the price of breaking any of my rules?"

"Yes!" She firmly said. This time, she looked up and stared directly into his eyes. "So, if you want to cut my fingers to teach me a lesson, then so be it." Raising her hand and offering her fingers to him.

Frankly, he had set the meeting with Mitchel to coincide with the young girl. He wanted her to witness this gruesome scene to teach her a lesson.

But he was intrigued, more like impressed with the demeanor of the young girl. Not many young women her age, or even older, would conduct themselves with such bravery.

"Since it is just your first offense, I’ll let it go this time." He announced. Again, showing mercy to this young woman. "But don’t make another mistake because I might not be this kind next time." Warning her.

But maybe Dianne was right. Somehow, he had really gone soft since the pressure of the business had been lifted off his shoulders.

"Fair warning. Don’t take anything that doesn’t belong to you." That was one of his rules. "Because you won’t like the consequence."

The woman nodded, clearly, relief washed over her face and body.

However, he was not only referring to his properties, knowing that something else was brewing. A storm that could become catastrophic. So, before it worsened, he had to stop it.

"I understand," Leah answered with a tight lip.

But did she truly grasp the meaning of his words? He hoped so, for her sake.

Then, he dismissed the young girl as he returned to his flowers.

"Taylor, I want you to watch her carefully." He instructed his loyal butler. "I know I can’t stop my sons from thinking with their dicks, but I can control her if I have to."

Of course, he had heard that one of his sons might be interested in that girl. He could not blame him since Leah was indeed beautiful. But then again, a girl like her would not be suitable in the Morton family.

Unless—

"Sir, pardon me for asking, but why did you allow Oliver to marry Sophia, but had driven Amelia away?" Taylor looked at him, confused.

Curious.