The Dancer

Chapter 16

Dinner was now under way and I can honestly say that I wish I didn't agree to come here,but my father reassured me that we all needed to come to some sort of agreement so that all parties could move on.

"You're out of your mind if you think that my daughter is going to get less than ten thousand a month in alimony and child support." Mr.Ramone spat in anger. I looked at him like he was insane. My father keeping his cool.

"Who said anything about alimony?" Dad shrugged. "She stepped out of the marriage bringing a child into it that has been proven NOT to be a Giudice. She's lucky if she gets the bare minimum." Natalia and her parents now looked worried.

"Why do y'all keep saying Viviana isn't Crissy's?!"Natalia shrieked still trying to keep up the facade. "I don't believe he got a DNA test for her."

"And why do you say that?" Elio asked looking aggravated. Everyone looked over at him,but she didn't acknowledge his question.

"Elio stay in a child's place." Mrs.Ramone snarls.

"Watch your tone Sylvia. My son has a point. The test was done when the child was in infancy at the hospital. Why is this being disputed all of a sudden?" Dad defends. I knew that I needed to take the reins. Dad's not doing this for no reason. If I know him. He's going to expect me to do him a favor because of his 'support' here today.

"I'm just a bit confused here." Sylvia said. "I was under thee impression that you two were trying to make it work,and that all was forgiven." She said looking between Natalia and I.

"Who lied to you?" Elio asked sarcastically making a face like there was a funky smell that hung in the room.

"Your daughter is a liar. I'm sorry, but she's made that whole scenario up,and as I recall in our prenuptial agreement if one of us cheats that forfeits any kind of alimony/palimony."

"I don't recall that."Mr. Ramone exclaims abruptly smacking the table.

"Yeah well I do. It was because you made the accusation that I'd be the one who cheats. So I made sure to put that in mine as well to which she signed." I said placing the prenup,and divorce papers on the table side by side.

Natalia wore a look of disbelief. "Wh-What do you want Cris?" She asked dejectedly.

"I want you to sign the divorce papers which will entail that we share custody of Leo. You can have one property of your choosing free and clear. You will not receive alimony,or child support for your daughter, from me at least. Leo is and will be taken care of accordingly." I pass her the pen to which she took. Her father looked enraged.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT. YOU BASTARD!" Her father snarls yanking the pen from out of her hand. "Natalia you never sign anything without reading it over." She nods at her father giving him a sad smile. She is such an actress.

"Why the hesitation Andreas? We know the truth." Mom finally chimed in shocking us all. She was team Natalia not five minutes ago. "Maybe I'm a little slow,but I know my son. He would never abandon a child,or turn his back on you if YOU didn't do something that warranted it so. I have to believe that he is telling the truth. Not because he's my son,but because that is not in his nature. I too was under the impression that y'all were working things out." She paused taking a breath looking over at me. "Cristiano forgive me for not seeing it sooner." I looked at her with confusion. What did she mean? "I-" She was cut off.

"How do you know?" Mr.Ramone asked making a motion for his family to get up. I guess they were leaving now. Mom remained stoic.

"Because your daughter didn't once say Cris was lying about her affairs,or question anything until you said something." Mom finished her statement. They all looked appalled. Mr.Ramone grabbed the paperwork.