KING OF NEW YORK

CHAP21. Meet the in laws

**Chapter: Meeting the In-Laws**

The Romanov family estate was a fortress, both in its imposing architecture and its aura of power. Alina Starkov had not grown up within these walls, but tonight was different. This wasn't just another dinner with her family. It was an introduction-Lee Chang, her husband, the father of her unborn child, was to meet the Romanovs officially for the first time. The tension in the air was palpable as they entered the dining room, where the long, ornate table gleamed under the chandeliers.

Victor Romanov, still recovering from his stroke, sat at the head of the table, his presence quieter than usual but still commanding. His face was pale, and the lines of age and stress were more pronounced after his recent health scare. Nevertheless, he was determined to host this dinner, to present Alina and her husband to the family.

As they took their seats, a few family members exchanged curious glances, their eyes darting between Lee and Alina. The cultural clash was evident from the start. The Romanovs, steeped in Russian tradition and mafia politics, were meeting Lee Chang, a man with a background in Korean and Chinese heritage but also mafia don of the Chang family. Everybody knew about "the evil twins" the nickname he shared with Sean , a sharp contrast to the Russian way of life.

Lee, ever composed, remained calm despite the subtle stares. He knew this dinner was more than a formality. It was a test-a test of his loyalty, his strength, and his ability to protect not only Alina but also the Romanov family legacy. However, even he couldn't ignore the tension building in the room, particularly from a group of men seated at the far end of the table, all relatives and associates close to Elijah Romanov.

One of them, a broad-shouldered man named Sergei, smirked and raised his glass toward Lee. "So, Alina's husband, huh? A Chang. Interesting choice," he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Tell me, Lee, can you handle your drink like we do? It's important for a man in our family to hold his liquor."

Lee caught the challenge in his tone. It wasn't just about drinking; it was about proving himself. "I've had my fair share of drinks," Lee responded calmly, raising his glass in acknowledgment.

The evening progressed, and as the wine and vodka flowed, the Romanovs kept a close eye on Lee, waiting for him to falter. Alina could see what was happening-her family was testing Lee's limits. She gave him a reassuring glance, but Lee's focus was on the men across from him. Every sip, every toast was part of a larger game, one he was determined to win.

It wasn't long before Sergei and the others decided to up the ante, pouring shot after shot for Lee. To everyone's surprise, Lee handled it with grace, his expression never wavering. Even as the alcohol settled in, he remained in control, earning the reluctant respect of some of the men at the table.

Victor, who had been silent for most of the dinner, watched his new son-in-law with interest. He knew what this dinner was about, and though his health was fragile, he could still read the room. The real test, however, came when Elijah Romanov made his unexpected entrance.

Elijah's appearance was always unsettling. His presence carried an air of menace, and the tension in the room spiked the moment he stepped inside. Lee's body tensed instinctively. Elijah had been quiet since the incident between him and Dimitri, and his sudden calmness was unnerving. He greeted Victor with a brief nod before turning his gaze to Lee.

"Good to see you again, Lee," Elijah said, his tone neutral but his eyes calculating. "I trust you're settling in well with the family."

Lee forced a smile, knowing better than to show any discomfort. "We're adjusting."

Elijah smirked but said nothing more. The rest of the dinner passed in strained silence, with Lee making a mental note to discuss this encounter with Sean later. Something about Elijah's behavior was off, and Lee needed to know what his next move would be.

---

Meanwhile, across the city, Lucas and Aisha were attending an entirely different dinner at the Sunak household. Unlike the tense atmosphere of the Romanov estate, this dinner was marked by an entirely different kind of chaos. Arish Sunak, the Mayor of New York and Aisha's father, had invited them over under the pretense of a family gathering. But Lucas knew better-Arish had been facing mounting pressure, with reports of sabotage and accusations of illicit trafficking swirling around him. The dinner was a cover, a chance to handle some business while pretending everything was normal.

From the start, things were far from normal. Aishwarya Sunak, Aisha's stepmother, was fashionably late, leaving the rest of the family waiting awkwardly. When she finally arrived, it became clear why-she had decided to take charge of the cooking herself, a decision that quickly backfired. The dishes were either overcooked, too spicy, or outright burnt. The tension between Arish and Aishwarya was evident as he made biting remarks about the food, each one cutting deeper than the last.

"I didn't know we were having charcoal for dinner," Arish muttered under his breath, pushing his plate aside.

Aishwarya, already frazzled, couldn't take it anymore. She stood abruptly, her face flushed with embarrassment and anger. "I'm sorry the dinner isn't up to your standards," she snapped before storming out of the dining room.

Aisha watched her stepmother leave, her heart sinking. She knew Aishwarya had tried her best, and the evening had clearly gone off the rails. After a moment, Aisha excused herself from the table and followed Aishwarya upstairs.

She found her stepmother in the kitchen, pacing angrily. "Aishwarya?" Aisha began gently. "Are you okay?"

Aishwarya sighed heavily, her frustration evident. "I just wanted everything to be perfect, but I should have known better. Nothing I do is ever enough for your father."

Aisha placed a hand on her stepmother's arm. "You did your best. That's all that matters."

Aishwarya's eyes softened as she looked at Aisha, and for the first time in a long while, she opened up. "My marriage to your father... it's falling apart, Aisha. He's not interested in me anymore, not like he used to be. I'm trying to win him back, but I don't know how. Cooking, trying to make things perfect-it's all for him. But it's never enough."

Aisha listened quietly as Aishwarya spoke about her past, about the difficult times she faced growing up in India after her father's bankruptcy, and the struggles she endured when she first came to the United States. She shared stories of the small jobs she took to support her family, the hard work, the determination to never return to that place of misery.

"I vowed I'd never go back to that life," Aishwarya whispered, tears threatening to spill over. "But now, I feel like I'm losing everything again."

Aisha felt a newfound understanding for her stepmother. She saw her not as the perfect, aloof woman she had always imagined, but as someone who had fought hard for everything she had. As they talked, Aisha realized how much they had in common-their desire for stability, their fear of losing the people they loved.

When Aisha left her father's house that night, her view of Aishwarya had changed entirely. The woman who had once seemed so distant now felt like someone she could truly relate to. And with the mounting pressure in their respective families, Aisha knew that these alliances-both old and new-would be crucial in the power struggles ahead.