Chapter 1 Years ago, for the sake of Marco, I forsook the glory of the Rossi family. My father—the Godfather whose name struck terror throughout Sicily—was convinced Marco was unworthy of me. In his eyes, Marco was nothing more than a street thug from Brooklyn who didn't know his place. But I loved Marco. And so, I renounced my status as heir to the family, buried my name, and eloped with him to Chicago. I never imagined that the love we swore would be undying wouldn't even survive seven years. And now, I was about to leave him. Yet, returning to the family would be no simple feat; it meant admitting the magnitude of my initial folly. The memory of my father's utterly disappointed gaze seven years ago unsettled me. I closed my eyes, trying to steady my breathing and reclaim the cold resolve and decisiveness that once belonged to a Mafia princess. At that precise moment, a scent of cheap vanilla, thick enough to be nauseating, mixed with tobacco smoke, instantly filled the air, choking me. Marco wrapped his arms around me from behind, his voice husky. "Did I wake you? It's just past midnight. Go back to sleep, hmm?" He didn't know that on the nights he went to see Sofia, I only pretended to sleep. In reality, I lay wide awake, clutching the cold handle of a gun, waiting for him to come home. Lately, he stayed at Sofia's until dawn. His entire body reeked of her pungent perfume. I pushed him away in disgust. "Go take a shower. You smell like you've been rolling around in a dumpster." He sniffed his shirt collar, looking slightly embarrassed, and took a step back. "Sorry, Elena. I neglected your feelings. "I know I've been helping Sofia deal with her troubles a lot lately. Does that make you uncomfortable? I'll spend more time with you in the coming days, alright? "I'm sure Sofia will understand; she's just a poor, pitiable girl." I watched in silence as he walked into the bathroom. Since when did spending time with his own wife require that woman's permission? To the outside world, I, the wife of his humble beginnings, likely appeared as the stumbling block preventing the gang boss from finding true love. He walked out of the bathroom wearing only a towel. As he dried the water droplets rolling down his abs, he looked as wild and charming as the day I first saw him in the underground boxing ring. Back then, seeking a thrill, I had slipped out of the family safe house, only to be ambushed by a rival gang. Passing by, he had saved me when I was isolated and helpless, taking a knife for me in the process. The image of him tearing off his T-shirt so I could bandage his wound, blood flowing down over his tattoos, had once made my heart race. I had hurriedly looked away, but he wouldn't let me. "I saved you. That means your life belongs to me now. "I fell for you at first sight. Be my woman. You can look at me whenever you want, alright?" Catching my gaze fixed on his scars once again, he laughed and pulled me into his arms. "Baby, want a closer look? Come here." He excitedly tried to undo the towel, but I frowned and turned my face away. He was no longer the man who had dared to fight the whole world for me seven years ago. No matter how many times he showered, the nauseating stench of betrayal could not be washed away. It made me sick. Before I could push him away, the sharp, urgent ringing of the telephone interrupted us. It was Sofia's bodyguard. "Have you called a doctor? What do you mean she's having a sudden panic attack?" The moment Marco heard Sofia was unwell, he shoved me aside without hesitation, rushing to put on his bulletproof vest and jacket. "She was fine when we were at the apartment just now..." Then, as if realizing what he had said, he paused, glancing at me with a look of guilt. "I'll be back soon. "Paolo is dead. I'm her only reliance in the gang. Wait for me, okay?" He never needed my permission or agreement to go see Sofia, unlike the caution he displayed when he was with me. He simply took it for granted that I would wait for him indefinitely, like a fool. But I didn't want to wait anymore. And I wouldn't wait anymore. I gave him a faint smile, which completely put him at ease, and then he rushed out the door—abandoning me and our son, Luca, yet again. What he didn't know was that I had already received word: he was planning to formally introduce Sofia to everyone at the family gathering. I closed my eyes and dialed that number, dust-laden from years of disuse. Perhaps this was the best outcome. His betrayal gave me the resolve to leave with Luca without looking back. Chapter 2 I reached the family steward with ease. They were overjoyed, especially my father. Upon learning he was a grandfather, the Godfather's voice trembled with emotion as he demanded that Luca and I return to Italy immediately via a private route. Just then, my sleeping son murmured softly in his dream: "Daddy, you promised me..." His fifth birthday was in two days. Even in his sleep, he was holding tight to Marco's promise to take him to the amusement park. I gently stroked his sleeping face, tears welling in my eyes. Just two more days... I wanted Luca to leave without any regrets. But before dawn could break, a rude pounding on the door shattered his sweet dream. It was Marco's mother, Donna Isabella, sending her henchmen to take Luca and me to her estate. I frowned, knowing Isabella had always looked down on us. In her eyes, I was nothing more than a penniless woman of unknown origin with no family background, climbing the social ladder by snagging her precious son, Marco. She didn't like Luca either. After all, she believed that a woman like Sofia—whose father was a local capo and whose background was well-known—was the only candidate worthy of the title "Boss's Wife." Unlike me, Luca seemed excited. He thought Marco was finally sending someone to bring him home. But when we arrived at Isabella's estate, we were greeted by relatives of the Moretti family, all eyeing us with disdain. Marco, who hadn't returned all night, was standing beside Sofia, tenderly draping a coat over her shoulders. Isabella completely ignored Luca and me, raising her wine glass with a smile to announce: "Sofia is pregnant. According to our rules, Marco will take over all business in this district. "Their child will be the rightful heir. Soon, Marco and Sofia will hold their engagement ceremony." The hall instantly erupted, everyone turning to congratulate Sofia. And I stared straight at Marco. He placed his hand gently on Sofia's stomach, as if he couldn't see me and Luca standing just a few feet away. "Yes, I'm finally going to be a father." Finally? A sharp pain pierced my heart. Beside me, Luca's small hand gripped mine tightly, his voice trembling as he asked, "Mommy, what is Daddy saying? Am I not his child?" His innocent voice silenced the entire hall instantly. Immediately following the silence, Marco's relatives let out cold sneers. "Just a bastard from who knows where, daring to interrupt here. "If people found out the boss of the Moretti family had an illegitimate son, do you know how much that would damage our reputation?" "A low-born woman bringing her bastard to fight for the heir's position? Over my dead body!" "No one must know that child is Marco's!" Isabella scoffed, looking at us with utter contempt. "From now on, the official story is that this child is an orphan we adopted. As for Elena, she's just the nanny Marco hired to take care of him." I tightened my grip on Luca's hand. I had always known Isabella hated us. It was she who had first suggested Sofia carry Marco's child. "I'm not an orphan! I have a mommy and a daddy..." Luca's eyes reddened, fighting back tears as he whispered his protest. "Mom, isn't this going too far?" Marco let go of Sofia's hand and took a step toward us. But before he could get close, I saw Sofia reach out and tug at his sleeve, feigning weakness. He hesitated for a few seconds. Then, he fell silent. "Fine. I agree to your arrangement." I took a step forward with Luca, facing Marco and Isabella head-on. "My child is not an orphan. He does not need to be adopted. "From today on, Luca belongs only to me. He has nothing to do with Marco." I crouched down, fighting back tears, and whispered to Luca, "Baby, don't call him Daddy anymore, okay?" Marco froze. He knew that the only reason I had agreed to stay in this smog-filled city and tolerate the rumors about him and Sofia was for Luca. He had promised to give Luca a legitimate identity. And now, I was personally relinquishing all of it. He stared into my eyes, trying to decipher my emotions. But I looked away. He would never have my loyalty again. Luca was too young to understand what was happening before his eyes. He cried heart-wrenchingly, his eyes swollen. I just wanted to take him home and comfort him, but Sofia blocked our path. "Elena, I heard Marco gave you a ring engraved with the family crest. "Since I am now his fiancée, and my child will be the family heir, shouldn't you hand it over? "It wouldn't be good if people saw you still wearing it and got the wrong idea." So that was it. This was the real reason they called us here. Purely to humiliate us. I turned to Marco and asked coldly, "Is this what you want too?" That ring, though crude, was the first thing he gave me the night we married. He had told me he wanted to give me everything—his name, his protection, his entire life. He had sworn I would be his only woman. For that promise, I had betrayed my father, concealed my identity, and given my heart. Now, facing my question, he avoided my gaze. "Elena, it's just a ring..." "Fine." I glanced at the dark red hickey on Sofia's neck—left by him—and without hesitation, I took off the ring. Watching her impatiently slide the ring onto her own finger, I even smiled and congratulated her: "It fits you much better than me; after all, it is only worthy of a cheap imitation." As I turned to take Luca's hand and walked out without looking back, Marco's expression twisted in shock. Chapter 3 Luca couldn't understand what had happened today. He wept silently in my arms, asking if Marco didn't want him anymore, if I was the only person in the world who loved him. I hugged him tightly. "That's not true. Many people love my little warrior. "Grandpa Antonio and Grandma Maria miss us very much. They can't wait to see you. Do you want to leave with me to find them?" He hesitated, clutching the toy gun Marco had given him last year. "But... I don't want to leave Daddy..." I fought back tears and comforted him gently. "Daddy and Grandma Isabella don't want us to stay here. do you want to call him Uncle Marco for the rest of your life?" He was stunned for a moment, then slowly lowered the toy. Tears welled up in his eyes as he begged, "Can I at least spend this birthday with Daddy before we go? I just want one last memory with him." He refused to call him "Uncle Marco." I silently wiped away my tears and kissed the top of his head. "Of course you can, my darling." But two days later, on his birthday, Marco, who had promised to throw him a party, never showed up. I called him, demanding angrily, "Today is Luca's birthday. You promised you would be back. Where are you?" I could handle disappointment, but I couldn't bear watching Luca's last shred of hope be destroyed. Marco hung up without saying a word. "Daddy isn't coming, is he?" Luca lowered his head, staring at the pizza in front of him, trying to convince himself. "It's okay, Mommy. Uncle Marco is just too busy. You can celebrate with me." This was the first time he called Marco "Uncle." He seemed to have accepted the fact that Marco didn't want him anymore, but the way he bit his lip and forced a smile tore my heart to shreds. In my anger, I was about to dial the number again when I suddenly received a message from Marco. "Come to the 'Garden of Eden' club." "Baby, look! Daddy remembered your birthday!" Luca's eyes instantly lit up with hope, and he gasped in excitement. "Mommy! Daddy remembered my birthday! Let's go! He must have prepared so many surprises for me!" After getting confirmation from Marco that he had indeed prepared a party, Luca was ecstatic. He grabbed my hand and practically dragged me all the way to that luxurious nightclub. However, the moment I stepped through the doors, the scene before me made my heart sink to the bottom of the abyss. The hall was filled with expensive champagne towers. Gang members in formal wear were conversing. This didn't look like a birthday party at all. This looked more like... However, Luca didn't notice. He ran straight toward Marco, who was standing in the center of the stage, and plunged into his arms. "Daddy! I'm here! Were you waiting for me to cut the cake?" Marco looked utterly shocked when he saw us. "Why are you here?" He was wearing a custom tuxedo, standing next to Sofia. His reaction confirmed my worst suspicions. The guests began to whisper. "Isn't today the day Boss Marco announces his engagement? Where did this kid come from?" "The kid called him Daddy. Is it a bastard child?" Hearing these words, Marco suddenly pushed Luca away. "What did you just call me?" Luca stumbled back and fell to the floor. He looked up at Marco, his eyes filled with fear, not knowing what he had done wrong. This was too much. I rushed forward to pick him up, ready to leave, but Sofia blocked my way. "Elena, today is the day Marco and I officially announce our engagement. You came here deliberately to ruin the scene, didn't you?" The smug sneer on her face said it all. She was the one who sent that text. She linked her arm through Marco's, her voice dripping with mockery: "I warned you before. No matter how much you love our Boss, you can't just drag in some stray bastard and claim it's his child. "Am I right, Marco?" Marco avoided my gaze and nodded. I held my sobbing son tightly, my patience finally reaching its limit. "Luca is not a bastard. I gave birth to him. "And his father is a great Godfather. Far greater than anyone in this trashy gang." I turned to leave with Luca, but Sofia suddenly rushed up and slapped me hard across the face. "You dare lie? You're just foreign trash! We were kind enough to take you and your baggage in. "Is this how you repay us? Spreading rumors about our Boss, insulting our family? Someone teach her a lesson!" The gang's thugs swarmed forward, pinning me to the ground. Their fists rained down on me mercilessly. Through the searing pain, I looked up at Marco with red eyes, finding his face full of hesitation, while Sofia clung tightly to his arm. I owed him nothing. Seven years ago, he saved my life, and since then I had loved him with all my heart. But all of it—all the love, all the memories—was being pulverized under their fists. Luca cried out in despair. He grabbed Marco's pant leg and suddenly fell to his knees. "Uncle—no, Boss Marco! I was wrong! Please, please don't hit my mommy!" Both Marco and I froze. "Stop!" Marco immediately ordered his men to back down, staring at Luca as if he couldn't believe what he had just heard. "What did you just call me?" "Boss Marco, since Mommy and I aren't welcome here, we'll leave right now." He seemed to grow up in an instant. His small, trembling hands helped me up, and under the gaze of everyone present, he supported me as we walked out of the nightclub. Marco's message popped up on my phone screen. "Don't be mad. Take Luca home. I'll be back tonight." Luca ignored the message. He looked at me, fighting back tears, and asked, "Mommy, you said Grandpa and Grandma miss us, right? "Then let's go now." I looked at Luca, who had suddenly become so mature, my throat tight, and nodded with difficulty. That night, I burned everything that connected us to this place. Then, I took him and left forever.
