After a few seconds, Stefano Gambino, Don of the Gambino famiglia, replied flatly, "Deal."
I only had to wait for three more days before delivering them a massive "surprise".
…
Luca never came back after he left. He sent me a text to explain, but I deleted it without a glance. When he sent someone to deliver my favorite cherry pie, I tossed it straight into the trash.
The next day, I completed my discharge paperwork and went home alone. As soon as I walked through the door, I saw Luca sitting on a garden bench in the sun with his arm around Gina and a boy.
The moment he noticed me, the smile on his face froze. He quickly let go of Gina's arm and walked toward me, holding the boy's hand.
"Elena, let me introduce you. His name is Lorenzo, and he's an orphan from the orphanage. I was thinking… maybe we could adopt him," he said.
I looked at Lorenzo. His features were an exact copy of Luca's. He acted well-behaved and greeted me with a deep bow, but his eyes were full of contempt.
Luca patted Gina on the shoulder. "This is Gina. She's been looking after Lorenzo. She was worried that he might have trouble settling in, so she offered to stay for a few days to help with the transition."
Gina bowed to me with a perfect, polite smile. "Donna Marino, I'll help you take care of Lorenzo. I promise I won't cause you any trouble," she said.
If I hadn't known the truth, I might have believed her feigned kindness.
"Papa! Does this mean I can be with you and Mamma every day now?" Lorenzo asked.
He was practically bouncing with excitement, his gaze darting between Luca and Gina.
After a moment of awkwardness, Luca regained his composure. He deliberately took my hand and Lorenzo's, his voice sweet as honey. "Of course. From now on, we'll be a famiglia."
My stomach churned as I watched Luca put on a show. "How thoughtful of you. You even brought along a nanny."
I glanced at Gina, and her expression stiffened. "Donna Marino, I know that you're in a bad mood. If my presence bothers you, I can just stay in the storage room," she said.
"That won't be necessary," I replied coldly.
This famiglia would cease to exist in two days anyway, so they could do whatever they wanted.
Seeing that I didn't object, Gina led Lorenzo upstairs, looking satisfied. Soon after, a dull thud came from upstairs.
"What is this thing? It's so ugly!" Lorenzo said.
Sensing that something was wrong, I hurried up to Niccolo's room. When I arrived, I saw Lorenzo holding a crystal elk figurine, which was Niccolo's favorite ornament.
"Stop!" I shouted.
My fingertips had barely brushed the antlers when Lorenzo released the figurine. He gave me a sly grin as it slammed to the floor and shattered.
"Such an old, ugly thing doesn't deserve to stay in a nice estate like this. This room is mine now. I can throw away any old junk I want!"
Lorenzo's words cut straight through me.
I lost control and dropped to the floor, desperately trying to put the shattered figurine back together, but it was beyond saving.
"Niccolo, I'm sorry. This is my fault. I failed to protect it…" I murmured.
Just then, footsteps echoed outside the door.
Gina suddenly shoved Lorenzo to the ground and fell beside him. "Help! Donna Marino is trying to kill us!" she screamed.
Luca burst into the room to find Gina and Lorenzo sprawled on the floor, their faces full of terror. He roared, "Elena, have you lost your mind?"
I looked up, my eyes burning with uncontrollable rage. "He broke Niccolo's figurine on purpose!"
"That's not what happened, Papa. I only touched it, and then she pushed me."
Lorenzo spoke cautiously, his flawless act making him look like a well-behaved child who had been wronged.
Anger flashed across Luca's face. "Elena, how could you be so cruel? Lorenzo is an orphan. He just arrived here and doesn't know anyone. How could you bully him?"
I argued back fiercely. "I didn't!"
But Luca didn't believe me at all. He glared at me. "Shut up! You've gone too far!"
Seeing this, Gina quickly put on a pitiful expression. "Don Rossi, this is all my fault. Please don't argue with Donna Marino over us. We'll leave right now," she said.
Luca immediately pulled her into his arms, shielding her. "You're not going anywhere. Elena is just upset. What she says doesn't count."
He looked at me lying miserably on the floor, a hint of hesitation in his eyes. He reached out to help me up, but I slapped his hand away.
His Adam's apple bobbed, and his expression darkened. He pulled Gina and Lorenzo close and walked out of the room.
The sound of Gina's muffled sobbing came from outside the door. "The way she looked at Lorenzo just now… It felt like she wanted to kill our child. I'm so scared."
Luca held her gently. "No, I'll never let that happen. I promised you that the heir of the Rossi famiglia will only be Lorenzo."
