Lorenzo was silent for a long moment before finally speaking.
"The blood union has already been arranged. Since you're still recovering, we may have to..."
"Find someone to stand in for me so the Falcone Family doesn't lose face."
I finished the sentence for him.
For a brief second, surprise flickered across his face.
Rather than waiting for him to humiliate me, I chose to spare myself what little dignity I still had.
In our world, a bride who couldn't stand at the altar became a liability.
And liabilities were always dealt with quietly.
Lorenzo searched my face for a moment before giving a slow nod.
He had already gotten everything he wanted.
Just then, my phone vibrated.
His eyes drifted toward the screen.
"Serafina," he asked, frowning slightly, "what records did you cancel?"
I deleted the notification before he could read it.
"Nothing important," I replied evenly.
"Just an old document that had expired."
"I had it updated."
He accepted the explanation without another question.
Instead, he wrapped an arm around my shoulders, his voice gentle with practiced concern.
"You're still recovering."
"If there's anything you need, tell me."
"I'll take care of it myself."
I looked up at him and smiled.
"Lorenzo... I want to leave the hospital."
His expression tightened immediately.
"No."
"You aren't well enough."
"I can't allow that."
I caught his sleeve and gave it a light tug, swaying his arm the way I never had before.
"You said we should bring a child into the Family."
"There are plenty of people at the estate to look after me."
"I just want to visit the children's home and have a look around."
"Please?"
In five years together...
It was the first time I had ever acted spoiled in front of him.
Lorenzo hesitated.
Then, slowly, he gave in.
On the drive, as the Falcone estate disappeared behind us, he reached into the back seat and handed me a beautifully wrapped box of pastries.
"I picked these up especially for you."
Only after taking the box did I notice the cheerful cartoon packaging.
It was designed for small children.
I quietly closed the lid and set it aside.
"My stomach doesn't feel very good."
I leaned back against the seat and closed my eyes.
The lie had lasted five years.
It was finally time to end it.
I slowly turned my mother's old ring around my finger twice and let every trace of emotion disappear from my face.
The moment we entered the children's home, an enforcer quietly closed the door behind us.
I settled into my wheelchair.
A little girl suddenly ran toward us with a bright smile and threw herself around Lorenzo's legs.
"Daddy!"
she called happily.
Lorenzo froze.
For the briefest instant, panic flashed across his face.
Almost immediately, he forced himself to smile.
His thumb unconsciously rolled the face of his signet ring.
"Don't misunderstand," he explained quickly.
"The Family sponsors this place."
"I've visited a few times."
"She's just an orphan who started calling me that."
I smiled softly and reached out to stroke the little girl's cheek.
"She looks so much like you."
"If you hadn't explained it..."
"I would've thought she was your daughter."
"What's her name?"
"Gia."
The answer came too quickly.
Then he hurried to add,
"She's the child we're planning to bring into our bloodline."
Before he could say anything else, Gia suddenly burst into tears.
"Mommy..."
"I want Mommy..."
The color drained from Lorenzo's face.
He glanced at me nervously.
I simply smiled.
"It's alright."
"Go comfort her."
"She's adorable."
"She even resembles her mother."
Relief washed over his face.
Without another word, he scooped Gia into his arms and hurried toward the offices at the back.
The moment he disappeared from sight, I quietly wheeled myself in the opposite direction, pretending to look for the restroom.
Just as I rounded the corner, voices drifted through a half-open door.
"Why would the Falcone heir make his own daughter pretend to be an orphan?"
one woman whispered.
"Look at the clothes she's wearing."
"They're worth more than I make all year."
"Who would actually believe she's fatherless?"
"You don't understand," another woman replied.
"He arranged everything."
"It's the easiest way to bring the child into the Falcone bloodline without anyone asking questions."
"Just don't let the Colombo girl hear any of this."
"You know what happens to people who talk too much."
Another woman sighed.
"So his heart still belongs to that Ricci woman after all."
"They were together long before the alliance between the Families was ever discussed."
"I always suspected there was something between them."
"I guess I wasn't wrong."
"A man and a woman hidden under the same roof for years..."
"Who knows what they've really been doing?"
Their laughter echoed through the hallway.
Each sound landed on my chest like another stone.
Breathing suddenly became difficult.
I gripped the wheels of my chair and silently rolled closer to the half-open door.
Then I heard the voice I knew better than my own.
"Did she agree?"
It was Ambra.
Lorenzo answered without the slightest hesitation.
"Yeah."
"She's away overseas most of the time."
"There are plenty of things she can't keep track of."
"This couldn't have worked out better."
"She'll never find out about Gia."
"And she's already agreed to bring our daughter into the Falcone bloodline herself."
