A Donna Reborn: No Longer a Substitute

When I woke up the next morning, Riccardo had already left to handle family business.

The moment I stepped out of the bedroom, I ran straight into Riccardo's mother, Sofia Fiore.

She was lounging on the leather couch in the living room, toying with a string of black pearls. Her gaze swept over me with undisguised contempt.

"My, how spoiled of you to wake up so late. You've been married into the family for a year and haven't even conceived an heir yet, and you still run off to the hospital every day? What, does Riccardo not earn enough to support you?"

For the past year, I'd swallowed her taunts for Riccardo's sake. But now, I didn't need to anymore.

"Madre, a woman has the right to choose her own life," I said evenly. "And for the record, I can very well support myself with the income I earn from working at the hospital. In fact, I've never spent a single cent of this family's money."

With that, I grabbed my bag and walked straight out of the manor. Outside, I slid into a black sedan and drove toward the hospital.

At Westworth Private Hospital, I handed the application form to the hospital director, Angelo Santoro.

"I've decided to accept the offer from Capitolium Medical University. Here's my application."

Mr. Santoro's face lit up with approval. "Very wise, indeed. I was worried you might give it up because of your position as Don Corleone's wife."

I let out a self-deprecating laugh. Wise? If I were truly wise, I wouldn't have chosen the wrong man twice.

"Mr. Santoro, please keep this a secret for now, especially from the family."

As I walked out of his office, I came face-to-face with Alice. She was dressed in a white nurse's uniform, her blonde hair braided into two pigtails. Not only did this make her look innocent, but also delicate.

But I knew exactly what kind of evil lurked beneath that sweet exterior.

Alice grabbed my arm affectionately, her smile sickly sweet. "Dalia, come over for dinner tonight. Marco said he'd make your favorite lamb chops."

The Marco she mentioned was once my fiance.

I was about to refuse when Riccardo's voice came from behind me.

"Sounds good. I just happen to be free tonight."

I turned to find him standing there. I hadn't even heard him arrive.

He slipped an arm around my waist naturally. But his gaze drifted past me, following Alice until she disappeared into the nurse's station before finally looking away.

My heart sank to the floor.

"I have work tonight, so I won't be going," I said quietly.

Riccardo's brows furrowed instantly, his voice turning cold. "You're still hung up on Marco? He and Alice are happily together now. It's time you moved on."

I looked up at Riccardo and gave him a bitter, ironic smile. "I've moved on. But have you?"

Riccardo froze.

Instead of waiting for an answer, I just walked away.

After my shift, Riccardo dragged me to Alice's place anyway. It was an apartment in Princefield District.

Dressed in a black suit, Marco stood at the door to greet us. When he saw me, something flickered in his eyes before his expression settled back into calm.

At the dinner table, Alice suddenly linked her arm through Marco's and announced shyly, "We have some good news—I'm pregnant."

She gently stroked her belly, her eyes full of smug satisfaction.

Only now did it dawn on me that she'd invited me over to show off.

Alice turned to me with a look of manufactured concern, asking, "Dalia, when are you and Riccardo planning to have kids?"

Before I could even open my mouth, Riccardo answered for me, "We're not planning on it anytime soon."

"Why not?" Alice asked with shock.

"Dalia's health isn't great. I couldn't bear to put her through all that suffering." Riccardo looked at me tenderly. "If we ever want kids down the line, we can always adopt."

I could feel my hands shaking as I held my knife and fork.

My health was perfectly fine. In my past life, I'd run through hails of gunfire to rescue wounded family members.

I understood now that Riccardo just didn't want to have kids with me.

After dinner, Riccardo and I returned to the manor.

Madre immediately pulled him aside, clearly to complain about me.

I ignored them entirely and headed for the bedroom. I was leaving for Capitolium in two months, so I needed to rest up.

Late that night, Riccardo came in and wrapped his arms around me. "Madre's old and set in her ways. Don't take anything she says to heart."

His hand started wandering.

I caught his wrist. "I thought you didn't want kids?"

Riccardo pressed a kiss to my neck, his voice low and husky. "I just don't like kids, nor am I ready to be a father yet."

I closed my eyes, a chill settling over my heart.

I clearly remembered that in my past life, Riccardo had said he'd only have kids with the woman he truly loved.

Clearly, I wasn't that woman.

But it didn't matter anymore. Once I came back from Capitolium, I would have a life on my own.

And Riccardo would have no place in it.