After Prison I’m Done Playing Second

Rosabella's POV

I mailed my "treasures" away. When I got back to the manor, I heard Leo's voice.

I looked out and saw him playing near the stables.

No, he was on top of the stables.

That roof was at least ten feet high.

"Leo!" I yelled. "Get down from there!"

He heard me and turned to wave.

In that instant, a roof tile under his foot came loose.

"Ah!"

Leo fell.

I didn't think. I flew out of my room and down the stairs.

I sprinted out of the manor and toward the stables.

Leo was falling through the air.

I opened my arms and caught him.

THUD!

The impact slammed me onto the ground.

A tearing pain shot through my lower back.

My old injury from prison.

"Ow..." I grit my teeth, but held the child in my arms tight. "Leo, are you okay?"

"I... I'm okay." Leo climbed out of my arms and looked down at me. "But you... you're bleeding."

I looked down. My knees and elbows were scraped raw.

But I didn't care. Leo was safe.

"Why did you save me?" Leo knelt beside me carefully, his voice small. "Aren't you the bad woman?"

Bad woman.

A three-year-old, taught to think like that.

"Leo." I pushed myself up. "Let me ask you something. Do you think a mother would ever hurt her own child?"

"No." Leo shook his head.

"Then would I ever hurt you?"

Leo looked at me, his eyes full of confusion.

"Are... are you really my mama?" his voice cracked.

"Yes." I reached out to touch his face. "I'm your mama."

Leo didn't pull away. Tears suddenly welled up in his eyes.

"I'm sorry!" He threw himself into my arms. "I'm sorry, Mama! I lied!"

"It's okay, baby." I held him, a storm of emotions inside me.

This was the first time I had ever truly held my son. In three years.

The baby I held in the hospital now hurt me over and over, but I still craved this hug.

But his next words made me freeze.

"Mama," Leo whispered into my shoulder. "Can you... can you leave Daddy?"

"What?"

"Felicia-Mama said she really likes Daddy." Leo looked up, tears still on his cheeks. "And if Daddy doesn't marry her, she'll be very sad."

"What else?"

"She said... she said it's my fault Daddy isn't happy." Leo's voice was a choked whisper. "And that if you leave, Mama... then Daddy will finally be happy with her."

My whole body went rigid.

Felicia had said that to a three-year-old child.

Made him carry the weight of adult mistakes. Made him think he was worthless.

"Leo." I stroked his face. "You are not worthless. You are my most precious treasure."

"Really?"

"Really." I kissed his forehead. "And Mama promises you."

That afternoon, I drove Leo to Reginald's office.

The Falcone Group tower was a forty-story skyscraper in the heart of Chicago.

We took the elevator to the top floor.

The door to Reginald's office was open. He was on a call.

He hung up the second he saw us.

"Rosabella? What are you doing here?" He frowned when he saw the bandages on my arm. "You're hurt?"

"It's nothing." I pushed Leo toward him. "Leo wanted to see you."

"Daddy!" Leo ran into Reginald's arms.

"My little prince." Reginald picked him up. "Did you have a good day?"

"Yeah! Mama played with me!"

Reginald looked at me, his eyes full of something complicated.

"Rosabella—"

"Reginald!"

The door burst open and Felicia ran in.

She was in a white dress, her hair a mess, her eyes red and swollen.

"Felicia?" Reginald frowned. "What are you—"

"It's a disaster!" Felicia ran to Reginald, crying. "They got pictures of us!"

"What?"

Felicia held out her phone, a news site open on the screen.

The headline screamed from the screen in huge, bold letters:

FALCONE DON'S DIRTY LITTLE SECRET? CAUGHT IN MONACO WITH MYSTERY MISTRESS!

The picture was of Reginald and Felicia on a beach.

They were in swimsuits, Felicia leaning against Reginald's chest.

They looked like a couple in love.

"The media is calling me the 'family mistress'!" Felicia cried harder. "They're saying I ruined your marriage!"

Reginald's face went dark.

"These damn reporters—"

"Reginald, you have to save me!" Felicia grabbed his arm. "My reputation is ruined!"

She turned to me, a flash of triumph in her eyes, quickly hidden by tears.

"Sister, please!" Felicia sank to her knees before me, a perfect picture of desperation. "You have to help me! Tell them it's not what it looks like! Tell them your marriage was already over!"

She grabbed my hand, her voice trembling.

"You don't want Leo to have the stigma of being an illegitimate son, do you? It would ruin his position in the family!"