After They’re Gone

Gabriele didn’t bother to explain further. Instead, he turned, pulled out a document from the safe behind him, and placed it directly in front of me.

I looked down, and in that instant, my fingers stiffened. Ports under the Smith family’s control, shipping routes, financial pipelines—even the timeline for the marriage alliance, internal sabotage, and eventual divorce—were all written in detail.

It wasn’t just a plan. It was the Carlos family’s most confidential operation blueprint. And now, it was lying right in front of me like something ordinary.

Gabriele looked at me, his voice low and steady. “The marriage alliance is the lowest-cost way to swallow the Smith family whole. Within six months, I’ll get their ledger and cut off their shipping routes. When it’s over, I’ll divorce her immediately.”

He took my hand and added, “Faye, I won’t abandon you. The position of Donna will only ever belong to you.”

I stared at the document, suddenly unable to say a single word because I knew he wasn’t lying. This truly was the fastest, most efficient method. It would save him countless detours and minimize losses for the Carlos family. However, he had never once considered how much pain it would cause Stefano and me.

Gabriele asked quietly, “You understand me, don’t you?”

I forced a small smile and replied, “I do.”

At that, he reached out and patted my head gently.

“I knew it. In this world, only you understand me best.”

Yet, he didn’t understand me at all, but I didn’t say that out loud.

I was just about to pull away from him when hurried footsteps suddenly approached from outside.

“Don Carlos, Miss Smith is waiting for you in the study.”

Gabriele turned to leave, but at that moment, a small voice came from behind him.

“Papa.”

He stopped in his tracks.

Stefano was sitting up in bed and clutching the blanket tightly, asking, “Are you leaving?”

For a brief moment, Gabriele was silent. Then, he uttered an acknowledgment before walking back to the bedside and ruffling Stefano’s hair.

“Rest well. Don’t let your mother worry.”

Stefano nodded obediently.

Gabriele turned again but then paused as if remembering something.

“And one more thing. In public, don’t call me Papa. To you, I’m Don Carlos.”

Stefano’s face instantly turned pale. “Don Carlos.”

After Gabriele left, Stefano kept his head lowered for a long time before whispering, “Ma, I messed up again. Papa must be disappointed in me.”

At that moment, something inside me snapped. Gabriele was clearly the one who betrayed us, so why was my son the one apologizing?

I didn’t hesitate any longer. I told Stefano we were going on a short holiday and immediately took him with me. However, along the way, he kept holding tightly onto his award certificate, refusing to let go.

“Ma, the competition isn’t over yet. I can’t leave now.”

Before I could answer, a clear voice rang out behind us.

“Where did this child come from?”

Kate Smith stood there, wearing Gabriele’s coat. On her finger was the ring engraved with the Carlos family crest.

Stefano and I both froze because only the recognized lady of the Carlos family was qualified to wear that ring. Stefano’s sketchbook had once been filled with that exact crest, but now, it was on Kate’s finger.

Kate looked at me first, then at my son, and smiled faintly.

“The mother looks like a servant, but the child doesn’t look like the son of an ordinary servant.”

Gabriele’s expression darkened slightly. Stefano instinctively looked at him, as if waiting for an explanation, but when Gabriele said nothing, the light in Stefano’s eyes slowly faded.

Finally, Stefano lowered his head and said softly, “I am the servant’s son.”

Kate remarked, “Oh. If you’re a servant’s son, then you should know how to serve your future lady. My dress is too long. Come hold it for me.”

I immediately pulled my son behind me.

“He’s only seven!”

Gabriele finally looked at Kate with a frown and said, “Get someone else. He’s too young.”

Kate looked at him as if she found his remark ridiculous. “What, the Don can’t bear to use a servant’s child? Besides, the dress is long. A taller person would ruin the shape.”

After a brief silence, Gabriele looked at Stefano.

“Go.”

My eyes instantly reddened, and I shouted at Gabriel furiously, “Gabriele, that’s your–”

“Faye.” He cut me off sharply.

For a split second, I saw pain and hesitation flicker in his eyes, but it was gone just as quickly.

He looked back at Stefano and repeated himself, “Go, hold it.”

Stefano gently released my hand and walked over. He knelt behind Kate and carefully lifted the trailing hem of her dress. His movements were small, precise, and almost overly practiced. It was like all the etiquette he had learned over the years was finally coming to use.

Kate looked down at him, the corners of her lips slowly curling into a smirk.

Stefano kept his eyes lowered as he asked, “Is this right, Miss?”