Married to the Don's Lie

I stayed up until dawn, phone glowing in the dark.

Carla wouldn't quit posting.

[Soaked like a drowned rat! Good thing my darling Leon was there.]

She was wrapped in his jacket, shopping at some high-end boutique, drowning in diamonds. Way more than I ever got—all these years, not even close.

6:00 AM hit:

[Some nights... are so wild you never want the sun to rise.]

A pic of two hands tangled on hotel sheets. One had his tiger's eye ring. The one he never took off.

I shut the phone off, no sound, no tears.

Printed the divorce papers in the study.

Then, like always, I made breakfast for Antonio.

"Anna," he beamed, already dressed—for the first time ever. "Today's... my brother said... amusement park day. When's he coming back?"

Poor kid must've just crashed for an hour, tops.

"He's busy today." I faked a smile. No way I'd crush a boy who hadn't stepped outside in five years. "How 'bout I take you?"

His face fell a little, but he nodded. No fight in him.

At the park, Antonio was all over the place—eyes wide, energy cranked to ten.

He pointed at the massive roller coaster. "Anna, that one—I wanna ride it!"

I hesitated. He wasn't exactly built for this.

"Antonio, it's kinda tall. We—"

"No! I want to!" he snapped, cheeks flushing. "Ms. Vitti said... my brother took her! She called me a coward!"

Carla. Of course.

I bit back the heat rising in my chest and crouched to his level. "You're not a coward. But there's a height limit, and you're not quite there yet. Let's hit the carousel instead, yeah?"

He pouted but didn't argue. Let me lead him away.

I watched from the fence as he rode a white horse, spinning to tinny music, the tension finally sliding off his face.

Then—bam. Some guy in a baseball cap slammed into me.

"Ah!"

I stumbled back, purse flying, stuff everywhere.

"I'm so sorry!" he blurted, already down on the ground scooping everything up.

I didn't answer—just snapped my eyes to the carousel, scanning for Antonio.

He was already jumping off, running straight for me.

"Antonio! Don't run! Stay right there!" I yelled.

He didn't hear me. Just kept coming, face lit up.

Then—out of nowhere—an electric cart packed with drinks turned the corner, heading right for him.

"Watch out!"

I bolted.

Bang.

I shoved him clear, but the cart clipped me. Sent me flying.

"Anna!" Antonio's face crumpled. He ran over, bawling.

In the mess, I realized—baseball cap guy? Gone.

I took Antonio home, still rattled. Got him cleaned up, patched the scrape. Didn't even touch my own bruises when—

Bang!

The front door slammed open.

Marcella's voice sliced through the air. "Anna! You can't even take good care of a kid!"

Leon stormed in right behind her, ripped Antonio from my arms. His eyes locked on the scrape, jaw tight.

"Leon..." Antonio whimpered.

"It's okay. I'm here." Leon soothed Antonio, then turned to me, voice like ice. "I told you to take him out to relax, not get him hurt. What the hell were you thinking?"

Marcella scoffed. "Can't even handle a kid. What use are you? Our family never should've let trash like you in."

Seven years of silence. Last night's betrayal. The panic. This—this pushed me over.

"Basta!" I snapped. "YOUR family? Oh, right—the noble bloodline. Three generations of lies! Sons paraded as brothers. Grandsons passed off as sons!"

Marcella's face went stiff. She pointed at me, mouth open—but nothing came out.

Leon's grip on Antonio tightened. "What are you even saying?"

"What am I saying?" I let out a bitter laugh, yanked the crumpled paper from my pocket, and smacked it against his chest. "Seven-year-old birth certificate. Father: Leon Ferrante. Want me to read it for you?

"I've known. You dumped his mom 'cause her status wasn't good enough. And now? You're chasing the Vitti heiress, so I'm just the leftover maid, right?"

Leon's face twisted. He set Antonio down and stepped toward me.

"Anna, just calm down—"

"Calm down?" My voice cracked. "After you kissed her in public? Draped her in jewelry? Posted like you spent the damn night together?"

I lost it. The dam broke—tears flooding.

"For seven years, I gave up everything. I raised your kid like he was mine. Turns out I was just the help—free labor for your whole twisted family. And now you're ready to toss me out, make room for your next trophy?"

Leon froze—rattled. Panic flared in his eyes.

But it vanished just as fast.

He grabbed my wrist, tight. Sneered.

"And you're calling me a liar? You're Anna Rossi. Not even a Brioni. You think I didn't know? You were the one lying all along."