I was born in the slums with nothing to my name, yet somehow, I once saved the most dangerous man in all of Sicile.

In a crumbling shack, I treated his wounds while he patched the leaks in my roof whenever it rained. Later, he pulled me out of that miserable life and brought me into the heavily guarded estate of a mafia family. Together, we even had a son. However, seven years had passed, and he still had never publicly acknowledged either our child or me, all because my background was too lowly.

Gabriele Carlos once told me that as long as our son proved himself exceptional enough, the family would eventually accept him. So even at only seven years old, my son pushed himself desperately hard to study languages, etiquette, and even firearms training.

On his birthday, he was burning with fever, his little face pale, yet he still came out as the top student in his grade. Holding his award certificate tightly in his hands, his eyes shone brighter than I had ever seen.

“Ma, Papa’s finally going to acknowledge me this time, isn’t he?”

So, I took the certificate and went to look for Gabriele at his residence. However, through the heavy doors, I overheard him discussing a wedding with the daughter of another mafia family. They talked about the wedding date, the alliance between their families, and how the territories and profits would be divided afterward.

Then, someone suddenly asked, “What about her and the child?”

After a brief silence, Gabriele answered calmly, “Just keep them hidden.”

Those words struck me hard. So the seven years my son and I had spent waiting meant nothing at all. We had only been fooling ourselves, believing things would change.

Well, Gabriele might want us hidden, but unfortunately for him, I was done hiding.

I held the award certificate tightly in my hand and called a friend back in my hometown.

“Lisa, I’ve decided to go back.”

“What? That’s sudden!” Lisa sounded excited on the other end of the line. “It’s been seven years since we last saw each other. I’ve missed you so much. By the way, is Gabriele coming back with you? There’s been trouble in the neighborhood lately. If he’s around, he’d be able to handle it.”

My eyes lowered slightly as I replied softly, “He won’t be coming back.”

“Why? He used to follow you around everywhere. Why not this time?” she pressed on, question after question, none of which I could answer.

How was I supposed to say that the father of my child was about to marry another woman? In the end, I simply gave her the date of my return and hung up the call in a hurry.

A cold wind brushed past and slipped under my clothes, the cold seeping straight into my bones. As I turned to leave, I saw Gabriele Carlos walking out with his arm wrapped around a beautiful woman. Our eyes met briefly, and both of us were slightly taken aback.

Perhaps noticing Gabriele’s gaze lingering on me for a second too long, the woman beside him looked at me and asked, “And who is this?”

Gabriele hesitated and didn’t answer right away. In that silence, something suddenly became clear to me.

I lowered my gaze and said, “I’m a servant in the estate.”

The moment I said it, Gabriele’s expression changed noticeably. However, he didn’t say anything in the end.

Around us, the servants all looked at me with amused and almost mocking eyes. I simply ignored them and walked silently toward the small house in the far corner of the estate.

That little building was secluded, but Gabriele had seen to the renovation himself and planted white camellias, my favorite flower, in the courtyard. He even had a chef brought in from my hometown because I couldn’t get used to the food here. The house was also fitted with thick carpets year-round because Stefano was always cold, and the fireplace was never allowed to go out.

Everyone said the Don had given me everything he possibly could, but he never gave us an identity. Only today did I finally realize just how long and hopeless this road had been.

The moment I pushed the door open, Stefano immediately sat up in bed.

“Did Papa see my award certificate? Was he happy?”

His face was pale from the fever, but his eyes were bright in a way that made my heart ache.

I walked over and gently pulled the blanket up around him.

“Yes, he did. He was very happy.”

Stefano tightened his grip on the certificate and asked probingly, “Then will he finally acknowledge us?”

I paused for a moment and then looked away.

“He said… to wait a little longer,” I replied.

The light in Stefano’s eyes dimmed. After a long silence, he let out a small, quiet laugh. “So he’s still not satisfied. Otherwise… why wouldn’t he come when I’m sick?”

Feeling a lump in my throat, I immediately lowered my head and texted Gabriele.

[Stefano has a fever. He wants to see you.]

Gabriele replied quickly. [I’ll come later.]

I let out a sigh of relief and patted Stefano’s head.

“He said he’ll come later.”

A faint spark returned to his eyes. He immediately tucked the certificate beside his pillow and forced himself to pick up his books again. He was afraid that Gabriele wouldn’t see him studying when Gabriele arrived. He was also afraid that he wouldn’t be able to answer anything Gabriele asked him.

Alas, even when the lights went out and the moon had disappeared behind the clouds, no footsteps ever came. I couldn’t let my son be disappointed, so I went to Gabriele’s residence again in the middle of the night.

However, the butler told me, “The Don is attending a concert with Miss Smith.”

I froze.

“Miss Macrino, you should understand. This is not your old dockyard neighborhood. The Carlos family will soon have a true lady of the house.” He paused and then added coldly, “Before he left, the Don instructed that from today onward, you are not allowed to step into the main estate again.”

My face went pale. “Those were his exact words?”

The butler didn’t answer; he simply raised his hand. The next second, guards stepped forward and physically escorted me out.

I returned home in a daze, crying as I called him to demand an answer. The phone rang for a long time, but it was hung up in the end. I stared at the darkened screen and suddenly thought of the past.

That year, when he was surrounded at the old dock, gunfire crackled so loudly that I could hear it through the phone. I had called him just because I had a nightmare, yet he still answered.

Back then, he said, “Faye, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

It seemed that now the future lady of this family mattered more than anything else.

That night, Stefano’s fever worsened. Half-asleep, he grabbed my sleeve weakly, his voice so hoarse it was barely audible.

“Has Papa come yet?”

Holding back the tears, I could only whisper, “Go to sleep. I’ll be here.”

He went quiet for a long time before suddenly leaning in and giving me a gentle kiss on my cheek.

“You’re the best, Ma.”

I stayed by his side the entire night until I eventually fell asleep, slumped over the bed. When I woke up, a coat had been placed over me.

Gabriele was here, with a private doctor standing behind him. He asked repeatedly whether Stefano would suffer any lingering effects from the fever, and only after getting the doctor’s reassurance did he finally seem to relax. Then, he reached out and touched my forehead.

“You’re running a fever too.”

I turned my head away. His hand froze in midair before he slowly lowered it.

After the doctor left, he finally said in a low voice, “The Smith family was here last night. I couldn’t leave.”

I looked at him and suddenly let out a quiet laugh.

“Couldn’t leave or didn’t want to leave? You didn’t want to leave your fiancée. You wanted to stay with her throughout the concert.”

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?”

At that moment, Gabriele was also taken aback. He looked at Stefano, as if he hadn’t expected the boy to comply. However, Kate looked pleased. She looked down at the child who was carefully holding up her dress hem and let out a soft laugh.

“Such good manners.”

With that, she turned and walked toward the banquet hall.

Stefano followed right behind her, his small hands carefully lifting the luxurious fabric. Everyone around stood tall and composed, except him. He was a hunched-over, thin, and fragile little figure.

My eyes stung, and I followed without hesitation. However, Kate suddenly stopped in her tracks and turned back to look at me.

“What are you doing following us? Tonight is an important gathering of the family’s honored guests. You’re not exactly qualified to attend.”

Before I could respond, Gabriele spoke first. “The child is helping. It’s normal for the mother to be present as well.”

Kate glanced at him, but his tone remained calm as he added, “Tonight is your night. There’s no need to lose composure over something so small.”

She stared at him for a few seconds, then suddenly smiled. “If the Don says so, of course I won’t mind.”

Just like that, she continued walking ahead.

Standing there, I suddenly found myself cold. Gabriele had fought for me a way inside, but he had never once fought for us to have a real identity.

On the way to the banquet hall, Kate and Gabriele chatted happily. Meanwhile, Stefano and I followed at the very back, silent the entire way.

The banquet began shortly after. The moment Kate appeared, all eyes in the room turned toward her. However, more than her expensive gown, what drew attention was the child carefully lifting her dress hem.

Someone chuckled. “Miss Smith, this kid is quite sharp. Can I borrow him for a bit? I need someone to serve drinks.”

Another voice followed with a laugh. “I could use him, too. He can come over and carry some plates for me later.”

They spoke casually, as if he were nothing more than a tool that could be passed around. Kate neither agreed nor refused. She simply glanced at Gabriele, but Gabriele, holding his wine glass, said nothing.

My fingers clenched.

At that moment, someone bumped into me from behind and said impatiently, “Move. You’re in the way.”

I looked at that wine glass, then at Stefano, who was surrounded by the crowd not far away. I couldn't hold myself back any longer and broke into stride toward him. However, in the next second, a hand suddenly clamped around my wrist.

Gabriele had appeared behind me without me noticing and pulled me out of the banquet hall. The cold night wind hit me instantly, and I shivered. I shook his hand off, turning to look at him with red eyes.

“Gabriele, what exactly do you take us for?”

He didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he took out an insignia from inside his coat and held it out to me. I stared at him blankly.

Seeing my confusion, he explained in a low voice, “The one she’s wearing is fake. The real one has always been with me, and it belongs to you.”

As he spoke, he pressed the insignia into my palm.

“Once I take over the Smith family, the Carlos family’s authority will be entirely mine. By then, no one will be able to stop me from publicly acknowledging you and Stefano.”

After that, he pulled out two plane tickets.

“For now, take Stefano and leave. I’ve arranged everything in the Switz. Don’t stay here and force yourself to watch this mess.” He pulled me back into his arms, his voice low and steady. “Just be patient. It’ll be over soon.”

I leaned against him, the insignia pressing painfully into my palm. I had once longed for it so deeply, but now that I finally held it, I felt nothing at all.

After some time, I gently pushed him away and said nothing. I simply took the two tickets from his hand and turned back toward the banquet hall.

I could be patient, but Stefano wasn’t even seven years old yet. There was no way I could stand by and watch my son be dragged through the mud alongside me.

When I returned to the entrance of the banquet hall, I booked another flight with the same time, but to a different country. Then, I pushed open the door, and in the next second, I froze.

In the center of the crowd, Stefano stood small and alone. A crimson liquid was dripping over his head, streaming down his hair, and soaking into his clean little suit.

My mind went blank, and everything around me faded into silence.

“Stefano!”