"Where's your husband?" Christopher pressed. "What kind of man lets you end up like this?"

I didn't answer.

A sharp laugh escaped him. "You almost had me. Pretending you're married just to get a rise out of me? Making up a kid to make me jealous? Well, you're wrong. I don't care in the least."

They knew how proud I was—I'd never marry just anyone or have a child just on impulse.

Lina didn't believe me either. She looked at me with utter contempt.

"Since you're so proud and strong-willed… Chris and I just so happen to need someone to tend to the horses at our estate. Why don't you shovel manure for us? Sure, it stinks, but it's still better than being a cleaner here."

I almost burst out laughing.

"I'm sorry, but I have actual business to take care of. I don't have time to joke around with you two."

In all these years, she was the first person to publicly humiliate me like this.

If I so much as said the word, their entire family would be on their knees polishing my shoes. And she wanted me to slave away for them?

My repeated refusals made Christopher's face turn livid. Even Lina, who'd been pretending to be elegant the whole night, couldn't help but roll her eyes.

Voices rose all around us.

"Mr. Vittorino, this is just a broke, stubborn cleaner. Talking to her is a waste of breath."

"It's better to have the bodyguards drag her out before the Don sees her and gets mad."

Lina hooked her arm around Christopher's and smiled smugly, looking at me as if I were a joke.

"Exactly. Let's not waste time on someone so beneath us. Let's head over. The Don and the Donna will be here any minute. It won't look good if they can't find us.

"This is the Don's first big Famiglia banquet, and he's taking it very seriously. We need to think carefully about how we're going to leave a good impression on the Donna.

"I hear the Don is madly devoted to his wife, and that she's his only weakness."

They weren't wrong. The only person who could make the mighty Don yield… was me. But I just gave a light chuckle and didn't explain further.

Seeing Lina turn to leave, I quickly grabbed her wrist.

"Give me the medal back. Otherwise, don't blame me for what happens next."

Lina jerked away, looking a little guilty. "What do you want exactly? You've stolen the ruby ring, and now you're eyeing my medal too?"

As we struggled, Christopher suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Isla, I can't believe you're this infatuated. You're actually still wearing this charm after all this time?"

I looked down, only to realize that the charm I'd always worn had somehow fallen to the ground.

Christopher bent to pick it up, his expression soft with a deep affection.

Six years ago, when he went out on business, he was not only set up by a rival Famiglia, but he nearly lost his life as well.

Because of this, I'd personally sewn this protective charm for him to keep him safe.

But I knew that he'd long since discarded that charm.

The one he was holding now was the one the Don had personally sewn for me to keep me safe. I treasured it and wore it every single day. The stitching was slightly crooked, but it was filled with his heartfelt care.

After so many years, if not for Christopher mentioning it, I would've nearly forgotten about that part of my past completely.

But given my husband's identity, I didn't want to elaborate.

Seeing my silence, the smug Lina continued to mock me.

"You're not still hung up on that shabby little charm you made, are you? Chris threw it into the manure pit a long time ago. I can't believe you actually fished it out and kept wearing it all this time."

Lina pinched her nose and sneered in disgust.

Christopher, however, gripped the charm tightly and sighed. There was a trace of apology in his voice as he said, "Isla, I didn't realize you loved me this much. But you need to wake up—there's no future for us."

Actually, he was the one who really needed to wake up.

To prove my identity, I took off the faded apron and revealed a black velvet gown embroidered with subtle dark gold rose patterns underneath—the most prestigious pattern in the mafia world.

This was a one-of-a-kind custom gown made for the Donna.

I thought this would be enough to prove who I was, but Lina merely curled her lips into a sly smile. Covering her mouth dramatically, she exclaimed loudly, "Where'd you dig that rag up? It's in tatters, and you still want to show it off?"

Only then did I notice that the hem of the gown had somehow been ripped in several places.

Paul barked loudly, "You're just a crazy lady! Get lost right now!"

Just then, someone tugged at my gown.

I looked down and saw my son, Toby Vittorino. His face was streaked with tears as he called for me.

I crouched down, about to tell him that I'd found his Black Rose Medal, when Lina suddenly rushed over and shoved me aside.

"Isla, have you lost your mind? You're trying to kidnap a child from a Famiglia right here on the Don's territory?"

Toby burst into terrified sobs. Lina quickly scooped him up to comfort him. "Sweetheart, don't be scared. She's a crazy lady. I'll take you to find your real mommy, okay?"

Toby struggled wildly in her arms, his little fists pounding against her shoulder.

"Let me go! That's my Mamma! She's not a crazy lady!"

Seeing Toby's tear-streaked little face made my heart feel like it was being torn to shreds. I lunged, trying to grab him, but Lina's bodyguards held me firmly in place.

The surrounding guests immediately erupted in outrage, pointing fingers and throwing accusations.

"That woman has some nerve, trying to trick a child from a Famiglia here."

"Exactly! That kid is wearing the Famiglia crest, and she still has the guts to go after him? She must have a death wish!"

Toby reached for me desperately, his voice growing hoarse from crying. "Mamma, save me!"

My eyes burned with tears as I struggled, trying to soothe him. "Don't cry, Tesoro. Mamma's here. I'll save you."

Christopher's hand clenched tightly, as if he'd made some kind of decision. He ordered someone to prepare a car, then grabbed me and dragged me toward the exit.

Toby stretched his hand out to me, wailing, but he couldn't reach me, no matter how hard he tried. I struggled with everything I had, but Christopher didn't slow down even a little.

"Isla, stop making a scene. The Don is about to arrive any second! I'll take care of your mess for you. Go out of town and lay low for a while."

I watched Toby grow farther and farther away, my heart breaking bit by bit.

"Let go of me, Chris! If you keep this up, I'll never forgive you! Not ever!"

But Christopher acted as if he hadn't heard me, his steps quickening.

Just as I was about to be sent away, the crowd in the ballroom suddenly parted down the middle, and a tall, imposing man stepped forward.

A familiar, commanding voice rang out.

"Stop!"

Everyone in the ballroom immediately straightened, standing at attention as they respectfully greeted the Don.

The moment I met those deep, unreadable eyes, mine filled with tears.

"Amore…" I whispered weakly.

Toby immediately threw his little arms wide. "Papi!"

Christopher froze, disbelief filling his eyes.

"The Don is your husband?"

His gaze dripped with mockery, as if he'd heard the funniest joke in the world.

"I guess you really do have mental issues, Isla. Think about it—why would the Don possibly marry a nobody like you?"

But before he could finish, Mark's icy gaze swept over him.

Christopher immediately snapped upright and pressed a hand to his chest, nodding respectfully.

"Don Vittorino, this is my ex-girlfriend. She couldn't handle our breakup back then and has since developed mental issues. That's why she offended you."

But Mark didn't listen at all. He just strode over and pulled me into his arms, not caring the least bit that the mud on me was smearing all over his custom-made suit embroidered with dark gold rose patterns.

The arms around me tightened even more.

Lina's eyes widened in shock, and her grip on Toby unconsciously loosened.

Mark gave his assistant a tilt of the chin, signaling him to take Toby away.

The little guy lay on the assistant's shoulder. He had originally wanted me to hold him, but the moment he saw the warning look in Mark's eyes, he immediately shrank into himself, pouting but not daring to resist.

"Bad Papi…"

Christopher's outstretched hand froze in midair, and his face turned deathly pale in an instant.

"Don Vittorino… is she… is she really your wife?"

Mark shot him a cold glare. "You have a problem with that?"

Christopher hurriedly lowered his head and staggered back several steps, nearly falling over. His eyes were bloodshot, but he still stared at me fixedly.

"Isla, I've been searching high and low for you all these years, but you went and married into the mafia behind my back? All just because I didn't place the onyx ring on your finger back then? I only wanted to make sure you weren't after my power and status. If you'd accepted it, I would've proposed to you immediately!

"But what did you do? You threw the ring away, walked off, and disappeared without a trace!"

His relentless pressing finally pushed me past my limit.

"It's been so many years. What's the point of bringing all this up right now? My background and status might not compare to yours, but I've never once coveted yours.

"And have you forgotten about all the lies Lina spread about me back then?"

Christopher's expression stiffened. "What? What lies? What… What rumors did she spread about you? I suffered so much back then trying to find you—"

"Stop pretending," I snapped, cutting him off. "You gave the onyx ring to Lina and proposed to her that very same day. Did you think I didn't know?"

Christopher froze for a second, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"Isla, that was just to force you out. Silly, could you really not see that?"

He'd announced his engagement to Lina just to make me show up? I could hardly believe my ears. But then, I didn't care anymore, either.

"Forget it. It's all in the past. I have a family now, and you're about to get married too. Just let it go."

A flash of defiance crossed Christopher's eyes. His voice even trembled slightly as he said, "Isla, I can't forget you…"

"Christopher!"

Mark's cold, sharp voice suddenly cut in. "Do you think I'm invisible? How dare you covet La Mia Moglie?"

With that, he pulled me tightly into his arms and, right in front of Chris, pressed a deep kiss to the side of my neck.

"You'll thoroughly explain all of this to me tonight," he murmured.

I couldn't help pulling my neck back.

Mannaggia! From the looks of it, I definitely wasn't going to be getting any sleep tonight.

This was all Christopher's fault! Why did he have to dig up ancient history in front of Mark?

Mark looked at me tenderly, his gaze helpless but indulgent.

"You could've just sent the assistant to look for Toby's lost medal rather than going to so much trouble and getting yourself into this state. Why didn't you just drop my name? Is being the Donna—the Don's Moglie—something to be ashamed of?"

Suddenly, he looked up, and his gaze swept across the entire place, his voice turning icy.

"Or has the Famiglia fallen so low that even the Donna can be bullied at will now?"