The moment Leo laid eyes on Nico, his eyes blazed with rage.

Because Nico looks exactly like me, a perfect miniature version of myself.

Leo’s gaze darted back and forth between me and Nico.

After a long moment, he pointed a trembling finger at me:

"Aurora, how dare you betray me and even have a bastard child."

"Tell me, whose bastard is this?"

Nico had inherited his father’s temperament. Young as he was, he knew full well that the word "bastard" was vile and offensive.

Nico just shot back, “Who are you calling a bastard? My father always says those with a filthy mouth deserve a good lesson.”

"Watch your mouth, or Papa will have your tongue."

That made Leo's face even uglier.

Cecilia saw her chance and threw gas on the fire. "Leo, look... the child looks old enough to be in school. Could Aurora have been pregnant before she married you?"

That was all it took for the paranoid Leo to completely lose it.

The one thing a man can never tolerate is his wife’s infidelity, especially when she is the very woman who swears she loves him.

He pointed a shaking finger at me and screamed, "Aurora! You cheating whore! "

I spoke calmly: "Nico is four years old."

"Sir!" Antonio tried desperately to explain. "Master Nico is Don Cassiano's son! "

"Shut up! ”Leo was not listening to a word. “You’re still covering for Aurora and lying to me. Where are my parents? Who let her be so brazen? She cheated, yet she acts as if she’s in the right!"

“The old Don and your mother know everything.”

At these words, Leo’s fury flared completely.

His eyes were bloodshot.

"Who is the father of this bastard? I think he’s begging to die!"

I let out a sarcastic laugh.

Cecilia pretended to plead. "Aurora, you've been caught. Just confess. Tell us who the real father is, and Leo will forgive you."

I stared at the wannabe saint. "Drop the innocent act."

The words had barely left my mouth when Leo, blinded by humiliation, suddenly raised his hand and slapped me hard across the face.

CRACK!

“Aurora! You cheating whore,dare to reprimand Cecilia?

A sharp pain exploded across my face. I tasted blood.

Seeing his mother get hit, Nico launched himself at Leo's leg like a furious wolf cub.

His small fists hammered against Leo, weak but filled with the same ferocity as his father, Cassiano.

"You touch my mama," Nico screamed, "and I'll beat you to death."

Leo grabbed Nico by his little vest and lifted him into the air.

My heart hammered against my ribs. "Leo, put him down, now!"

The servants also hurried to stop Leo.

"Sir, let the boy go!"

"If you don't, the Don will tear you to pieces!"

Everyone in the estate knew Nico was the Don's one weakness. Cassiano wouldn't even let the boy get a scratch.

But Leo let out a cold sneer. "Get out if you don’t want to be dismissed! I'm cleaning house today. I'm gonna teach this bitch and her bastard a lesson."

My back was slick with cold sweat. "Leo, what are you doing!"

His face was a mask of fury, a killer's look in his eyes. "By family law, you broke our vow and had a bastard child. For that, you should be put in the ground. I'm taking back everything the family ever gave you."

It was a joke. We hadn't even finished our vows.

My fingers were trembling with rage. "Leo, we never finished the ceremony! What betrayal are you talking about?!"

"Put Nico down!"

Nico’s legs dangled in the air, kicking constantly..Not a trace of fear.

Threatened by Leo, none of the servants dared to step forward.

Leo looked at me like I was already dead. "First I'm gonna break this bastard's arms. Then I'm dragging you down to the cells for punishment."

With that said, he picked Nico up by the arm and walked outside.

Finally, Antonio threw his own body in Leo's path.

Leo's eyes were pure murder. "You want to die too, old man?"

Sweat soaked Antonio's collar, but he kept begging. "Sir, you can't! Please, calm down! Let the boy go!"

I used the opening to lunge for my son, but a sharp pain shot through my scalp. Cecilia had a fistful of my hair.

She wore a triumphant smile. "In a hurry, Aurora? Got a date in hell?"

I swung my arm back, and the sharp, custom diamond ring on my finger sliced across her cheek.

"If anything happens to my son," I hissed, "I swear to God, I'll put you both in cement shoes and drop you in the Hudson!"

Cecilia shrieked, clutching her bleeding face.

Seeing that, Leo's eyes went red. All his rage focused on Nico.

"You hurt Cecilia? I'll smash this bastard's head right now!"

He roared, lifting the boy high, ready to smash him against the marble floor.

My heart stopped.

I moved on pure instinct, throwing my body underneath him. "Nico!"

Even with mafia blood, a four-year-old boy facing death is still just a boy. Tears of terror finally filled Nico's eyes.

Leo screamed at me. "Get out of the way! Your turn in hell is next."

I held my son tightly, letting him slam the butt of his gun hard against my back again and again.

Custom leather shoe and drove it into my ribs. Pain exploded behind my eyes.

The servants finally had enough and swarmed him, grabbing his legs.

"Sir, stop this at once!That's the Don's woman!"

Leo completely lost his patience. He broke free from the crowd, ready to kick me hard in the chest.

In that split second,

BAM!

The heavy front doors blew open.

A voice was gravel and ice. "Who gave you the balls to touch my wife?"