Things went more smoothly than I had imagined.

Dad's voice still echoed in my ears after I hung up. Five years of distance hadn't erased our relationship, and my eyes stung at the thought of that.

When Dad learned that I was coming back and that he had a grandson, he couldn't hide the urgency and joy in his tone. He said everything had already been arranged and that someone would set out immediately to bring us home.

No matter what happened, my family would always be my safety net.

I leaned against the window and watched Niccolo chasing butterflies in the courtyard below. Even so, worry lingered in my heart.

He was only five, and he had adored Stefano since he was little.

He would often cup his face in his hands and ask me when Stefano would take him out to play. That wish had stayed with him for so long.

I couldn't bear to crush it, so I had still been waiting these past few days, hoping Stefano would come and spend a little time with him.

I hadn't expected Stefano's driver to come pick us up the very next afternoon.

He said Stefano had arranged it personally and that Niccolo was to be taken to Palazzo Lucente.

Niccolo immediately wrapped his arms around my legs with excitement. His eyes shone as he said over and over, "Mommy, Daddy remembered! He's going to be with me!"

He had always wanted to go there with Stefano, order the family set meal, and watch the fireworks show. I'd heard that every family with a reservation would receive a photo taken with the fireworks bursting behind them.

As it turned out, his wish had been something so simple.

My heart tightened.

Seeing how excited Niccolo was, I forced a smile and led him into the car.

When we drove into the hotel's back garden, there was no sign of celebration. The space was strangely empty.

Niccolo's voice grew smaller as he tightened his grip on my hand. "Mommy, why isn't anyone here?"

Before I could answer, the car stopped in front of the central lawn.

The lawn was laid out with an elaborate spread of food, and every member of the Calderone family was present.

This wasn't Stefano taking Niccolo out for dinner. It was a Calderone family banquet.

Stefano stood at the center of the lawn. His mother, Vittoria Bagarella, stood at his side, and Camilla stood close beside him.

The three of them looked every bit like the rightful core of the Calderone family.

From the moment we arrived, Stefano didn't look at me once, let alone step forward to greet us.

He glanced at Camilla gently, then addressed the crowd in a steady, deliberate voice. "I've gathered everyone here today to make an announcement. Camilla is carrying my child. This child shall be the Calderone family's sole heir."

The moment his words landed, applause erupted across the lawn.

Vittoria's face lit up with satisfaction, while Camilla lowered her eyes modestly and rested a hand over her stomach, looking soft and pampered.

Niccolo, who had been hiding behind me, suddenly lifted his head. Tears streamed down his face. "Mommy, does Daddy not love us anymore? Am I not Daddy's son? Is he… never going to eat a family set meal with me?"

I endured the pain and humiliation rising in my chest and cupped his face. "Don't cry, sweetheart. I'll eat with you. Let's go."

"Don Calderone and Ms. Bianchi are a match made in heaven. The Calderone family finally has an heir! What wonderful news!"

"Of course. They're a perfect match. The family will only grow stronger from here."

The compliments kept coming, one after another, and every word hit harder than the last.

I tightened my hold on Niccolo's hand, wanting only to leave that suffocating place and not hear another word about their perfect union.

However, Camilla wasn't about to let me slip away. Her gaze drifted toward us as though by accident. In a soft voice that carried easily to the people around her, she said, "Stefano, it looks like there are two more guests over there. Why not invite them to join us?"

At her words, every pair of eyes turned toward us.

The looks that had been warm and approving moments earlier shifted into disdain and contempt as they landed on us. Murmurs rose immediately.

"So that's the woman he's been keeping on the side? She looks pretty average. And she actually had the nerve to show up here with a kid?"

"Unbelievable. Don Calderone is about to marry Ms. Bianchi, yet she brought her illegitimate child over. Does she have any shame at all?"

"A woman with no status, bringing a bastard to the Calderone family's banquet? She must think she's important just because Don Calderone once took an interest in her."

"A bastard will always be a bastard, yet he has the nerve to try and steal the spotlight. How pathetic!"

Camilla lowered her eyes again, her hand still resting over her stomach.

A faint, satisfied smirk touched her lips, though she kept her expression composed, as if she had nothing to do with any of it.

Suddenly, Niccolo pulled free from my hand and cried out, "Daddy! Are you leaving me? But you promised you'd be with me!"

His voice was thin and trembling with hurt. Silence rippled across the lawn before the murmurs turned uglier.

"That brat's got guts. How dare he speak out of turn like that?" someone sneered.

"That's the thing about bastards. They're rotten from the inside out!"

Each insult cut deep. Niccolo's body shook. He stood there helplessly, staring at Stefano, waiting for him to walk over and hold him and say, in front of everyone, that he was his son.

Stefano's expression shifted. He frowned and took a step forward.

Before he could go any farther, Vittoria caught his arm and chided in a low voice, "What are you doing? Are you going to acknowledge that bastard in front of the entire family? How do you think Camilla will feel?"

Camilla slipped her hand around his arm and said softly, "Stefano, don't be impulsive. Everyone is watching."

Stefano froze where he stood.

He looked at Niccolo, who was crying uncontrollably, and he didn't move again.

When I saw this, the final sliver of hope I had left finally broke apart, and whatever love I had held onto shattered with it.

I walked over, crouched down, and gently wiped the tears from Niccolo's face.

"Don't cry, sweetheart. You don't need a father. From now on, I'll be with you. I'll give you all the love you need."

With that said, I stood and held his hand tightly. My gaze swept across the lawn before settling on Stefano.

He stared at me, shock filling his eyes, along with a trace of panic.

He must've thought that a few empty promises and my love for him were enough to keep me waiting, keep enduring every humiliation, and keep hoping he would one day give Niccolo and me a proper title.

He had never imagined I would walk away, let alone cut ties with him in front of everyone.

Just then, the first firework exploded in the sky, gold and red light spreading across the night sky.

It was his gift to Camilla.

I didn't spare him another glance. I took Niccolo's hand and walked away.

It didn't take long for Stefano's apology to arrive.

He said he wanted to take Niccolo and me to the mansion in the suburbs for a short getaway, that it was his way of making up for the way he had treated us lately.

I was ready to refuse, but Niccolo agreed before I could.

Ever since we returned from the banquet, Niccolo had stopped mentioning Stefano altogether. Instead, he quietly helped me pack our bags.

I knew what he was doing. He wanted to give Stefano one more chance. If nothing else, it would be a goodbye.

So I nodded and said nothing.

On the day we were leaving, Niccolo woke up early. Before the sun was even fully up, he was already pressed to the window, waiting for Stefano.

I could see how nervous he was.

When the black Bentley finally came into view, Niccolo grabbed my hand and ran out, only to see Camilla sitting in the front passenger seat.

Stefano was carefully supporting her pregnant belly.

The light in Niccolo's eyes faded instantly. He let go of my hand and climbed into the back seat, settling quietly into the corner.

Stefano's voice carried a trace of guilt as he explained it away, "She's pregnant and can't be alone right now. If she comes with us, it'll be easier to look after her."

I watched the way he shielded Camilla and let out a cold, humorless laugh.

This was his idea of making it up to us—bring the woman he truly meant to honor, and let Niccolo and me follow along.

The car made its way up the mountain road. The path wound tightly along the slope, rock rising sharply on one side and open air beyond the guardrail on the other.

Halfway up, the car jolted violently. The engine let out a grinding roar, and the steering wheel slipped out of control.

The car spun toward the guardrail, crashed through it with a sharp crack, and plunged down the steep incline.

In the instant the world flipped upside down, I wrapped my arms tightly around Niccolo, my back slamming hard against the interior.

Pain exploded through me, as if something inside had shattered. Glass sliced across my arm and cheek, and warm blood ran down my skin.

The car rolled twice before finally coming to a stop. The air reeked of gasoline, and twisted metal groaned around us.

Niccolo's forehead was cut, blood streaming down his face. Meanwhile, my entire body was throbbing in pain. My vision blurred at the edges, and a loud ringing filled my ears.

I gathered the last bit of my strength and shoved the warped door open, stumbling out and onto the ground with Niccolo in my arms.

When I turned to look for help, I saw Camilla in Stefano's arms. She had nothing more than a scrape.

"Daddy, help Mommy! She's bleeding so much!" Niccolo cried.

Stefano was just about to come to us when Camilla screamed and clutched her stomach, saying it hurt.

His gaze swept toward us, hesitation flashing across his face. In the end, he turned away.

He lifted Camilla into his arms and said, his voice tight, "She's pregnant. I can't risk anything happening to the baby. I'll get her to the hospital first and come back for you."

With that, he left without looking back.

As my consciousness began to fade, I saw Camilla resting against his shoulder, her lips curving into a mocking smile as she looked at me.

At that moment, whatever relationship had once existed between Stefano and me fell apart completely.

Then, everything went dark.

…

When I opened my eyes again, Stefano was sitting beside the hospital bed. His eyes were bloodshot, like he hadn't slept all night.

Relief flickered across his face when he saw that I was awake, but his expression quickly turned cold.

I didn't understand why, but the first thing I asked about was Niccolo. Upon realizing he was fine, I finally felt a sense of relief wash over me.

All of a sudden, Stefano tightened his grip around my wrist, a jolt of pain radiating up my arm.

His face was grim as he spoke in an interrogating tone. "The rescue team says the car was tampered with. We found the person responsible, and he claims you were the one who told him to do it.

"Alessandra, I told you that once the wedding ceremony was over and once she had the baby, I'd come back to you and Niccolo. Why couldn't you just wait?"

I stared at him in disbelief and yelled, "I didn't do that! Someone framed me. After all these years together, do you honestly think I'm capable of something like that?"

His expression twisted with pain. He looked at me as if I were a misbehaving child.

Then, he let out a long breath and pulled me into his arms. "It doesn't matter anymore. I've arranged a cruise for you and Niccolo. You're leaving tonight. When you come back, I swear everything will be over."

My heart sank.

He had already decided I was the culprit—a traitor and a criminal who would harm a pregnant woman and the unborn child in her belly.

If he had already made up his mind, there was nothing left to explain.

I turned away and didn't look at him again.

That evening, several men escorted Niccolo and me to the entrance of the dock. A small, plain bag was tossed at our feet.

One of Stefano's men sneered. "Once you leave, don't come back. You're not welcome in the Calderone family!"

I held Niccolo back when he tried to fight back. Without another word, I bent down, picked up the bag, and limped toward the cruise ship.

When the men behind us had withdrawn, I turned and walked toward another vessel.

Several men in black suits quickly approached and bowed respectfully. "Principessa, Don Accardo sent us to escort you and Mr. Niccolo home."

…

The ship pulled away from the dock, the city growing smaller behind us.

Niccolo leaned against me and asked softly, "Mommy, are we not coming back anymore?"

I stroked his hair and answered just as softly, "No. We're going home. We're never coming back."

The ship headed toward Sirelia. The sea breeze brushed against my face, sweeping away the despair that I had been carrying for the past five years.

At that moment, back in the city, the Calderone family's wedding ceremony was unfolding in full splendor.

Stefano stood beside Camilla, holding her hand as they accepted everyone's blessings.

But just as the celebration reached its peak, one of his men stumbled in, his face drained of color.

"Don Calderone, the ship Donna Calderone and Mr. Niccolo were on has exploded! It blew up shortly after entering international waters. There were… no survivors."