I slipped the heart-shaped charm off Lorenzo's phone and set it aside before placing the device back where it was.

Then, I simply stared out the window, letting the silence settle around me.

It wasn't long before Lorenzo strode toward me, his expression grim, carrying the unmistakable presence of the mafia.

"Why didn't you tell me that you were pregnant?" He looked straight into my eyes as he questioned me.

Those beautiful blue eyes—I had once loved them deeply. When Lorenzo looked at me in the past, I felt like I was the only one in his world.

But how long had it been since he last looked at me like this? And now, he was only doing it again to confront me with a lie.

I turned my head away, refusing to meet his gaze. My voice was flat and void of emotion. "Our child is gone."

Lorenzo pulled me into his arms, and his body trembled as if on the verge of breaking.

He was the one who took our child from me with his own hands. So why did he look like he had lost everything?

He might have been a pretty good actor if he weren't a mafia boss.

"Renee, don't be too upset. We can still—"

I didn't have the patience to sit through his act any longer, so I cut him off. "Let's adopt."

"Huh?" For a second, Lorenzo just stood there, caught off guard.

Maybe it was because I had dropped the pretense by saying outright what he had been dancing around.

"Alright. Also, the wedding invitations have already been sent out. Mr. Salerno—the underboss to the biggest mafia group on the East Coast—is flying in just for the occasion. But with your health like this, maybe…"

I knew exactly what he would say and had already thought of a way to respond.

"Find someone to take my place. We're not giving anyone the chance to mock the Gambino family."

My drastic shift in attitude took Lorenzo aback.

But since he had already gotten what he wanted, he didn't press the matter any further.

"My body feels fine right now. I want to be discharged. The weather's nice. Let's go to the orphanage to check it out. We are adopting, aren't we?"

I observed Lorenzo closely as I spoke, silently speeding up his arrangements to bring Kelly and Mia into Gambino Group.

Lorenzo didn't hesitate. He smiled, nodded, and then walked out to make a call. Not once did he realize that the charm was missing from his phone.

This hospital belonged to Gambino Group, so the discharge process was quick.

Lorenzo lifted me into a wheelchair and placed a bouquet of lilies on my lap.

"A little something to celebrate your discharge," he said.

I hated lilies the most. But at that moment, I didn't even have the strength to shove them off my lap.

Instead, I clenched my fists and stared down at my useless legs.

The drive to the orphanage didn't take long. When the guards at the entrance saw Lorenzo's car, they immediately let us through. They even nodded in recognition at the driver.

It was apparent that Lorenzo came here often and had already grown familiar with them. After all, ordinary people wouldn't have dared to greet the mafia so casually.

When Lorenzo stepped out of the car, a young girl ran into his arms.

"Daddy! Are those lilies for Mommy? Mommy loves lilies!" She kept chattering excitedly.

Lorenzo easily picked her up, and a gentle smile formed on his lips.

Lorenzo was suddenly struck by the idea that I was still in the car. He turned around hastily as he explained, "Renee, don't take this the wrong way.

"I sponsor this orphanage, and the kids here are all orphans. That's just what they call me."

I didn't say anything right away. Instead, I smiled and said, "She resembles you. I'd think she was your daughter if no one told me otherwise. What's your name?"

"Mia," Lorenzo answered on behalf of Mia as she clung to him. She was eyeing me with open hostility.

"She's the one I want to adopt."

I nodded. "She's beautiful. From now on, I'll be her mother."

The moment the words left my mouth, Lorenzo's expression stiffened. But before he could say anything, Mia suddenly burst into tears.

"I have my own mommy! I don't want you to be mine! Daddy, I want my mommy!"

Seeing that Mia was sobbing uncontrollably, Lorenzo shot me a reproachful glance. It was as if he was blaming me for making his daughter cry.

"I'll calm her down," he said before carrying Mia into the classroom without a second glance.

In the end, it was the driver who helped me out of the car and set me down in a wheelchair.

Left alone, I wandered through the orphanage until a hushed conversation from around the corner caught my attention.

"I heard that Mr. Gambino is taking his daughter back. But why would he leave her in an orphanage in the first place?"

"You don't get it. He's got everything planned out. This is the only way he can ensure that Mia can get into the Gambino family.

"Just don't let anything slip in front of Ms. Jones, or you won't even know what hit you."

"Figures. The one he truly cares about is still Ms. Valente. That Renee? She's just some woman his late mother arranged for him.

"How could she ever compare to Kelly, the principessa of the Valente family?"

Their words slammed into me, each one heavier than the last, pressing down on me until I could barely breathe.

I turned my wheelchair as I was unwilling to face them. I intended to take another route, but a familiar voice drifted from a nearby classroom before I could move.

"Is he treating you well?" Lorenzo asked.

"No. You're also the mafia. You know how these mafia men are, don't you? He tried to hit me, so I ran back here with Mia.

"But he still doesn't know about her yet. He won't dare touch us once she's with Gambino Group."

Lorenzo gazed at Kelly with his eyes filled with nothing but tenderness.

"Don't be afraid. That little mafia gang is nothing to worry about. With Gambino Group backing you, no one will dare lay a finger on you two.

"Once we're married, and I have your family's support, I might even be able to take down those arrogant idiots in the South District. I'll take Mia home first. Just hold on a little longer."

Kelly leaned into him, her face glowing with happiness.

Mia ran up to her with a bouquet of lilies. Her voice was bright as she said, "Mommy, you're so pretty! Daddy really loves you, Mommy! I'll get a camera and take a picture of you two!"

She spun around and dashed out of the room—only to crash straight into me.

Panic flickered across Lorenzo's eyes for the briefest second.

"Renee… What are you doing here? This is Kelly, a volunteer at the orphanage. We were just discussing Mia's adoption."

Unlike him, Kelly remained perfectly composed. She picked Mia up effortlessly before waving at me.

"Ms. Jones, we finally meet. I'm Kelly Valente."

Kelly Valente. The moment I saw her face, something clicked. I had seen her before.

The Valente family was a small-time mafia family from Southwest.

Years ago, the Valente family's boss came to our house, hoping to attend the birthday party of my second brother, Enzo. However, he didn't even make it past the front door.

That man was Kelly's father. And the young girl who trailed behind him must have been Kelly.

Back then, he failed to send her to Enzo's bed. But now, it seems that he's offered her to Lorenzo instead.

This was typical of a low-tier mafia family. They would scheme their way into power instead of earning it with real strength.

Kelly intentionally mentioned the Valente family, thinking it would intimidate me. But that insignificant "Valente family" wasn't even worth the breath it took to say their name.

I ignored her and turned to Lorenzo. "Handle the paperwork yourself. I'm tired. I'll wait in the car."

To my surprise, Lorenzo followed me, trying to explain. His frantic expression almost made me laugh.

He went to such extremes to make Mia and Kelly a legitimate part of the Gambino family while keeping our marriage intact just to preserve his dignity.

He exposed my location to our enemies, had me crippled, and even killed our child—all so he could have what he wanted.

So now, after everything, why was he still putting up this pathetic act?

"Lorenzo, remember this. You're the boss of the Gambino family. If anyone sees you looking this pitiful, it won't just be your reputation on the line. It'll be the entire Gambino family's. I'll be waiting in the car."

Lorenzo stared at me, startled. It was as if the woman he remembered—the gentle, obedient version of me—had vanished for a brief second.

He then realized his own lapse in composure and simply watched as I walked back to the car.

Every employee I passed cast me the same look. It was a mix of ridicule and pity.

However, I didn't care. I just pulled out my phone and started the process of erasing my identification.

I had been Renee Jones long enough. It was time to say goodbye.

…

To celebrate Mia's return, the Gambino family threw a family banquet.

They all seemed to believe that bringing her back meant securing the Valente family's support.

But what thrilled them even more was the early arrival of Vincent Salerno, Navarro Group's second-in-command. He had come to escort the Navarro family's heiress.

The Navarro family were the undisputed rulers of the East Coast. For the Gambinos, establishing ties with them was the highest honor.

And the Navarro family's boss, whom everyone respected and feared? He was my father.

The only time Papa ever punished me was when I fell for Lorenzo at first sight and insisted on marrying him. It took three days of hunger strikes before he finally relented.

Back then, the Gambino family was nothing. They were a struggling mafia family clawing for power in the West District. Papa hid his identity for their sake and even forged a false one for me.

I was renamed Renee Jones, a farmer's daughter from the remote countryside. No matter how deeply they dug, that was all they would ever find.

Very few people knew that the Navarro family had a daughter.

Papa told me to reveal the truth to Lorenzo only after our marriage. He had even been willing to groom him as his successor.

And I agreed. I'd spent my entire life surrounded by people who fawned over me for my last name—Navarro.

I wanted to believe that if I erased it, whatever love I received would be real and untainted.

However, I didn't expect Lorenzo to throw me away for a woman from the Valente family. I almost laughed at the irony.

…

As the banquet was about to start, I touched up my makeup and waited for someone to escort me downstairs. However, no one came.

When I stepped out, a maid blocked my path. Her expression was cold and almost amused. It was like I was something beneath even her.

"Mr. Gambino said that Mr. Salerno is a distinguished guest of the Navarro family. We wouldn't want a cripple ruining Mr. Salerno's night."

I was seething with anger as I glared at the maid.

"Vincent is here to escort the Navarro family's principessa. This banquet can't even start without me!"

The maid scoffed. "A farmer's daughter claiming to be from the Navarro family? Keep dreaming."

From the railing, I saw Lorenzo sitting at the head of the table and pouring Vincent a glass of the finest wine.

Beside him, standing in the seat that once belonged to me, was Kelly.

Vincent spared her a glance and scanned the hall. He didn't see me.

Lorenzo hesitated, then raised his glass. "Mr. Salerno, since everyone is here, let's toast together and start the banquet."

Vincent's eyes narrowed. His expression turned cold as his gaze sliced through Lorenzo like a blade.

"I came on orders from Don Navarro to deliver a gift to Principessa Navarro. How can the banquet begin if the guest of honor isn't here?"

Under the shocked gazes of everyone in the hall, Vincent rose from his seat and headed upstairs.

Lorenzo moved to stop him, but Vincent's mercenaries blocked his path.

Without saying a single word, he led me downstairs and pushed my wheelchair to the seat of honor.

Then, in front of everyone, he knelt on one knee and pressed a kiss to my left hand.

"It's been a long time, Principessa Navarro."