Chapter 2

There was a light knock on the door, interrupting Romina and me as we cried.

Dr. Conti, Romina's attending physician, came in and checked her medical chart at the foot of the bed. After scanning the indicators, he nodded approvingly.

"I bring good news, Mrs. Panzeri. We've found a matching kidney donor. Considering Ms. Panzeri's condition, we can schedule the transplant to take place in three days."

Elated, I covered my mouth. Tears streamed down my face. Even Romina held my hand in disbelief, repeatedly asking me, "Is this real, Mommy? I won't have to die anymore?"

In our previous life, Romina waited until her dying breath without ever finding a suitable match. The memories of her dying in pain were etched into my memory.

Dr. Conti bent down and smiled at her, saying, "Of course you won't die. This is a very common procedure, and the surgeon who's operating on you, Dr. Bruno, is the best surgeon in the world. You should trust that your father has made the best arrangements for you."

Romina looked at me hesitantly, as if seeking confirmation. "Is that true, Mommy? Did Daddy really arrange everything for me?"

Forcing down my tears, I nodded, telling her a white lie. "It's true, darling. Daddy loves you very much. The moment he found out about your illness, he arranged everything for you."

It wasn't surprising that Romina found it hard to believe.

Two years ago, after Camilla's husband, Riccardo Mancini, died, he left behind a vast fortune and control over the entire port district.

Under the pretext of "looking after the widow of a deceased friend", Giulio began to spend all of his nights at Camilla's estate. He took out all of the potential threats against her and suppressed the other members of the Mancini family who had their eyes on Riccardo's assets.

He was present for every important milestone in Nico's life. Even when Nico's school held parent-child activities, he would push aside all of his important meetings to attend the events in person.

Yet he missed out on his own daughter's birthdays and events. In fact, when she got bullied in school, he simply said indifferently, "As the daughter of a mafia don, you're an embarrassment to me."

Those two years had been enough for me to realize that Giulio didn't love Romina or me. The only ones in his heart were Camilla and Nico.

Romina thoughtfully wiped away my tears, her eyes bright. "Mommy, if Daddy loves me, does that mean we won't have to leave anymore?"

It felt like something was squeezing my heart tightly, the pain almost suffocating me. After a long silence, he said quietly, "That's right. If he loves you, Romy, we'll give him another chance, okay?"

She hesitated for a moment before saying with an earnest expression, "It can't just be me, Mommy. He has to treat you well, too!"

With a gentle gaze, I stared at her as if she were my entire world. "Okay."

Romina was full of anticipation as she waited for Giulio, but even until it was time for her surgery, he didn't show up.

Outside the operating room, she held my hand in disappointment, her eyes constantly flicking toward the end of the corridor.

I forced down the bitterness in my heart and assured, "Daddy is just too busy, Romy. I'll be here with you, okay? Just go in for the surgery and don't worry about anything. I'll be right here waiting for you. I won't go anywhere."

Romina was silent for a while before she nodded obediently. "I understand, Mommy. I'll be a good girl. No matter whether Daddy comes to accompany me or not, I'll still love both of you."

My eyes turned red. Just as I got ready to let the medical team wheel her into the operating room, an entertainment news report started playing on the television on the wall of the corridor.

In a hyped-up voice, the announcer reported, "Tonight, Giulio Panzeri, Don of the Panzeri family, was photographed accompanying Camilla Messina and her son at Montelupo Amusement Park.

"In the photos, the three appeared to be very affectionate with each other. It is suspected that they are already living together.

"Sources report that the young boy has also privately started addressing Don Giulio as his father."

On the large screen, the secretly recorded live footage was playing.

Giulio was holding Nico in one arm, lowering his head to wipe the ice cream off the corner of Nico's mouth. Camilla stood beside them with a gentle, blissful smile.

I wanted to step forward to hide the screen from Romina. But at that very moment, the scene took a sudden turn.

Nico, who'd been giggling hard at first, suddenly clutched his throat. His small face quickly turned red. He coughed violently a few times before gasping as if he couldn't breathe, and he slipped right out of Giulio's arms.