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After the Miscarriage, I Stopped Being a Stepmother to Don's Heir

After the Miscarriage, I Stopped Being a Stepmother to Don's Heir

Cerita Pendek · Mafia
Oleh:  RedleavesTamat
Bahasa: English
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Sinopsis

Tragic Love

Healing

Plot Twists

Mafia

Unattainable Love

Secretary

Marriage

Winning Back the Wife

Regret

Leon Santoro's ex-wife and their daughter pushed me down the stairs. I lost the baby. Leon came to see me in the hospital. He sat beside the bed, his expression as composed as always, and said, "She's a child. She didn't know what she was doing. I'm sorry you had to go through this. I apologize for Rosalie." "That's it?" I asked. "Just an apology?" He turned to look at me. "What else do you want? Money? Stock?" "I can't exactly make Rosalie pay with her life for what happened to your child." Your child. Not our child. So he truly never cared about the baby I was carrying. He'd made a promise to his ex-wife Giselle: Rosalie would be his only child. When I told him I was pregnant, he'd barely reacted. Just a shrug and a flat "I know," like I'd told him the weather. Thinking about it now, I looked at him and asked quietly, "You're relieved, aren't you? Now that the baby's gone."

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Bab 1

Chapter 1

Leon frowned. "Less talking. More resting."

I twisted the blanket in my fists, pressing creases into the fabric.

"The day I told you I was pregnant, you wanted me to get rid of it, didn't you? You never said it out loud, but it was all over your face."

That same afternoon, Giselle had shown up at our door, furious. I could hear them arguing through the wall, her voice sharp enough to hurt.

"Leon Santoro, don't you forget what you promised me. Rosalie is your only child."

"She has an IQ of 148. You swore to her she'd be the heir. That's the only reason I stopped trying for more. And now you're going to make Scarlett keep it? Get rid of it. Now."

Leon's voice came back slow and even, like cold water.

"The reason I divorced you is because you keep forgetting your place."

"I'll say it one more time: don't tell me what to do. I make my own decisions."

Silence.

Then Giselle's crying leaked through the crack under the door, steady and relentless, draining away every bit of joy I'd felt about the life growing inside me.

"Even if you don't care about me," she sobbed, "think about Rosalie. The doctors said her high IQ comes with high sensitivity. Another child doesn't just take away her father, it threatens her. Everything she's been groomed to be, the future heir of the entire East Coast operation, that's gone the moment you have another kid."

Knock. Knock. Knock.

When Leon thought, he tapped the table with his index finger. That night, the knocking sounded different, restless and almost angry.

The next morning, I quietly ironed his coat and saw him to the door. As he left, I said, "Watch yourself out there. Dodge the bullets. You're going to be a father."

He smiled faintly. "I already am a father."

Right. He already was — Rosalie was his only child.

My legs went weak. I grabbed the doorframe to steady myself.

He caught my arm. "Careful. You're going to be a mother."

It should have been a happy thing to say, but there wasn't a trace of happiness on his face.
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15 Bab
Chapter 1
Leon frowned. "Less talking. More resting."I twisted the blanket in my fists, pressing creases into the fabric."The day I told you I was pregnant, you wanted me to get rid of it, didn't you? You never said it out loud, but it was all over your face."That same afternoon, Giselle had shown up at our door, furious. I could hear them arguing through the wall, her voice sharp enough to hurt."Leon Santoro, don't you forget what you promised me. Rosalie is your only child.""She has an IQ of 148. You swore to her she'd be the heir. That's the only reason I stopped trying for more. And now you're going to make Scarlett keep it? Get rid of it. Now."Leon's voice came back slow and even, like cold water."The reason I divorced you is because you keep forgetting your place.""I'll say it one more time: don't tell me what to do. I make my own decisions."Silence.Then Giselle's crying leaked through the crack under the door, steady and relentless, draining away every bit of joy I'd felt about
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Chapter 2
I looked down and gave a thin smile. "I don't think you were all that happy about me becoming a mother, were you?"Leon's brow tightened and his expression went colder than before. "What's that supposed to mean?"I held his gaze.Leon looked away, impatient."Scarlett. You know I hate being misunderstood. And I hate explaining myself even more."I kept staring at him, stubborn as a tree in a storm. He glanced down at my stomach. "I've been busy this week. I won't be able to come by. Don't worry, I'll send someone to look after you."After he left, the room felt hollow.My stomach felt hollow too.I turned and stared out the window. A life, small as a bird, had flown away without a trace. Not even a shadow left behind.The next day, Leon didn't come and there was no call either.I went to the follow-up appointment alone.On my way out, I rounded a corner and nearly walked into Leon and his sister Iris. Their voices carried before I could see them."Leon, I know you married Scarlett beca
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Chapter 3
I was in the hospital for a week.Leon vanished without a word or a call.My body felt scraped hollow, and I stopped caring whether Giselle was using Rosalie as an excuse to get close to him. I was too tired for that.I went home to an empty house.Rosalie was on the couch working a Rubik's cube. She looked up when I walked in, and something lit in her eyes."Scarlett, look."She grabbed a gift box and held it up eagerly.I looked away without a word.Her body went still and the light in her eyes died. She slowly hid the box behind her back.She was perceptive, the kind of child who could read a face like a page in a book.I walked past her and went to my room.I didn't think I could be around her the same way I used to be anymore.That afternoon, Giselle let herself in.She dropped an empty suitcase on the living room floor and started loading it.One of the housekeepers stepped forward, flustered. "Miss Giselle, what are you doing?"Giselle flinched at the word Miss, then turned vici
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Chapter 4
A few days passed. Leon didn't come home.Back at the office, I didn't see him either.I worked PR for his company. No one knew I was his wife.The secret marriage was Giselle's idea. When she found out we were getting married, she threw a fit, saying a woman who spent her days in low-cut dresses working the social circuit had no business being the Donna of the Santoro family. It would embarrass everyone.It was petty and jealous and completely unhinged, but Leon actually listened.He said we'd go public when the time was right.The right time never came.At some point, I stopped expecting it.On lunch break, the girls in PR were gossiping."Did you hear? The Don might be getting back together with Giselle.""I know! They took Rosalie to Disney together. The pictures are adorable."I stared out the glass wall at the sky, heavy and grey like a song that only goes one way."Scarlett, look, don't they look perfect together?"A coworker pushed her phone in my face.It was Giselle's Faceboo
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Chapter 5
A week later, they came back.Leon, unusually, brought Rosalie into the office with him.I didn't want to see them. I went to HR to ask for time off.The HR director grabbed my hand. He had a smile on his face that made my skin crawl."Feeling under the weather? Still recovering from the miscarriage?"I froze and forgot to pull my hand away.He rubbed his thumb across my knuckles and kept smiling."A buddy of mine's a doctor. He recognized you. Told me you came in a while back.""You're not married, right? Didn't know you had it in you, sweet face but clearly not shy.""I could approve your leave. I know a hotel nearby, nice and private. We could—"I snapped back, pulled my hand free, and slapped him.He blinked like he couldn't believe I'd actually done it.Then he slammed his palm on the desk and shoved to his feet."Bitch! How dare you hit me? Who do you think you are?"He raised his hand to hit back.A cartoon backpack smacked him in the face.I spun around.Rosalie.She ran in fro
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Chapter 6
Leon took me and Rosalie to his office.He sat with his hands steepled against his nose, just his dark eyes floating above them, watching me."Scarlett." His voice was quiet, deliberate. "I know you were put in an impossible position. I'll take care of the rest."I waited. He didn't say anything else."That's it?" I asked. "You'll handle it?"He frowned, impatient. "I said I'll handle it."I laughed.Same as always. Never a word about what he was doing or why, just "I'll handle it" and that was supposed to be enough."Don't bother. I'm putting in my resignation."Leon's frown deepened.He crossed to the floor-to-ceiling window and stood with his hands behind his back, looking out. After a long silence, he spoke."The Vitali family holds thirty percent of this company."I already knew where this was going. The HR director, claiming to be a friend of Rosalie's mother."He's Giselle's man. He represents the Vitali interest here. If I publicly humiliate him, I'm publicly humiliating them."
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Chapter 7
The pregnancy hit me hard. I was exhausted all the time, my moods swinging without warning.The day it happened, I'd just woken up from a nap. Rosalie's voice filtered in through the door, small and thoughtful."She's not up yet. What if she's dead?"The housekeeper laughed softly. "She's not dying, Rosalie. She's just having a rough time with the pregnancy.""Oh. Is there any way to make the baby go away? I don't want Scarlett to keep being sick. She hasn't played with me in forever. Can you figure something out? Make whatever's in her stomach disappear?"I pushed the door open.Rosalie heard me and came running.I felt dizzy. I pressed a hand to my temple."You're up! Is your head hurting again? Can I help?"She reached toward me. Without thinking, I stepped back and covered my stomach.She stopped and stared.Then something shifted in her face, like a lock clicking open."Mom's right. You never liked me.""Nobody likes me. They all say I'm strange.""And now you hate me too. That's
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Chapter 8
After work, Leon walked me down to the parking garage.We hid in a blind spot away from the cameras.He watched the entrance like a hunter, jaw sharp in the low light, the kind of face that looked like it'd been cut from stone.That face meant nothing to me anymore.The garage was empty. The perfect moment to bring up the divorce."Leon, I need to tell you something—"He covered my mouth with his hand. "Not yet. Wait."He stared toward the entrance, not explaining, just expecting me to stay quiet. Same as always.I pulled his hand away and opened my mouth. Then footsteps, coming closer.It was the HR director.He clicked his key fob and reached for the door.Leon moved like a shadow, slipping around behind him, dropping a hood over his head in one smooth motion.Then an uppercut, clean and exact, right through the bag.The man let out a strangled cry and crumpled.Leon straddled him and hit him again. And again. Each punch landed with a wet, heavy sound, steady as a man at work. Unhurr
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Chapter 9
I came back slowly, out of thick black nothing.Leon was sitting by the hospital bed.Shirtsleeves rolled to the forearm, long fingers working a paring knife around an apple.He glanced at me. Kept peeling."You're up. Doctor says you're fine. Just needs observation, then we can go home."I pushed myself upright. "Leon, I want a div—""I cut you an apple. Do you want it whole or should I cut it into pieces?" He cut across me quickly. "Actually, pieces are easier. Let me cut it."He finished, set the plate in front of me.I pushed it away gently. "Leon, listen to me.""You just woke up. Rest. Don't talk."He cut me off again and started doing up his cuffs, buttoning carefully, deliberately.He was talking more than usual, and faster, like every word was too hot to hold and had to get out. He kept going."Eat some apple first. I need to step out, Rosalie's looking for me."He was almost at the door before I said it."Leon. I want a divorce."He stopped.His back went rigid as a bowstring
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Chapter 10
Leon went to find the doctor and handle the discharge paperwork. Rosalie and I were alone in the room.She sat in the chair, small feet dangling, swinging slowly in the air.I leaned over and stroked her hair.She flinched slightly, but didn't pull away."Rosalie. Why did you want the baby to go away?"She looked down at her shoes and didn't speak.I didn't push her.After a while, her mouth moved."Because you'd die.""Mom told me, having a baby is dangerous. You bleed a lot. It's easy to die."She looked up. Her eyes were wet."She said you didn't like me. She said you wanted your own baby so badly you weren't even scared of dying.""I was so upset. I always thought you were different. I thought you liked me for me, not just because I'm smart."A tear fell and hit the floor."I like you. I don't want you to die.""That's why I asked the housekeeper if there was any way to make it go away.""But if you really wanted it, I would've tried really hard to love it too.""That day, I was ju
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