Chapter 2

When I walked into the Romano Group’s marble lobby that morning, I didn’t expect to see him with her.

Giovanni Romano — my husband, my son’s father — stood by the glass elevator, gently brushing a strand of hair from Elena Duval’s face.

She was all soft laughter and pale perfume, the kind of woman who looked like she belonged in champagne ads, not in the same world as me.

And the way he looked at her — like she was the air he hadn’t breathed in years — burned straight through me.

Someone beside me whispered, “Guess the boss finally found his heart.”

I smiled back like it didn’t hurt. But inside, it felt like something inside me cracked open.

Seven years ago, Giovanni and Elena were the golden couple—a Mafia prince and the diplomat’s daughter who supposedly left him to save her family.

People said her father was threatened, that she ran to France for safety.

But people who run for their lives don’t send postcards from Paris.

He called it betrayal. She called it sacrifice.

Maybe both were true.

He never recovered.

And I was foolish enough to think I could fill the space she left behind.

One drunken night, I became the woman he hid from the world.

His assistant. His secret wife.

The mother of the son he never claimed.

That morning, I printed two documents:

my divorce papers and my resignation letter.

When my coworker leaned over my desk, she frowned.

“You’re really quitting, Jo?”

I forced a small smile.

“Yeah. My son’s father works overseas. I’m taking my boy there. It’s time we’re together as a family.”

She smiled back softly. “You’ve been handling everything alone. Must be exhausting.”

I nodded, pretending her words didn’t sting.

Because the truth was crueler — I wasn’t a single mother.

I was something worse: invisible.

Just as I handed in my resignation, the elevator opened again.

Giovanni walked in with Elena, his hand resting lightly at the small of her back — like it belonged there.

Every woman in the office stopped to stare.

I told myself to look away. I almost managed it.

Until he passed right by me.

“Mr. Romano—”

He turned sharply. Cold eyes. A warning.

“Miss Jo. If it’s not work-related, don’t waste my time.”

My throat closed.

“Of course, sir,” I whispered.

He nodded once, already turning back to Elena, his expression soft again.

The same man — two faces.

One for her. One for me.

Then my phone buzzed.

Leo’s voice chirped through his kids’ smartwatch:

“Mom, school’s ending early! Uncle bringing me to your office!”

I barely had time to respond before I saw him — my little boy — standing by the elevator with his backpack, staring at the same scene I had just witnessed.

Giovanni laughed quietly at something Elena said, his hand still resting protectively behind her.

And Leo… just stood there, confusion clouding his bright eyes.

When Giovanni finally noticed him, his body tensed.

For a heartbeat, I thought he might say something.

But then he simply adjusted his cufflinks — and walked past his own son as if he didn’t exist.

I rushed forward, pulling Leo into my arms before the tears could fall.

“Mom,” he whispered, “is that the lady Uncle likes?”

I couldn’t speak. I just nodded.

He didn’t cry. Not right away.

He just sat at my desk, opened his little notebook, and started writing his spelling words.

But the paper soon blurred under his tears.

I wrapped my arms around him and held on tight.

Because this small, shaking boy — this was my whole world.

And somewhere deep down, I knew:

That was the first chance.

And Giovanni didn’t even know he’d lost it.