Chapter 3

Richard had no idea who I really was: the heir to the Bonavita crime family.

Years ago, I'd grown tired of living under my father's iron fist, so I left home to make it on my own.

That was when I met Richard. A rival family had attacked me, and I was hurt and alone on the streets. Richard saved me. He took me home and nursed me back to health.

And that was when I fell in love with him.

Later, my father tracked me down. When he found out about us, he was dead set against it. But I wouldn't listen. I gave up my right to take over the Bonavita family just to stay with Richard.

I thought what we had was true love. Only now did I understand how terribly wrong I'd been.

When I returned to Leo's room, I found several nurses moving him out of bed and packing up his things.

I rushed over. "Stop! This is my son's room. What are you doing?"

One of the nurses looked at me, confused. "Hasn't Leo already been discharged? This room has been assigned to another patient."

"Who said he was being discharged—"

Before I could finish, Richard's voice came from behind me. "I authorized it."

I turned around, stunned by what I saw. My chest tightened.

Richard was holding Mia in his arms, with Vivian right behind him. "Mia cut her arm. She needs to rest. Leo's out of danger now, so he doesn't need such a nice room anymore."

I thought of what the nurse had said, and I couldn't believe it. "You had Leo discharged so you could give his room to them?"

Richard didn't look the least bit guilty. He spoke as though it were the most natural thing in the world. "That's right. I already asked the doctor. Leo's condition isn't serious.

"But Mia is different. The doctor wants to keep her overnight for observation, and this is the only private room left on the pediatric floor, so..."

I froze, then cut him off before he could finish. "So what? Richard, Leo is your son!

"Your son is lying in a hospital bed. It's bad enough you didn't even check on him, and now you're kicking him out of his room for someone else?"

Richard frowned as if I were making a fuss over nothing. "Elena, Leo just had an allergic reaction. He's fine now.

"But Mia hurt her arm, and Vivian's worried sick. You're a mother too. Can't you understand that? Stop being so selfish."

I looked at Mia in his arms.

The gauze on her arm was spotless. There wasn't a drop of blood on it.

And less than 20 minutes ago, my son had still been in the ER fighting for his life.

That was the last straw. "Selfish? Do you have any idea what Leo just went through? If you hadn't been so careless, he wouldn't be lying here!

"And now his own father is taking his hospital room away from him. Richard, you don't deserve to be Leo's father!"

Richard's expression darkened, and he snapped, "Elena, I'm only asking Leo to give up his room. It's not as if I'm abandoning him. Do you have to make a scene over this?"

I couldn't take it anymore and raised my hand to slap Richard.

Vivian suddenly rushed between us, and the slap hit her instead.

Her eyes welled up at once. "Elena, I'm sorry... this is all my fault. Hit me, yell at me, whatever you want. Just don't blame Richard."

Richard shoved me aside and turned to Vivian, his voice tight with worry. "Are you okay?"

Vivian shook her head, looking as though she were the one who had been wronged.

But I lost my footing and went down hard. My arm scraped the floor and started bleeding, and it hurt like crazy.

Richard didn't even glance at me. "Elena, I'm so disappointed in you," he snapped. "You're impossible!"

I smiled bitterly.

My husband, Leo's father, was standing beside another woman and her child. Watching him, I went cold inside.

All the happy memories we'd shared meant nothing to me anymore.

I pushed myself up, fought through the pain, picked up Leo, and walked out of that room as fast as I could.

On my way out, I heard Vivian say, "Richard, Elena's really upset. Go after her. Don't worry about us!"

But all Richard said was, "Don't bother. I've spoiled her rotten. She doesn't have an ounce of compassion!"

In that moment, I finally saw Richard for who he really was.

As we stepped out of the hospital, I heard Leo's soft, worried voice near my ear. "Mom, your arm is bleeding. Does it hurt a lot? Let me blow on it..."

I looked down and realized Leo had woken up at some point. His eyes were full of tears, but he gently blew on my scraped arm.

My heart ached at the sight.

"Baby, it doesn't hurt. I'm fine. When did you wake up?" I asked, stroking his cheek.

I didn't know how much of what had just happened Leo had heard.

He was still so young. I didn't want him to face the cruel truth that his father didn't love him.

Leo didn't answer, but I saw the disappointment in his eyes.

After a long time, Leo lowered his eyes. "Mom, does Dad like Mia better than me?

"Did I do something wrong?"

The hurt in his eyes left me speechless. All I could do was shake my head. "No, Leo. I'm sorry..."

Leo pressed his lips together. Then, as if he'd made up his mind, he reached out, patted my shoulder, and said softly, "It's okay, Mom. Let's go. Let's move somewhere Dad won't be. I don't want him anymore."

"Okay!" I hugged him tight and nodded firmly.

Back home, I quickly packed our bags. Leo packed his own things too, and he didn't take a single present Richard had ever given him.

He was done with his father.

I took out the draft divorce settlement my lawyer had prepared, signed it, and left it on the living-room coffee table.

Then I took Leo's hand, gave the house we'd lived in for five years one last look, and walked out without looking back.

My father's men were already waiting for us downstairs.

"Ms. Bonavita, the Don has a private jet ready for you and Leo. We'll land in Sicily by morning."

I nodded and got in the car with Leo. When we got to the airport, my phone buzzed with a text from Richard.

"You owe Vivian an explanation for today. Come over tomorrow and apologize."

I gave a cold laugh. I blocked Richard's number, then powered off my phone without a second thought.

As the plane climbed into the clouds, every remaining tie to Richard fell away.

This time, neither Leo nor I would ever look back.