FREE CHAPTER 078

I’m back ❤️

I’m truly sorry for being away for so long. My son and I had some health issues that kept me from updating, and as a reader I know the feeling of I leaving you waiting. So I didn't came empty handed. I brought you a FREE chapter.

Thank you to everyone who stayed and supported this book. It really means a lot to me.

Mila and Luca’s story isn’t over yet, and Luca’s regret is only just beginning.

I’ll do my best to update constantly. Please stay with me ❤️

About the repeated chapters from 69-77 had been edited with the right content. It was a technical issue.

You can search my page on f b J. Romanzoo-Dark Romance Author, to contact easily.

The following is the FREE chapter as a sincere apology from the bottom of my heart.

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Luca

My earlier question was answered right away when the front door swung open and Mila walked inside as if she were a queen, her arm linked with a young man’s, while his hand rested on her waist.

My eyes darkened as I fixed my gaze on her, walking side by side with that fucker.

He seemed familiar, though.

“Mommy!” Angelo exclaimed happily and ran toward her, trying to climb into her arms, but instead, the man lifted him up and said softly, “You must be Angelo.”

Angelo nodded, longing for his mom.

Mila reached for him, caressing his cheeks tenderly, love shining in her eyes, but she didn’t take him into her arms. “Mommy missed you so much, my prince!” she said, wrapping her arms around his little body while the man was still holding him.

How dare he touch my son?

A nerve pulsed in my neck as I clenched my fists. I heard my fingers crack. The scene was wrong. Completely wrong.

I took a step forward, but Ricardo’s strong grip held my arm tightly as he whispered next to my ear, “Don’t. It’s not the right time. You should try to lighten the mood, not inflame it. At least she came home.”

I looked at him, our burning gazes meeting for a brief moment. Maybe he was right.

“Try to straighten things with her. Don’t let your jealousy drive you,” he added before turning and heading to hug her.

I just stood there, watching everyone shower her with welcoming kisses and hugs. Even Father seemed too soft with her, unlike his usual character.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Marco sitting quietly in his chair, just like me.

I typed an order to our enforcer: [Investigate a man called Levi Marceau, NOW.]

A note message popped right away into my phone, [We already did boss. He’s clean. Too clean to be specific.]

Before Mila took her seat, she said with her charming smile, “Levi, this is my foster family, the Haydens. Everyone, this is Levi Marceau. My friend—we met on the island.”

Then she smiled at him warmly as they both sat next to each other.

Why did I feel like no one was surprised by this man except me?

“Mommy?” Angelo called, grabbing Mila’s attention. She turned to him with a warm smile and pinched his nose. “What is it, sweetheart?”

“What is the surprise? I can’t wait,” he asked with joy.

Her eyes shone with excitement. “It’s a wonderful surprise, I promise. But you have to wait a little longer, okay?” Then she exchanged a glance with Levi.

“Okay, Mommy,” Angelo said, a little disappointed.

Levi looked straight into my eyes with a smile and said, “You must be Mr. Luca Hayden. I’ve heard a lot about you.”

I kept sipping my wine, resting my elbow on the table, and narrowed my eyes at him without saying a word or breaking my gaze.

I stared at him for too long—so long that he blinked, coughed, and finally looked away, his ears turning red.

Suddenly, and for the first time since she entered the mansion, Mila looked at me and said, “Levi is half German, half American. And he just moved to the USA a few months ago.”

Was she warning me to not abuse him? 

I narrowed my gaze, realizing that the man didn’t understand what he had gotten himself into. He didn’t know he was sitting in the den of one of the most dangerous mafias on earth.

I liked that. My dark side—my sick side—liked that.

Mother shot me a glare. “It’s nice having you here, Mr. Marceau,” Mother said, trying to lighten the atmosphere.

“Call me Levi, ma’am,” he said nicely. He seemed too polite. 

She smiled back. “Did you move to the US for business?”

“In fact, my family has had a business here for decades,” Levi answered. “My father is American, and I lived in Germany with my mother after they divorced years ago.” His tone was slightly tense as he stole a glance in my direction.

Or maybe it was the way I kept burning into his skull with my gaze that made him uncomfortable.

“The German women are very beautiful,” Aunt Mirenda said softly. “I have some friends there.”

“I think I know your family,” Father interrupted. “We dealt in business before. Aren’t they the ones who own the entertainment industry in the South?”

Mila tensed, which confirmed to me that the idiot had no idea who he was sitting with.

The corner of my lips curved up. My little cat had learned how to scheme.

He nodded. “Actually, my family and I aren’t on good terms. So I don’t know much about their business.”

However, the small smile on my lips didn’t last long. It disappeared the moment Mila spoke.

“Levi is an artist,” she said, her tone filled with admiration and pride. “He paints beautifully. He drew some pictures of me on the island.”

Then she pulled her phone out of her purse and flipped through her photos. When she turned the screen to show the drawings, my heart tightened.

The picture was stunning. She looked like a princess sitting under a tree.

My brothers. My family. All of them stared at me in anticipation.

But all they saw was the ice-cold look in my eyes. No rage. No anger. Nothing. 

Even though the storm raging inside me could burn this entire mansion to the ground.

Did she really believe she could just walk in with some guy like this; even if she introduced him as just a friend?

But I knew Mila too well. She was smart. She was here for something. I could read it in her eyes.

My little cat had learned how to bite back.

And damn it… I felt proud of her.

She wasn’t here because she had softened. Not to start over with this family.

I just hoped—this time—that I was wrong.

I knew I didn’t deserve her anymore. But I couldn’t stop wanting her. To wish she could forgive me someday.

I clenched my fists when I heard her laugh as Levi said, “This is the most beautiful picture I’ve ever drawn.”

“It’s really beautiful,” Angelo said in admiration, zooming in and out of the photo on his mom’s phone.

“So…” Ricardo said, “Do you draw for a living?”

“No,” Levi smiled. “It’s just a hobby. I have my own business.”

“Interesting,” Father said. “What kind of business?”

Mila picked up a glass of wine and said, “Levi’s business is decent.” She smiled warmly at him, making my chest burn. “He’s a clean, gentle, and respectful man.”

Then she looked at the four of us—Father, Marco, Ricardo, and me. “He’s never done dirty work.”

I raised a brow. “You seem very sure of him,” I mocked. “It’s not like you only met him a few weeks ago.”

She shot me a look but ignored me—like if she was saying, ‘you don’t deserve to respond to’. It was obvious she hated me to the core.

Instead, she smiled softly as she looked between Father and Mother and said, “You raised me well. You let me in like I was truly part of this family…”

“You are part of it, honey,” Mother said.

Mila’s eyes shone as she continued, “I have news to share with you.”

She looked toward Levi, and he took her hand.

My heart froze.

For some reason, I knew I wouldn’t like what she was about to say.

She inhaled nervously and said, “I… Levi and I…”