Chapter 3

I was unconscious for two whole days.

When I woke up again, I was lying on the top floor of a private hospital controlled by the family.

Only the Capo who had tried to put the bulletproof vest on me that night was guarding the door like a statue.

Seeing me open my eyes, he immediately stepped forward, though his gaze was evasive.

"Where is Marco?"

I spoke, my throat scorched by smoke and dust, sounding as hoarse as if I had swallowed a handful of razor blades.

The Capo lowered his head, hesitated for a moment, and handed me a tablet.

"Ma'am, the Don said... to comfort the frightened Master Luca and Gina, he must stay by their side."

The screen lit up. It was live surveillance footage from a private amusement park registered under Marco's name.

This was the amusement park Marco built for me when I gave birth to Luca.

He once said this park belonged exclusively to our family of three and that no one else could enter.

I had mocked myself back then, saying I was thirty years old and past the age for amusement parks.

But Marco looked at me and said I was his eternal Princess, and a Princess belongs in an amusement park.

Times have changed. Now, he allowed, and even personally took, Gina to this park.

In the footage, the sun was shining brightly.

Marco had taken off his usual grim black suit and changed into a casual trench coat. He held Luca in one arm and held Gina's hand with the other.

The three of them were wearing custom matching Burberry family outfits, holding balloons and cotton candy. Their bright smiles stung my eyes.

I took the phone and dialed Marco.

It rang for a long time before being picked up. The background was full of cheerful merry-go-round music.

"You're awake?"

Marco's voice sounded like he was in a good mood.

"Don't worry, it's handled. It was the Rossi family. They coveted our underground arsenal in Sicily, so they wanted to kidnap Luca as a bargaining chip."

"While you were out, I personally led the team and wiped out the entire Rossi family. That is the price for touching my woman."

"I want to see you." I looked at the tall back in the surveillance footage. "Marco, I almost died. I want to see my husband and son."

There was a moment of silence on the other end, followed by his impatient scolding.

"Elena, when did you become so needy?"

"The doctor said you just have a concussion and a few fractures. You'll heal. As the Mamma, can't you toughen up a bit?"

"But Gina is different. She suffered huge mental trauma to save Luca. She still shakes when she hears loud voices. She saved Luca, so she saved the family. I have to compensate her properly, even if just to repay the debt."

"Stay in the hospital and rest. Once I've calmed Gina down, if I still have time, I'll come back to see you."

Just then, Gina's sweet, delicate voice came from the other end.

"Marco... look! Look how happy Luca is!"

Immediately after, my own son's voice, crisp and loud, pierced my eardrum like a sharp knife through the receiver.

"Mommy! I want that biggest balloon! Buy it for me!"

That "Mommy" rolled off his tongue so naturally, a hundred times more affectionate than when he called me.

Marco didn't stop him.

He even responded gently, "Okay, Daddy will take Mommy to buy it."

Beep—beep—

The phone was hung up.

I stared stiffly at the surveillance footage in my hand.

Under the Ferris wheel, the three of them held hands, their backs looking as harmonious as a perfect oil painting.

That was the real family of three.

While I was forgotten inside this cold hospital.

Watching their warm interaction, my determination to leave hardened.