Chapter 3

I was momentarily stunned, but then I swiftly angled my phone away from his view, worried that he would notice my booking record.

"Just browsing."

Luciano couldn't stop a bark of laughter from leaving his lips. Tightening his arms around my waist, he said, "Silly, there's no need to look at special price tickets when you're with me. I'm the future Don of the Carlotta family, and my Donna deserves the very best of everything!

"No need to be so impatient. Once I'm done with my work, I'll plan out our holiday. From the hotel and flight tickets to the restaurants–I'll be sure to book the most luxurious options available."

With that, Luciano fell silent, happily fantasizing about the vacation that would never happen.

In truth, if he had spared even a few more seconds to look at my phone screen, he would've realized that the booking record didn't include a ticket for him.

"Amore, just wait for me, alright? Not only do I want you to have the perfect vacation, but I'll also throw you the grandest and most memorable wedding ever!"

Squeezing me tightly, he pressed a searing kiss onto my neck.

I instinctively felt repulsed by his attempt at intimacy, but before I could push him away, his phone abruptly rang.

I watched as a panicked look flashed across his face after he checked the caller ID.

"It's my business partner. I have to take this call."

With that said, he hastily retreated from the bedroom.

However, I had already seen that the person calling was actually Sofia.

Unsurprisingly, Luciano returned after the phone call with a regretful expression.

"The meeting time has been brought forward. I still need to head back to the Carlotta residence to prepare before I leave, so I have to go right now. Since the phone line connection might not be too good overseas, don't worry if you fail to get in contact with me, okay?"

He hurriedly packed his luggage, pecked me on the cheek, and then departed in a rush.

I was aware that his hasty departure was so that he would have enough time to prepare for the wedding in one week.

The morning after he left, I headed to the restaurant I had booked for his birthday dinner next week to cancel our table.

As I strode down the corridor, a familiar voice drifted out from a private room at the end of the hall.

"Mr. Carlotta, isn't Rosanna the woman you love more than anything? Are you really going to accept the family's marriage proposal and marry a Donna you don't even love?"

"I don't have enough influence right now and desperately need the Rossi family's help. Once I've obtained that last piece of territory and truly become the Don, I'll make sure to give Rosanna and Mario what they're due."

Stopping at the door, I peeked through a crack and spotted Luciano in the room, along with his second in command, Stefano Moretta.

"If Ms. Rosanna were to find out that you lied to her, she would definitely leave!"

"She won't find out." Luciano cut Stefano off before the latter could say anything more. Then, taking a gulp of his drink, he added, "Even if she learns of it, nothing will happen. She loves me too much to leave me, especially since I'm the one caring for Mario now. There's no way she'd abandon him and leave by herself."

Despite already knowing the truth beforehand, hearing those words come out of Luciano's own mouth now, I still felt like a dagger was stabbing deep into my heart.

Worried that I would have a breakdown right then and there if I remained here any longer, I fled out of the restaurant as quickly as my legs could take me.

After I returned home, I called Luciano. "Luciano, I miss Mario so, so much. Could you take me to see him?"

"But I'll be heading to the airport in an hour," Luciano stammered out in reply, clearly sounding rather conflicted.

"I know you're really busy, and it's not yet my visitation day, but I had a nightmare where Mario fell sick…" I replied tearfully.

Hearing that, Luciano was silent for several seconds before he finally answered me in a tone mixed with exasperation and amusement, "Alright, I'll take you to him, but you can't cry anymore. It pains me to hear you crying like that. However, don't forget that we only have one hour, okay?"

This was the first time Luciano had ever agreed to my request to visit Mario earlier. I wondered if it was due to a guilty conscience.

Like many times before, he sent the housekeepers away, and I finally got my wish to see our son.

Mario was over a year old by now. He was just starting to toddle around and could already say "Mama" and "Dada."

Luciano lifted him high into the air so the toddler could kiss my cheek. The harmonious and blissful moment this painted was as though we truly were a small family of three.

At that moment, Luciano's phone rang. He guiltily rejected the call before telling me he had to leave for the airport now.

I took Mario from him, my fingers curling in nervousness as I tried to maintain my usual calm smile.

"Alright, go ahead. I'm worried about leaving Mario alone here, so I'll wait for the housekeepers to return first before I sneak out."

A hint of uncertainty and hesitation flickered across Luciano's face.

If this had been in the past, he never would've agreed to leave me alone with Mario. However, he was clearly being urged to return to prepare for the wedding, which had him letting down his guard.

As his phone rang shrilly once more, he finally agreed to my suggestion after a few more seconds of hesitation.

Tightening my grip on Mario, I did my best to control my expression as I watched Luciano hurry off. I couldn't afford for any of my agitated emotions to show.

Five minutes later, I placed Mario into my car and drove off.

Goodbye, Luciano. May we never meet again.