Chapter 4

I was snapped back to reality when Lory flicked her fingers in front of my face. I looked at her—her brows furrowed as she waited for an answer. My throat tightened; I couldn’t speak. I didn’t know. I didn’t know what to say.

“M-Maybe he has a lot of women, Lory. Not just me. There are many others out there. I know that. I don’t care if he loses his title as a Mafia Lord. What do I care about his organization? His underground empire? Their rules and regulations? Nothing.”

I know I sound dumb and foolish for saying that. But I don’t care anymore—because that’s what happens when you’re dealing with a mafia, right?

I stood up, but before leaving Lory, I placed the newspaper back on the chair. My eyes caught the bold letters once more:

“Mr. Smith searches for all the women who were once part of his life.”

“Only one year left to prove to the other mafia families that there’s an heir to his Mafia Lord title.”

“Six years have passed, and Mr. Smith has become more dangerous. He will stop at nothing to find out if he has a child from another woman. He’s not called the Notorious and Devil Mafia Lord for nothing.”

“The Notorious Mafia Lord dominates the headlines once again.”

I bit my lip as I stepped out of the house, walking toward the rose garden.

I couldn’t believe that even after six years, he was still everywhere—in the news, on social media, on the radio. The Notorious Mafia Lord is searching for his kid? How laughable.

I may have been his victim, but you know what—they’ll never hear my side. I’ll always be the silent victim. I don’t care if the other mafia families tear down his empire. I’m still in pain. I’m still trapped in the nightmare he left me in. I can’t escape the world I built because of him—that night, the night that changed my entire life. But still, I’m blessed.

The memory of that cruel night with the Notorious Mafia Lord still haunts me. But I don’t know—I really don’t know what to do. Surely, I’m not the only woman he got pregnant, right? There must be others. That’s what I hold on to, and I pray it’s true. I don’t want to lose my children. That’s all he wants, isn’t it? A child—to keep his position. When I think about it, the pain cuts deep. It feels like half of me is dying.

What if he finds out he has children—not just one, but four? I can’t. I won’t let that happen. It hurts to think that he’d only want them for his throne—to use them as pawns to secure his power. And after that? What’s next? To make them like him? A killer? He’ll train and torture his own children to follow in his footsteps? Never. I’ll never allow it.

I’m happy now. Content. I have my four angels. I wouldn’t survive if he took them from me. They are my breath—my life. I don’t want trouble, because I know the world of a Mafia Lord isn’t something to be taken lightly. What if tragedy follows us because of him? What if my children get caught up in that world? I know he could protect them, but that’s not enough reason for him to just take them away. I was the one who suffered while he lived his life freely. I was the victim—not him.

I just hope he never finds us, though deep down, I know that’s nearly impossible. I’m not a selfish person, but for my children’s safety, I won’t hesitate to become one. I’ll hide, and keep hiding. I’ll make sure no one ever finds us. But I know it won’t be easy—because after all, he’s a powerful man.