Chapter 1

Viola's POV

When I submitted my resignation letter to the secretariat, the staff member looked shocked.

"Viola Conti, you're leaving the Derocchi family?"

The Don's private secretary was a respectable, well-compensated position. He couldn't understand why I would give it up.

"Sì." I smiled and delivered the excuse I'd prepared long ago. "My husband left me an inheritance in Melbir. I'm planning to take my son and live there."

It wasn't a particularly clever excuse. But for seven years, everyone believed I was just a single mother raising a child on my own. No one knew that the "husband" I spoke of was actually the Don of the Derocchi family, Aido Derocchi.

"That's good news. Raising a child alone is difficult." He flipped to the last page of the document and pointed at the signature line.

"But you're the Don's private secretary. You've had access to the main estate's ledgers, guest lists, and several important channels. According to the rules, your resignation and clearance release must be signed by the Don himself."

I nodded and took the document back.

Of course it needed his signature. Without it, even these seven years wouldn't officially be over.

As I walked out of the law firm, I ran into Aido at the end of the corridor. He wore a black suit today, the collar pressed perfectly straight, silver-gray cufflinks fastening his sleeves.

Standing beside him was Isabella Bellucci, the Principessa of the Bellucci family, the woman everyone now assumed would be the future Madre.

She held his arm, her high heels clicking against the marble with a light, steady rhythm. She was beautiful.

When she raised her hand, the diamond bracelet at her wrist caught the light with an expensive gleam. She belonged to this estate, these banquets, these social scenes in a way that seemed natural, effortless.

As for me?

Seven years ago, I was the most unremarkable assistant in the Derocchi family secretariat. Back then, the old Don was gravely ill, and Aido had just taken over family affairs.

Every day felt like walking on a tightrope. I worked late into the night organizing ledgers, verifying lists, helping the family dodge one risk after another. Through my own efforts, I became Aido's private secretary.

Later, after a port negotiation one night, Aido accidentally drank a glass of wine someone had spiked. I thought he was simply drunk, so I let my guard down and escorted him back to his room without suspicion. But that night, we slept together.

Afterward, I got pregnant.

The old Don refused to let Derocchi blood exist outside the family. He forced Aido to register our marriage in secret. That marriage certificate was locked away in the Derocchi family's underground vault like an old receipt no one wanted to see.

Aido never acknowledged me as his wife. He wouldn't let me wear a wedding ring, wouldn't let me live in the quarters meant for the Madre. Our son wasn't even allowed to call him "Papa".

In his eyes, I was always the woman who used one accidental night and a child to force her way into his world.

As we passed each other, I couldn't help myself. I called out softly, "Aido."

He stopped, his gaze settling on my face. It seemed calm, distant, without a ripple of emotion.

"Signorina Conti."

He was reminding me that this was the corridor outside the family law firm, not the small building on the east side of the estate where he'd put Leo and me. I was his secretary, not his wife.

I lowered my eyes and corrected myself. "Don Derocchi."

He made a faint sound of acknowledgment and continued walking, as if I were just another subordinate.

My phone lit up. It was a message from Leo on his children's smartwatch.

"Mamma, will Papa come home to spend Christmas with me tonight?"

I froze mid-step and glanced back without thinking.

Not far away, Isabella said something that made Aido lean in closer, listening intently. A breeze drifted through the window, and he reached up instinctively to drape her shawl over her shoulders.

I stared at the scene, like something sharp twisting slowly in my chest. Still, I sent Aido a message.

"Tonight is Christmas Eve. Will you come home?"

Across the corridor, I watched Aido glance down at his phone. Less than three seconds later, his expression unchanged, he pressed the screen dark and slipped it back into his pocket. He didn't reply.

I almost laughed. What was I even hoping for?

I took a deep breath, put my phone away, and turned to leave. Soon enough, Aido wouldn't be bothered by Leo and me anymore.

After leaving the main estate, I went to pick up Leo from school. The little guy came running up with his backpack, eyes shining.

"Mamma, will Papa come home tonight?"

My throat tightened. I was about to comfort him when my phone suddenly vibrated. It was a reply from Aido.

"I'll be home tonight."

Those few words landed like sparks in my already cold heart.

I looked down at Leo and kept my voice as steady as I could. "Sì."

I ruffled his hair. "He said he'll come home tonight."

Leo immediately jumped with joy. "Really? Can I wait for him to open presents together?"

I nodded and told him yes.

Back home, I made Leo's favorite foods. After Leo finished his homework, he ran back and forth across the living room, rearranging the small lights under the Christmas tree three times, then sneaking to the door to peek outside.

This was the sixth time he'd hoped his Papa would spend Christmas with him. It was also the sixth time Aido had promised, though whether he'd actually show up remained uncertain.

An hour passed, then another, then another. My messages to Aido sat there unanswered, just like always.

Leo finally asked in a small voice, "Mamma, is Papa really busy again?"

I opened my mouth but couldn't get a single word out. In the end, I just placed the red and white Santa hat on his head and said softly, "It's okay. Mamma will always be here with you."

He nodded obediently and didn't ask again.

That was when I happened to scroll past Isabella's latest social media update. The photo showed the night view from the top floor of a seaside club with wine glasses, roses, candlelight, and a caption so provocative it stung my eyes.

"Tonight is perfect. Couldn't have asked for a better evening or better company."