Semua Bab Breaking Free From Broken Love: Bab 1 - Bab 8

I hadn't seen my mafia husband, Luca Moretti, and our daughter Dora in three whole months. Why? Because his mother, Fiona, said Dora should stay with her "for a while." And Luca? He was "too busy with business," as always.So when Luca finally called and said he was going to pick me up for a family reunion at the villa, I was overjoyed.I thought maybe, just maybe, I'd finally get to hold my little girl again. I spent the whole damn day running around the city, buying her favorite dolls, snacks, a new pink dress, anything I thought would make her smile at me again.But when the car arrived, it wasn't what I imagined.Before I could even say Hi, Dora turned her head, took one look at me… and then wrapped her arms even tighter around Maria, the maid. She buried her face in Maria's neck like I wasn't even there. Like Maria was her mom.I tried to approach her, but Dora straight-up told me she didn't want to ride in the same car as me. And Maria, wearing that fake, polite smile, kept

After sending the text, I found a quiet little pawn shop outside the city, walked in without a word, and sold the ring. I still got tens of thousands for it, but I didn't feel the joy I used to when money hit my account.This wasn't a war. This was my life. And in this life, there were no winners.Then I booked a small hotel right along the route to the Moretti estate. I didn't have a real plan… just a hope. Maybe I could still get one last chance to see Dora. Maybe I could intercept them, talk to her without Maria around, just once.That night, I couldn't sleep.I sat by the window, watching SUVs pass by on the highway. Every time one went by, I wondered, was that them? Had they already gotten there? Were they wondering where I was?Probably not.I don't even remember how many hours I sat like that. At some point, my body gave up, and I fell asleep right there, still sitting by the window with my eyes half open....The next night, around the time I figured the reunion party w

The Morettis don't just run the city. In some parts of this country, they are the law. So if I ever wanted a real shot at freedom, I had to disappear somewhere they'd never think to look.I packed a couple bags and headed for the old valley near where my parents used to live; God rest their souls. That place was so remote it didn't even show up right on GPS. And I knew, deep down, none of the Morettis would even think to look there. Why would they? They never once cared about where I came from. To them, I was just a quiet, clean girl with no criminal record, exactly the kind of obedient wife or daughter-in-law they needed for appearances.I still remember the night before my wedding with Luca like it was yesterday. I was nervous as hell and ended up missing their fancy 7 p.m. family dinner. Big mistake.They didn't even send Luca. No. They sent MariaShe came into my room without knocking, her heels clicking like a warning shot."What, you getting cold feet now?" she said, arms c

I turned off my phone that anniversary. Couldn't take another call, another text, another empty apology. I just needed to breathe.Instead of heading my rented house, I started walking. My steps took me down winding roads and across the valley, and before I knew it, I was standing not far from my old house. My parents' house. It had been sold off after they passed, and the money helped me rent an apartment in the city and find some footing on my own.So many memories in that house. Some good, some painful, all of them mine."Catrina?"I turned at the sound of my name. It was Eason, the guy who rented me the wooden house in this valley. He was standing there in jeans and a hoodie, hands shoved in his pockets, looking surprised to see me."Oh hey," I said. "Didn't expect to run into you out here.""I live around the corner," he said, walking up with a warm smile. "That house I rented to you? Just one of my properties.""Wow. You're low-key loaded, huh?" I joked.He laughed, all gentle