Semua Bab The Don’s Discarded Surrogate: Bab 1 - Bab 10

The next morning, Lorenzo held my hand tightly as we went for my check-up.“The baby is perfectly healthy,” the doctor said, handing over the sonogram. “The due date is still the same.”Lorenzo took the picture.“Thank you, Doctor,” he said, his voice soft, almost paternal. “Arabella’s been so worried. I’m glad she’s okay.”“You’re a lucky woman, Mrs. Falcone,” Dr. Reeves smiled. “The Boss is a perfect husband, here for every appointment.”The perfect husband. I almost laughed out loud.Lorenzo helped me with my coat, his eyes smiling. “This is the heir the Falcone family has been waiting for. Of course I’m going to take care of you.”He took my hand as we left the exam room.Down the hall, a familiar figure stopped me cold.Isabella.Her belly was high and round under a loose maternity dress. She was talking to a nurse.She saw us and her face lit up with a sickeningly sweet smile.“Arabella! What a coincidence!”She hurried toward us. I felt Lorenzo tense for a split second before hi

I sat on the edge of the bed in the recovery room, my fingers tracing invisible patterns on the sheets. Marco, my most trusted man, was on the phone, his voice a low whisper as he gave orders. He hung up and met my gaze."Don't worry. It's handled," he said, his voice steady as always. "Everything's going according to plan."I gave a slight nod. "Good."The family doctor walked in, holding a chart, his face grim."Mrs. Falcone," he started, his face grim. "One last confirmation before the surgery—"He flipped open the chart, his tone heavy. "The baby is too far along for a simple procedure. The only way is induced labor. This carries a high risk... it could leave you unable to have children again. Are you sure?"My gaze was calm, unwavering. "I'm sure."He paused, then asked, "Should I notify your family?"Family?I let out a dry laugh.The same family that swore they loved me. The same ones who promised to protect me. Now they're all lying to me. Scheming. Waiting for me to have this

After I recovered, the Commission approved my annulment.I didn't feel much of anything. It was like waking up from a long, ridiculous nightmare. I was finally free."Book a flight to New York," I told Marco. "I'm starting over.""Are you sure?" Marco asked, worried. "Leaving Chicago means—""It means I can finally be myself."Three days later, I was in New York. The Sotheby's showroom buzzed with quiet money and ambition. I stood before an 18th-century oil painting, a whisper of black silk against my skin."The dating on this Portrait of a Lady is wrong," I told the curator next to me. "Based on the oxidation of the paint and the canvas texture, it's from the early 19th century."The curator stared, then examined the painting closely."My God, you're right!"People nearby started to notice me.Arabella Rossi, independent art restorer.No. From now on, just Arabella."Did you find any other issues?" a collector asked.I smiled and moved to the next painting.This was the life I wante

Isabella's lips trembled, a denial forming that she couldn't voice.But the Don was no fool. Between her panic and my question, the pieces clicked into place.His voice was ice as he turned to his son. "Matteo... what is the real story with this child?"Matteo's confused gaze shot to Isabella."Of course I gave birth to him!" Isabella shrieked, her voice cracking. "Father, how could you doubt me?" She clutched the baby to her chest as if I were about to tear him from her arms.She was over-acting. It only made her look guiltier.The Don’s eyes swept over her stomach—too flat for a new mother—and his gaze turned to stone. "We're getting a paternity test," he said slowly. "Tomorrow."Isabella swayed on her feet, her face a mask of terror.Just then, Matteo approached. The man who dumped me for my sister.His face was a mess of emotions, his brow tight. He was finally grasping the gravity of the situation.He looked at me, his voice low. "Bella... I had no idea."I let out a cold laugh.H

I thought Isabella would just disappear. I was wrong. She wasn't done yet.One day, Marco handed me a tablet."You need to see this," he said, his voice cold. "The absolute shamelessness of it."I looked down. An anonymous post was making the rounds on the dark web forums and private channels our world lived on. The title was simple: She Stole My Life.It was a long, sob story about her supposed "tragic life."She claimed I bullied her since we were kids, using my status as the adopted one to gain sympathy and steal everything that was hers.She claimed I was a manipulative schemer, pretending to be sweet while forcing her to give up everything.She said it was all my fault—that she was forced to marry into the Moretti family after I called the whole thing off.She claimed I was now using the Valenti family's power to go on a rampage, destroying her life, taking her child, and ruining her name.Every word was a tear-soaked accusation, painting her as the poor, innocent victim.In just