All Chapters of The Past Is a Wound That Won't Heal: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

10 Chapters

Chapter 1

Isabella's POVWhen I didn't respond, Ricardo frowned at me."Isabella, did you hear what I said?"I jerked my head up, the sunlight sharp in my eyes.The man in front of me—Ricardo Gambino—was the man I had "loved" for 11 years. Staring at the impossibly familiar face, memories came flooding back.I remembered the day he knelt on one knee and proposed to me, his eyes full of love and affection.I remembered him at our wedding, eyes red, swearing on the honor of the Gambino Famiglia that he would love me for the rest of his life.But somewhere along the way, he started staying out all night. He always brushed me off by saying he was busy with Famiglia matters, yet he took another woman with him to all kinds of banquets, leaving me sitting alone on the balcony of the family estate until dawn.He believed that he was continuing the Gambino bloodline by letting Lucia bear his child, while also preserving the dignity of his "legitimate but infertile wife". What he didn't know was t

Chapter 2

Isabella's POVAfter leaving the private investigator's office, I let out a deep breath. The huge stone that had been pressing on my chest had finally been lifted.The previous report had said that I was infertile. Ricardo had personally confirmed it with the doctor as well, so he thoroughly believed it. But little did he know, not only had my medical report been tampered with, but even the doctor had been bribed.A chill ran down my spine just thinking about it.At that moment, two car honks suddenly sounded nearby. It was the Famiglia's doctor, Sophia Castello.After learning what had happened, she sighed. We were the only two people who knew about Ricardo's infertility."Signora, you knew back then that the Don couldn't have children, yet you still insisted on marrying him. It couldn't have been easy for you to carry this secret for so long."And he pursued you so passionately back then. How could he break his vows so easily?"I patted her shoulder and handed her a piece of

Chapter 3

Isabella's POVI turned, and my eyes met Ricardo's deep blue gaze.Lucia clung affectionately to his arm, standing at his side as if they were the real couple."Ecco, for you," Ricardo said as he handed me a small red velvet box.Inside was a tiny silver stud earring.I looked at Lucia. Around her neck was a dazzling purple diamond the size of a pigeon's egg. Sneering, I pushed his hand away.Seeing that I was about to leave, Ricardo hurried after me, whispering an explanation."Lucia is pregnant, so I gave her the necklace to keep her happy. Once she has the baby, you can raise it as yours. What's a little grievance now? Don't be unreasonable."I looked at him, my emotions a tangled mess."Ricardo, we're already divorced. Stop giving me gifts."I turned to go, but Ricardo's face suddenly darkened."Basta, Isabella! As the Donna of the Gambino Famiglia, stop harping on about a divorce! You're embarrassing the Gambino name!"I've never once held the fact that you can't have

Chapter 4

Isabella's POVA sudden wave of dread surged through me. I turned and rushed out the door. Without wasting another second, I hailed a cab and headed straight for the Gambino estate.The moment I stepped inside, the scene before me stopped me cold. On the gray marble floor lay Mamma's black opal pendant—shattered into three pieces.I never imagined that the only keepsake Mamma had left me would end up broken like this.I stood frozen, as if all the blood had been drained from my body in an instant.In the living room, Lucia was sitting in Ricardo's lap."My mother's pendant… What happened to it?"I was furious, and my voice quivered as I demanded an answer.Lucia's eyes widened in mock fear when she saw me."Mi Dispiace, Signora. I accidentally knocked it onto the floor earlier… I didn't mean to…"She walked over hesitantly, her expression so pitiful it would make anyone feel sorry for her. But as she neared me, she whispered in my ear, "Actually, I did mean to. I'm carrying t

Chapter 5

Isabella's POVAs soon as he saw me about to leave, Ricardo instinctively wanted to reach out and stop me, but then he froze, hearing Lucia behind him clutching her stomach, gasping that something was wrong with the baby.In the end, he only watched me walk away.His heart suddenly felt as if a piece was missing, and an immense emptiness enveloped him.…Third-Person POVFor the next two days, Ricardo constantly lost focus. Even during Famiglia meetings, he would zone out for no reason. He kept thinking about the way Isabella looked when she left.His gaze fell to the far end of the long table, but Isabella wasn't there.His unusual behavior caught the attention of the elders. His Consigliere next to him kept whispering reminders during the meeting."Don Ricardo, it's your turn to speak… Don Ricardo!"Only then would he snap out of it, nodding distractedly, which drew the elders' ire.That night, he dreamt of Isabella wearing that black opal pendant. But there was nothing bu

Chapter 6

Third-Person POVRicardo furrowed his brow, irritation brewing. He didn't want to have anything to do with Lucia anymore.But looking at her swollen belly, his heart softened just a little. Growing inside was his and Isabella's future child.Maybe if he bought some things for the baby, Isabella would be a bit happier when she found out?This thought made him nod. "Va Bene. Just this once."Lucia's face immediately lit up with surprised delight, and she eagerly nodded. "Grazie, Don Ricardo. Grazie mille!"…The next day, Ricardo took Lucia to the city's most upscale baby and maternity store.He stood expressionless as the sales assistant recommended various baby items. As long as it was the most expensive, the best, he told them to wrap it up. Only the softest cashmere for the baby clothes, imported medical-grade material for the baby bottles, and handcrafted solid wood for the crib.He thought about how much Isabella loved children. She'd definitely smile when she saw all thes

Chapter 7

Third-Person POVFinally, Ricardo drove to the hospital that the Famiglia owned and went to see Sophia. She was Isabella's only friend. She had to know where Isabella was.When Sophia saw him, she looked somewhat surprised. "Don Ricardo, is something wrong?"Ricardo grabbed her arm, his voice hoarse. "Where's Isabella? Tell her to come out and see me!"Terrified, Sophia yanked her arm free. "Isabella? She's already left the city.""Impossible!" Ricardo roared. "She wouldn't leave! She can't live without me!""Can't live without you?" Sophia repeated, as if she'd heard the funniest joke in the world. "Don Ricardo, do you really think Isabella can't do without you? She's found someone who truly loves her, and she's a hundred times happier now than when she was with you!"Her words felt like a hand squeezing Ricardo's heart tightly, hurting him so much that it was hard to breathe."You're lying!"His eyes were bloodshot as he glared at Sophia. "Isabella would never fall in love w

Chapter 8

Isabella's POVI returned to the countryside mansion with the shattered fragments of the black opal pendant.The moment I pushed open the wrought-iron gates, a black Bentley was already parked in the middle of the driveway.The driver respectfully opened the car door for me. "Ms. Rocchetti, Mr. Valentino is waiting for you."I froze, not understanding what was happening at all.Only later did I learn the truth from the driver.Vincenzo—my true love—was actually the heir to the Valentino Famiglia, the largest mafia family in Slatilli.I never saw this coming.…Two days later, our wedding was held at a seaside castle in Palmano. It was romantic and unforgettable.Vincenzo personally placed the veil on my head, his eyes overflowing with love and affection.After the wedding, he spoiled me like a true princess.I once casually mentioned that I liked the handmade lace from a small town to the south, and just a week later, the entire Valentino Famiglia's team of tailors arrived

Chapter 9

Third-Person POVRicardo realized that the divorce papers really did bear his signature, yet he was sure he had never signed them.Suddenly, the alcohol-blurred memory snapped into focus.A month ago, Lucia had come to him wearing a backless nightgown, carrying a glass of whisky with her lipstick mark still on the rim."Don Ricardo, this is a Slatillian specialty. Have a little," she cooed as she poured the drink into his mouth.Soon enough, his head was spinning.She pushed a stack of documents in front of him, claiming they were all the Famiglia's asset transfer contracts. As he lay slumped on the table, she held his hand, guiding him to sign his name, stroke after stroke.The divorce agreement must have been slipped in among those papers.Realizing this, he grabbed the papers and tore them into pieces.From that day on, Ricardo completely changed. He no longer managed the Gambino Famiglia's business. Financial reports sent by his subordinates piled up high, yet he didn't ev

Chapter 10

Third-Person POVRicardo staggered out of the venue, jumped into his car, and sped all the way back to his estate.As if suddenly remembering something, he kicked open the iron door to the basement.Lucia was curled up in the corner. Seeing the murderous air radiating off him, she begged loudly, "Don Ricardo, Mi Dispiace! The baby… The baby is yours!"Ricardo crouched down, grabbed her by the hair, and slapped the medical report across her face. "Mine? Tell me—how does an infertile man have a child?"Lucia's wailing stopped abruptly, and her eyes went blank.He let out a cold laugh, stood up, and said to his men behind him, "'Take care' of her and the bastard in her belly."Lucia's screams echoed through the entire estate, but they earned her not even the slightest shred of mercy.He knew this was the punishment she deserved, yet no matter how severe it was, it could never bring Isabella back.After dealing with Lucia, Ricardo dismissed most of the estate's staff, leaving only

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