All Chapters of The Night the Don Died in My Arms: Chapter 1 - Chapter 8

8 Chapters

Chapter 1

Marco called me in for coverage while I was crouched outside the break room, on the phone with my son."Luca, did you finish your homework? Go to bed early, okay? Don't wait up for me."A small, sleepy voice came through the phone: "Are you gonna be late again tonight, Mommy?"My throat tightened, but I kept my voice light. "Yeah, the casino's busy tonight. I'll make a little extra, and tomorrow I'll bring you a cake."I hung up, took a deep breath, and pushed open the door to the VIP lounge.Dim lights. The steady clatter of chips.Every seat at the table was already taken.Marco shoved me toward the table and hissed, "The Don himself is here tonight. You screw anything up, you won't walk out of this casino in one piece."He leaned closer, his hand sliding around my waist. "And tone it down — the Don's fiancée is here."I swallowed the disgust and took my seat at the dealer's position.The moment my fingers touched the cards, I felt a gaze land on me.Burning.I looked up.And went ri

Chapter 2

The game began in earnest.This time, everyone played to win.First hand — Damien won.Serena raised her hand and pointed to the left. "Him."I was pushed onto the man's lap to deal. His hand rested on my shoulder, lips grazing my cheek between hands.The stench of alcohol against my ear made my stomach turn.Second hand — Damien won again.Serena picked someone else."That one looks like he'd enjoy it more."I barely stood up before another pair of hands pulled me over.Third hand."Switch."Fourth hand."He hasn't had a turn yet."Men's laughter filled the room.One told me to lean closer while dealing. Another held his card between his teeth and made me bend down to retrieve it. Someone deliberately scattered chips across the table so I'd have to lean over to collect them.After every hand, I was reassigned to a new lap — like a chip being passed around the table.I lost count of how many men I'd been pushed onto. All I remember is the alcohol, the laughter, and the hands.And Damie

Chapter 3

Damien pulled the first-aid kit from the back seat and pressed a compress against my wound.Rough. Like he was taking his anger out on the gauze."Ow..."I hissed through my teeth.His hand paused for a fraction of a second, then he said flatly, "Fine. Don't tell me. The casino's covered in cameras."A beat. "I'd like to see who had the nerve to ignore my fiancée's orders."So that was all he cared about.I couldn't help the bitter laugh.Of course. The man who'd personally circulated my nude photos to the entire school seven years ago was never going to actually care about me.The car tore through the rainy streets. We sat in silence.Until I realized we were going the wrong way.This road led to where I used to live.Damien wasn't using GPS. He was driving from memory.Something complicated stirred inside me. Then Damien broke the silence, voice cold: "Apparently the casino pays well."He glanced at me, toneless. "Even Helen Colter's daughter is willing to do this kind of work.""Dam

Chapter 4

Rosalie was my mother's student, and the most beautiful girl in school. Almost every boy was in love with her.Which made her a target.The girls locked her in the bathroom, forced her to drink from the toilet, took turns slapping her, and eventually brought in thugs from another school to assault her.My mother heard the commotion and went to check. But by the time she arrived, the bullies had already fled.All that was left was Rosalie, stripped bare, and a man pulling up his pants.My mother turned away and muttered under her breath: "Absolutely shameless."She didn't know that one sentence sealed the verdict.After that, no matter how Rosalie tried to explain, no one believed her. Rumors spread that she'd been selling herself.With nowhere left to turn, Rosalie went to my mother — begged her to set the record straight.But the bullies had already poisoned everyone's minds. My mother let out a long sigh:"Rosalie, beauty is a gift. It's a shame you misused it. You'll have to live wi

Chapter 5

The next time I saw Damien, he was sitting on my couch.His eyes were bloodshot. Everything about him was coiled tight."Get out."My voice could have cut glass.Then I saw what he was gripping — a framed photo. Me and my son.I lunged for it. He seized my wrist and held on.Damien stared at the photograph, his expression darkening by the second."Vivienne."His voice dropped to something barely human."Who gave you permission to have my child behind my back?"I stood frozen.His eyes fixed on the boy in the picture, turning colder with every passing breath."And you let him end up like this."Something inside me detonated.My son was born in the hospital. From the ER to the operating room, I had fought for his life on my hands and knees.For years I'd worked days and poured drinks at night, signing more critical condition notices than anyone should ever have to see.And all he had to say was —*Let him end up like this.*I laughed. And then I couldn't stop the tears."Damien... how da

Chapter 6

I stood in the doorway, unable to bring myself to walk in.Damien was quiet for a long time. Then he rose slowly, walked to the hospital bed, and knelt.His hand came to rest on Luca's head — clumsy, but gentle."Since your dad's gone," he said, voice low and measured, "would you let me be your dad?"Luca stared.Then his eyes lit up like stars."Really?"Damien nodded."Really."Luca nodded so hard it looked like his whole body was bouncing."Then yes! I want that!"He said it so fast, as if terrified the offer might be taken back.I stood in the doorway, something crushing down on my chest.When we left the room, the hallway was quiet.Just the two of us at the elevator.Neither of us spoke.After a long silence, he said, "You heard him. Luca needs a father."I couldn't help the bitter laugh. "He needs a father. He doesn't need two mothers."Damien turned to look at me — a gaze so deep it was impenetrable.After a pause, he said simply, "I'll break off the engagement."The elevator d

Chapter 7

After a few seconds, he bent down slowly, reaching for one of the torn pieces.I stepped on it.Ground it under my heel."Don't you find yourself pathetic, Don Ashford?""You destroyed all of this with your own hands. And now you want to reminisce?"Damien's face went dark."Vivienne."His voice was terrifyingly low."Shut up."But I couldn't stop. Not anymore.Everything I'd buried for seven years — once the seal cracked, it all came pouring out."What's the matter? Can't handle the truth?"I stared at him, ice-cold."Seven years ago you were so proud of yourself.""You ruined me for a dead girl. Thought you were avenging the love of your life.""And now... you're getting hard over your enemy's photo."Before I could finish, Damien crossed the room in two strides and pinned me to the bed.One hand locked my wrists, the other braced against the mattress."Vivienne." His voice was raw with barely contained fury. "That was seven years ago. How long are you going to hold on to this?""Hol

Chapter 8

In those final days, Damien was better to me than he'd ever been.Money flowed endlessly. He took me to galas, dinners, every event worth attending.The same men who'd groped me at the card table couldn't bring themselves to crack a joke.All they could manage was a respectful:"Miss Colter."And wishes for our happiness.Happiness.I nearly laughed.I hated him. I had never stopped.Especially when Luca called him "Dad" — the hate peaked so sharply it felt like a blade in my ribs."What are you thinking about?"Damien wrapped his arms around me from behind.I gave a quiet laugh."Luca's transplant surgery."He squeezed my hand, trying to comfort me."Don't worry.""I'll make sure the success rate is one hundred percent."I smiled and nodded.To anyone watching, we were a deeply devoted couple.As the weeks passed, Damien's body deteriorated. He could barely breathe without a ventilator. I stayed at his bedside.Maybe because he knew the end was close, he softened. For the first time,

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