All Chapters of Stand-in Mother for the Don’s Love Child: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

When I left the hospital, dawn was just beginning to break. I stopped at a 24-hour pharmacy on the corner and bought a pregnancy test.It had been more than 50 days since my last period. With Antonino's condition fluctuating so much lately, I hadn't had the time or energy to give it my attention.When I returned to the Moretti estate, I locked myself in the bathroom.Three minutes later, two clear red lines slowly appeared. As I stared at them, tears suddenly streamed down my face.I was 36 years old. After all these years, I was finally going to have a child of my own. And yet, it happened on the very day I discovered that my husband already had a son.My phone suddenly lit up.It was a photo from Adriano. Antonino was sleeping peacefully in his hospital bed, with the oxygen mask he'd been using still lying beside him.Beneath the photo was a message that read, "Stop overthinking things. Once Antonino is discharged, we'll go back to our usual lives."I lowered my head and touc

After everyone at the Moretti estate learned that I was pregnant, a strange tension settled over the entire household.It lasted until the afternoon of the fourth day when Vittoria burst into my bedroom in a panic.She said anxiously, "Antonino is missing!"I sat bolt upright. "What did you say?"She started making the sign of the cross repeatedly and frantically. "At noon, I said to Adriano that once the baby in your belly is born, Antonino will eventually become an outsider. I told him to figure out how to reassure the boy before that happens."I turned sharply toward her. "You said that in front of Antonino?"All color drained from Vittoria's face as she argued, "How was I supposed to know he was hiding behind the door? Besides, was anything I said untrue? Once your child is born, will you still care about Antonino the same way you did before? I just wanted Adriano to pay more attention to him."The sound of hurried footsteps came from downstairs. Adriano was already heading

Three days after I returned to the Sala estate, Adriano appeared at the gates. He brought my clothes, our wedding photos, and an entire carload of things he'd bought for the baby.Matteo told him to take everything and leave.Adriano stood outside the gates. "I just want to see her."The guard answered calmly, "Ms. Sala doesn't want to see you."He begged, "Tell her I can explain everything about Antonino."The guard responded, "She says you had seven whole years to explain, and you chose to keep her in the dark."Adriano stayed outside the gates all night.The next morning, everything he had brought was returned to his car exactly as it had arrived. Only one manila envelope was left behind. Inside it was a formal divorce petition.That afternoon, Adriano called me.After I answered, he stayed silent for a long time before asking, "How are you feeling?"I said, "That's no longer something you need to know.""I'm the baby's father.""Then let the lawyers discuss your respons

For the next two months, Adriano came once a week. He no longer tried to force his way through the gates or send expensive gifts. He simply stood outside and handed a letter to the guard.In the first letter, he told me the truth about how Antonino had been brought to the estate.In the second, he admitted that every time he had put off having a child, it was because he was afraid that once I had a child of my own, I would stop putting Antonino first.The third letter contained only one sentence. "I loved you, but I never learned how to respect you."I read every one of those letters, but I never replied to a single one.Adriano began doing the things he should have been responsible for all along. He accompanied Antonino to therapy, helped Elena become part of her son's life again, and stopped Vittoria from blaming me for any of it.The first time Antonino came to see me, he was clutching the silver box that contained his baby teeth. He stood at the doorway, afraid to come any cl