Too Late, Don Amato의 모든 챕터: 챕터 1 - 챕터 10

For a moment, Dante and I both froze, neither of us able to say a word.It had been twenty-eight days since I finally understood exactly where my husband's heart lived—and it wasn't with us.Every time he chose Bianca Conti and her son over Nico and me, I had our son call him "Don Amato."I told myself it was so the two of us wouldn't waste one more tear on a man who didn't deserve them.But Nico didn't see it that way.He was only seven—the age when a boy still worships his father, still believes he can do no wrong.Usually, the hesitation came first—a long pause, then the word would come out small and unsure.But today, he said it on his own, without waiting for me.Clean. Fluent.Like he'd rehearsed it in his head a thousand times, just waiting for the moment he could finally say it without flinching.Seeing us both frozen, Nico didn't wait for either of us to speak first. He reached out and took my hand himself."Don Amato, go handle your business." Then he turned to me and slipped

"Oh—where did I put the gold pocket watch?" Before I could even finish, he stood up. "The one my father passed down to me, the one I showed Nico before. Gabe's gotten curious about it, so I'm letting him keep it for a few days."He didn't wait for an answer. He went straight to the study and took the gold watch out of the safe.He grabbed his keys, and before I could say another word, he was already out the door.The door shut behind him with a bang.His shape flickered past the window, and then he was gone.I stood there, staring at the closed door for a long time.Then I said the sentence he'd never let me finish, alone, to myself."Actually—my son and I don't need you anymore."Two days left before we were gone for good.Near midnight, once I'd finally finished packing, I lay down, worn straight through.My phone lit up. A message from Dante.[Gabe loves the watch. Won't even take it off to sleep. Bianca said to tell you thank you.]It was already midnight, and my husband was textin

(Dante's POV)One hour earlier.Bianca was sobbing so violently she could barely breathe, her nails digging into Dante's sleeve."Dante, Gabe fell by the pool. There's so much blood... I'm terrified. I really am."Gabe had cuts across his forehead and knee, crying so hard he was gasping for air.Dante didn't stop to think.He scooped the boy into his arms and sprinted out the door, his phone already pressed to his ear as he dialed Elena."Gabe's hurt. I'm taking him to the hospital.""I'm not sure I'll make it by three. If you can't wait, just go on without me.""Tell Nico I'm sorry!"He hung up before she could reply, carrying Gabe straight into the ER.A nurse cleaned and dressed Gabe's cuts.The boy whimpered for a few more minutes before his breathing finally evened out.The nurse turned to Dante."He's fine. The cuts are shallow. Keep an eye on him for an hour, and you can take him home."Dante let out a long breath and checked his phone.2:27 PM.Thirty-three minutes until three.

Around nine that night, Dante arrived home.As he unlocked the door, he was still clinging to one last shred of hope.Maybe Elena had just taken Nico to a friend's house.Maybe she was only giving him the silent treatment.Maybe...But the instant the door swung open, that final illusion shattered.The entryway was empty.The shoe cabinet, once crowded with Elena's and Nico's shoes, now held only his own.The living room was stripped bare.The oversized wedding portrait on the wall was gone.The photo of the three of them at the beach was gone.The three matching mugs on the coffee table were gone.Dante walked into the master bedroom and yanked open the wardrobe.Every single hanger of Elena's clothes had vanished.The vanity was wiped bare—she hadn't left behind a single bottle of anything.He rushed into Nico's room next.Nico's small bed was made, neat and immaculate.His backpack was gone.His toys were gone.Even the crayon drawing Nico had taped up himself—"Our Family Trip to th

The words drove into Dante's chest like a blade.He stared at the screen, motionless, for a long moment.Bianca was still laughing."So you really didn't know.""Dante, you're pathetic.""Your wife and son don't want you anymore, and here you are, playing daddy to someone else's kid like a fool."Dante turned abruptly and started for the door.Bianca called after him."Where are you going?"Dante didn't look back.Bianca's voice went sharp."You think if you go running after her now, she'll just forgive you?""She stopped wanting you a long time ago!"Dante's footsteps faltered.Only for a second.Then he strode toward the exit even faster.Bianca snatched the water glass from the bedside table in a blind rage and hurled it after him.It shattered violently against the doorframe.In that same instant, Gabe began convulsing on the bed.His face turned from pale to blue, and the heart monitor shrieked into alarm.A nurse rushed to his side."Severe drug toxicity! He's gone into arrhythmi