All Chapters of Seven Days, Then Never Again: Chapter 1 - Chapter 10

On the third night in the hospital, I sat alone, staring blankly out the window.I watched my reflection settle on the glass and felt like it was another me, locked away in the dark.The sharp click of high heels echoed down the hall, and the door swung open.It was Chiara.She walked to the bedside and idly fiddled with my IV line."Didn't think you had it in you. Turns out you're quite the schemer."Chiara suddenly leaned in close, staring straight into my eyes."You're not even hurt that badly. Lying around in this hospital refusing to leave is just your way of making the Don worry about you."These past few days, Matteo had come every day.Sometimes with breakfast, sometimes with freshly made soup.He'd tuck in my blanket and check the drip rate.He'd also sit by the bed and keep watch for a long time after I fell asleep.Maybe because he felt sorry. Maybe because he felt guilty.But it was too late.No amount of penance could buy back my child's life.I looked at Chiara calmly. "W

The next day, I went to the hospital.I saw a wife who hadn't slept all night, children waiting for their father to wake up, an old mother outside the resuscitation room.Their frightened, hollow stares scraped across my face like a dull knife.I understood their fear of losing someone they loved, because I had just lost my child."My son is only twenty-four," the old mother said, gripping my hand."If he doesn't make it, the Don will get him justice, won't he?"I couldn't answer. I could only hold her hand tighter."You have to hold on. When he wakes up, he'll need to see you."We wept in each other's arms, each drowning in our own abyss.By the time I got back to the estate, it was past noon.I went upstairs alone and started packing.In the drawer, I found a yellowed notebook.It was filled with the names we'd picked out for our child.In the end, we'd decided on Andre for a boy and Dolores for a girl.My fingertips traced the words, like touching my child's soft little face.The ne

Matteo's POVThe old woman stared at Matteo, as if she'd finally realized she'd said too much."She told me herself when she came to the hospital to see us.""She said she understood the fear I felt. That she had just lost the child in her belly."The old woman lowered her eyes, her voice growing softer."Didn't she tell you?"Matteo's face was answer enough. The old woman didn't press further.She bowed to Matteo and walked slowly away, leaning on her cane.Matteo stood frozen.The only thing in his ears was a shrill buzz.A child? His and Bianca's child? When?Dazed, Matteo got back in the car."To the hospital. The one where the Donna was admitted."The scenery flew past the window, as if everything was leaving him behind.Matteo burst into the hospital and found the doctor who had treated her."The patient did miscarry. The crash damaged her uterus."The doctor looked up at Matteo with a hint of displeasure."You didn't know? Did the patient not tell you? Or did you just never ask?

"Come in."I swallowed the bite of fried egg and set down my fork.Dad pushed the door open and glanced at the table."Already eating?"I stuck my tongue out at him."I was hungry. Didn't wait for you."He sat down with a smile.I grabbed a knife and fork from the cart and slid them over.Dad took a bite of the egg and frowned. "A little overdone."I made to pull the plate back. "I made that myself, you know."He gave me an indulgent smile and finished the rest.Downstairs had long gone quiet.I'd heard Matteo's car leave.I'd told Dad I didn't want to see him, didn't want him to find me.So Dad patiently played along and put on a show for him.These past three days, I slept when I was tired and ate when I was hungry.However you treat the world, the world treats you back.So keep it simple.Dad wiped the corner of his mouth with his napkin."Bianca, are you sure you don't want to see Matteo again?"I nodded without hesitation. "Mm-hmm."I'd already answered that question for myself wh

I had just gotten back from the Mediterranean.The first thing I did was sit down to the home-cooked breakfast I'd been craving.Truffle scrambled eggs, beef carpaccio, fresh-baked sourdough, and a pour-over Geisha coffee.The sunlight was perfect outside, spilling through the floor-to-ceiling windows onto the table, bright and gentle.The butler came in to announce that Matteo wanted to see me just as I finished the last sip of my coffee."He says he received the divorce papers you signed and wants to talk to you in person."I took my time wiping my mouth with the napkin.So he's here to refuse to sign.These past six months or so hadn't been easy for Matteo.Dad had used the war to take a good chunk of Moretti territory.Because of that, Matteo lost the position of Don.Dad handed all those assets and fortunes over to me to deal with as I saw fit.I cashed out part of the wealth and gave it to the button men who'd been badly hurt at the docks.That money was enough to keep them fed a