Alle Kapitel von The Don Loved Me So Much that He Let Another Woman Carry His Baby: Kapitel 1 – Kapitel 10

By the time my 11th round of fertility treatment failed, I had no tears left.For five years, Dario had picked me up from the clinic himself after every treatment. After the first failure, he ordered his entire motorcade to pull over. He held me and said, "I don't care if we never have a baby. All I want is you." After the seventh, I developed a high fever, so he had an entire hospital floor cleared and sat with me all night. Everyone knew the Don of the Moretti family loved his wife more than life itself.All those years, I'd believed that, at least when it came to losing a baby, we were hurting just as much."Donna, the Don was just here," the nurse said cautiously as she put the syringe away. "He's still next door talking with Dr. Russo."I pulled on my coat and went to find him.The door to the consultation room at the end of the hall wasn't fully closed. Before I even reached it, I heard Viola's name."Viola is eight months along. She can't be transported any real distance from no

When I woke the next morning, Dario was already sitting by the window, reviewing paperwork. The coffee on the table was untouched.The moment he saw I was awake, he closed the file."I'm not going to the office today.""Why not?""I'm taking you out."I meant to say no, but then I remembered Luca's advice from the night before.He needed time to map out the Moretti security routes, and he needed me to figure out which exits I could normally reach. I couldn't start acting strangely now.So I nodded.Dario drove himself. A single car carrying his bodyguards followed at a distance.The road grew more and more familiar until it hit me: he was taking me back to my parents' vineyard.The iron gate had been repainted, and the old stone wall had been repaired. Rows of grapevines stretched across the hillside, almost exactly as I remembered them.I stood at the gate for a long time."Didn't you tell me this place was sold years ago?""I lied."Dario pressed a ring of keys into my hand."I bough

On the fifth day, Dario didn't bring up the argument we'd had over breakfast. Instead, he said he wanted to take me to the shooting range behind the estate."I don't want to go.""Then we'll stay home."I looked up at him.Dario seemed to read the surprise on my face. He paused for a few seconds before speaking."You said you don't want to. I heard you."If Luca's plan hadn't required me to confirm when the guards at the main house changed shifts, I probably would have stayed home.In the end, I changed my mind. "Let's go."The shooting range sat at the foot of the hill behind the estate.Viola had gotten there before us.Eight months pregnant, she stood behind the safety line with a practice pistol in her hand.I frowned. "She's eight months pregnant, and she's still doing target practice?"Dario's expression darkened too."Who allowed this?"Before the instructor could answer, Viola raised the gun."I have to learn how to protect a Moretti baby, don't I?"The muzzle swept right acros

On the morning of the seventh day, the sky over Palermo hung dark and heavy.Dario had only planned to go to the port to collect a shipment of medical supplies the private clinic urgently needed. On the way, he would drop me off at the seaside villa for a few days.When I got into the car, he buckled my seat belt himself."Don't get out of the car at the port.""I know.""If anything happens, do what the bodyguards tell you."I looked at him. "And if I don't?"Dario paused."Then trust yourself."Something in me stirred.Before I could think any more about what he'd said, a car suddenly pulled up behind us.Viola got out.She wasn't due yet. She already looked awful, but she'd insisted on coming along anyway.Dario's expression turned to ice."Who said you could come?""I don't want to be left alone at the estate.""Go back.""Dario, my stomach has been hurting for days." Viola lifted her chin. "You can treat me like I'm only here to have a baby, but at least don't leave me alone to di

The ambush at the port hadn't been a spur-of-the-moment thing.In less than two days, Dario had his first lead.Viola had gotten around the Moretti family's phone monitoring and contacted a former Cavallo man. He'd died in the shootout, but his phone still held a few messages that hadn't been fully deleted."I want him to make a choice.""If the baby's in danger, he'll save the baby first. I know he will.""I want Elena to see it with her own eyes."When Dario finished reading, he didn't throw the phone. He only set it face down on the desk."Bring Viola here."Half an hour later, Viola was wheeled into the study.She had only just given birth and was pale, but she looked as arrogant as ever.The first thing out of her mouth was, "Where's the baby?""That's not your concern."Viola's expression shifted abruptly. "I'm his mother."Dario looked up. "After the investigation, we'll decide whether you get to see him again."Viola gripped the arms of her wheelchair hard."You're punishing me