All Chapters of He Put Another Woman's Daughter First, So Ours Stopped Calling Him Daddy: Chapter 1 - Chapter 9

Vincent froze.He stared at Eve, his expression conflicted.Eve forced a smile. "Bye, Don Colletti. I have Mommy, and that's enough."I stood nearby, heartbroken for her. Ever since I'd realized Vincent was favoring Serena and her daughter, I'd been teaching Eve to call him Don Colletti instead of Daddy.But Eve was too young to understand why she had to call her own father something as cold as Don Colletti, or why he loved a child who wasn't his more than he loved her.Every time I called him Don Colletti, she'd ask me why, tears in her eyes.But today, she'd said it herself, as if she were finally cutting ties with Vincent.She stepped aside and smiled up at Vincent. "Go ahead, Don Colletti."She took my hand and said firmly, "I have Mommy, and that's enough."I was the only one there who understood. She wasn't just accepting one more absence from Vincent. She had finally realized she would never beg for her father's love again.Vincent was about to speak when Serena's hesitant voice

"Oh, right, Adela. Where's the child-size crest ring I had made for Eve? Daisy saw it last time and threw a fit because she wanted it. There isn't time to have another one made, so I'll give Daisy this one for now and have a new one made for Eve."Vincent changed the subject so quickly I couldn't answer. He rushed into the room, found the ring, and carefully put it in a gift box.As he was leaving, he finally glanced at me. "Honey, what were you going to say?"I froze. The words I'd meant to say died in my throat, and anger surged through me."That's Eve's ring, Vincent. How can you give her things to someone else?"That ring symbolized the highest authority in the Colletti family. Only the head of the family and the heir he chose had the right to wear it. Vincent had a child-size ring made especially for Eve's fifth birthday.Vincent's face darkened, and his voice turned hard. "Adela, don't be so selfish. It's just a ring."Just then, his phone rang. Vincent glanced at the caller ID,

Vincent stood in the restaurant lobby, his phone trembling in his hand.No one answered his calls or texts, and the staff at home didn't know where we'd gone.Every attempt to reach Eve and me had gone unanswered.Then he remembered the suitcases I'd packed and our tickets to Atlanta, and fear finally began to creep in.The manager wiped the sweat from his forehead and approached with a slight bow. "Mr. Colletti, your reservation was for seven o'clock. When would you like us to start?"Vincent opened his mouth to cancel.But the words caught in his throat.He told himself that Eve and I might just have been delayed. Maybe we'd hit traffic, or Eve's hair and makeup weren't done yet...Then he remembered that his number had been blocked and how disappointed we'd looked these past few days.His chest felt hollow, as if he'd lost something precious.In the end, he muttered, "Cancel it," and hurried out, looking rattled.He headed home to check. We had to be there, waiting for him. Somethin

When the Maybach pulled up outside the Rosati estate, my parents were already waiting on the steps.My father stood in the wind, a dark trench coat over his shoulders. Time had etched fine lines at the corners of his eyes, but he was as intimidating as ever.Beside him, my mother watched us with gentle eyes."Welcome home, my children."I held Eve's hand and walked up to them."Dad, Mom, I got divorced. Vincent wasn't a good father, and he wasn't a good husband."I clutched the hem of my top nervously. The Rosati and Colletti families had worked together for years. I wasn't sure if what I'd done would cause trouble for my family.But Eve didn't know any of that.She looked up at the two of them and said sweetly, "Grandpa, Grandma."Smiles spread across my parents' faces.My father scooped Eve right up and pressed his cheek to hers."Little Eve, the last time I saw you was when you were born. I planted the cherry tree outside your room for you."My eyes stung.The head of a mafia family

That Christmas Eve, Vincent came to the estate again.I hadn't seen him in a long time. Dark circles shadowed his eyes, stubble covered his chin, and his once sharp, well-fitted suit hung loose on him. He looked nothing like the confident man I remembered.He didn't ask anyone to announce him. He just stood at the estate gates, gazing longingly at the brightly lit house.Inside, a lively party was going on.I held a glass of wine and chatted easily with Caleb.Eve had made lots of friends here. She stood with them by the floor-to-ceiling window, holding hot chocolate and giggling at the snow outside.Snow fell all night. By the time I learned Vincent had come, he was gone. Only a pair of footprints remained, pressed half an inch into the snow.But within half an hour, they were completely covered by fresh snow.When I took Eve out to meet Caleb, our car passed that spot. Neither of us looked at it.Eve had told Caleb over the phone that she wanted to try a new cupcake flavor at a baker