All Chapters of The Don Killed My Son for His Mistress’s Heir: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

After the submission, Bianca contacted me directly for the first time.No tears. No insults.A message from a new number: “If you want to know what happened to Adam at the end, talk to me alone.”I forwarded it to Claire.She immediately opposed meeting.“She knows where you’re vulnerable.”I knew.But that video was still a splinter in my mind.It existed on her phone. I didn’t know whether it had been edited or how she’d obtained it.Finally, Claire replied.A call was possible, with counsel present and the conversation preserved.Bianca went silent for two days.Then she agreed.“This won’t help anyone,” she began.I watched the tabletop.“The hospital goes down. Luca gets arrested. The family won’t forgive me. You left. Why can’t you let go?”“Give me the video.”“Withdraw your allegations first.”Claire spoke.“This cannot be resolved through a private exchange.”Bianca’s tone changed.“Then why are we talking?”I stopped her.“Where did you get it?”“Someone gave it to me.”“Who?

A month later, I returned to Chicago.Not home.Claire had arranged further interviews and proceedings concerning the hospital records.Before I left, Nora checked my luggage.Passport. Medication. Documents.Then she looked at the urn.“Are you taking him?”“No. Adam isn’t going back.”He had already been cold in that city once.He didn’t need to accompany me through it again.I stayed at a hotel arranged by the lawyers and didn’t tell Luca.Bianca found me anyway.She waited in the lobby with Leo.When I stepped out of the elevator, she stood.She looked exhausted.Leo slept against the same blanket I’d bought.“Just a few minutes.”She lowered her voice when she saw I wasn’t alone.“I’ll give you the video.”I stopped.Claire answered first.“Through counsel.”Bianca looked at me.“You have to promise to keep the baby out of it.”I glanced at Leo.He hadn’t chosen anything. He didn’t know why adults kept carrying him from one person to another.“I’ve never wanted to hurt him.”Bianc

Rosa lost patience first.She pushed the papers away.“How much do you want before you stop this?”Luca spoke immediately.“Mother.”“Be quiet. If you hadn’t spoiled her, would she dare threaten all of us?”I looked at her.“I’m not threatening anyone. You invited me. I came. And I won’t sign this agreement.”It ran to more than twenty pages.Money. Property. Interests in overseas businesses.In exchange, I would withdraw my statements, acknowledge that my baby died from prematurity, and never mention the ambush again.Claire drew the document away and pointed to a clause.“You also want prior review of Evelyn’s future medical records?”Rosa ignored her.“We’re preventing her from demanding money over the same incident forever.”I opened my bag and took out a photograph of Adam’s identification band.He’d lived only hours.The hospital wouldn’t even leave an honest record of his death.“You aren’t trying to buy my silence.”I pushed the photograph forward.“You’re trying to buy the evi

The next day, photographs of me appeared online.Someone had taken images of me bleeding at the estate and added a headline about postpartum instability.There was an edited recording too.Only my words:“Everyone who did this should answer for it.”Then Rosa asking how much money I wanted.Commenters accused me of using my dead baby for an enormous payout.Others said I’d always known Leo wasn’t mine and only objected when Luca refused to pay enough.Appointments at the studio were canceled.One business contact politely suggested waiting for the controversy to settle.I saved every email.“Should we issue a response?” Claire asked.“Yes. But no photographs of Adam.”She nodded.We released the clause requiring me to acknowledge a natural death, along with the full recording of my refusal.The statement ended simply: “I will not accept payment in exchange for withdrawing a truthful account.”Less than thirty minutes later, an unfamiliar number called.A man waited before speaking.“Ms

Three days later, Luca asked to see me.Claire chose the same meeting room.He brought no jewels or folder.He wasn’t wearing the black suit that used to make people afraid to approach him.After sitting down, he removed his watch.I’d given it to him during our first year of marriage.I glanced at it but didn’t take it.“I’m not returning it.”He set it before himself.“When I wear it, I keep thinking I can get back to before.”Claire switched on the recording equipment.“What would you like to state?”Luca looked at me. Dark shadows marked his eyes.“I ordered the perimeter guards removed from the docks.”My nails dug into my palms.He spoke slowly, as though waiting for interruption.“I authorized the payment. I knew which car she’d be in.”Claire didn’t let him remain vague.“Who do you mean by ‘she’?”“Evelyn.”Hearing my name, I remembered him straightening my collar before I left that morning.He’d said the baby would love the gift.“What were you thinking when you watched me ge