The Don Never Thought I’d Leave

I spent ten years trying to win the heart of Luca Moretti, the most feared Don in Sicily. In the end, it was our six-year-old daughter who taught me to let go. That night, before bed, I tried to talk to him again. “Luca, why don’t we take Sophia to the amusement park this Saturday?” He sat on the sofa, staring at his phone. He didn’t look up. A faint smile touched his lips as he read the message on the screen. I knew who it was—his childhood sweetheart, recently divorced and back in Sicily. I was about to ask again when Sophia ran over and took my hand. “Mommy, don’t ask anymore.” I looked down at her. “Why?” She glanced at Luca and lowered her voice. “It’s obvious. Daddy doesn’t want to talk to you.” Luca’s fingers paused over the screen. He still didn’t look up. A second later, he continued typing. Sophia was only six, yet she had already learned to read the silence between her parents. I saw the concern in her eyes and finally understood. For ten years, I had been the only one trying. I stood and took her hand. “Come on. Mommy will sleep with you tonight.” That night, I decided to let Luca go. This time, I was done begging him to love me. Chapter 1 The next morning, I returned to the Moretti Estate with the papers my attorney had prepared. I walked straight to Luca’s study. When I opened the door, I stopped. Luca sat behind his desk, with Viviana beside him. She held a forkful of chocolate cake to his lips. “Try it. It’s still your favorite.” Luca leaned forward and took a bite. The ease between them made it clear that this was not the first time she had fed him. Watching them, I remembered the chocolate cake I had made for his birthday three years ago. I had spent the entire day in the kitchen. It was my first attempt at baking, and by the time I finished, flour covered my hands and clothes. Sophia had been three then. She stood in the kitchen doorway, hugging her rabbit plush toy. “Mommy, will Daddy like it?” “Of course.” I smiled. “Mommy made it especially for him.” That night, I waited until the frosting began to melt. When Luca finally came home, I carried the cake to him. “Happy birthday.” He glanced at it and frowned. “I don’t like chocolate.” Then he walked past me and went upstairs. The cake slipped from my hands and hit the floor. I crouched down and gathered the ruined pieces into a trash bag, wiping away my tears before Sophia could see them. For years, I had believed him. But now Luca was eating chocolate cake from Viviana’s fork. He did like chocolate. Just not when it came from me. Luca finally noticed me. The faint warmth in his expression disappeared. “What do you want?” I walked to his desk and placed the folder in front of him. “Sophia’s school needs your signature. My attorney also sent over a few documents.” Luca didn’t ask what they were. He didn’t read a single page. He simply picked up his pen and signed every place I had marked. “Thank you.” I closed the folder and took it back. The divorce agreement now carried both our signatures. In seven days, it would take effect. Viviana laughed softly. “How interesting.” I looked at her. “You’re husband and wife, but you speak to each other like strangers.” She caught Luca’s chin between her fingers and turned his face toward her. “Did you really marry her because you loved her?” Then she smiled. “Why did you marry her, Luca?” The room fell silent. Once, I had believed Luca married me because my love had finally reached him. Later, I learned the truth. Before our wedding, he and Viviana had fought. She married another man to hurt him, and Luca married me soon afterward. I had been pregnant and available at exactly the right time. Now Viviana was divorced and back in Sicily. Luca finally had the woman he had always wanted. He didn’t answer her question. Instead, he looked at me. “If you’re finished, leave.” I lowered my eyes and smiled. “Of course.” My fingers tightened around the folder as I turned away. Seven more days. Then I would no longer be Mrs. Moretti. After ten years of trying to make Luca love me, I was finally walking away. I left the study and quietly closed the door. “Mommy?” I turned around. Sophia stood in the hallway, holding her rabbit against her chest. I crouched in front of her. She glanced at the closed study door. “Is Daddy happy with that lady?” I didn’t know how to answer. Sophia took my hand. “Mommy, can it just be you and me from now on?” I looked at her. “Daddy never smiles at us,” she whispered. A tear slipped down my cheek. Sophia reached up and wiped it away. “Don’t cry, Mommy. We can stop waiting for him.” I pulled her into my arms. “Okay.” This time, I meant it. Chapter 2 The next morning, I began packing. Sophia sat on the bed, hugging her rabbit plush toy as she watched me fold my clothes into a suitcase. “Mommy, are we really leaving Daddy?” My hands paused. “Yes.” “Are we ever coming back?” I closed the suitcase and crouched in front of her. “We’re going somewhere new.” Her eyes brightened. “Where?” “Boston.” Three years ago, a biomedical research institute there had offered me a position after three rounds of interviews. It was the work I had always wanted to do. But Luca was dealing with a crisis inside the Moretti family, and I couldn’t bring myself to leave him. I also believed Sophia needed to grow up near her father. So I turned the offer down. Luca never knew what I had given up. Yesterday, I contacted the institute again. A position had recently opened on the same research team, and they were willing to offer it to me. This time, I accepted. My attorney had already arranged everything. One of the documents Luca signed yesterday authorized Sophia to relocate with me after the divorce. He had signed it without reading a single word. As I looked at the half-empty closet, I remembered how hard I had once worked to become part of Luca’s life. I fell for him the first time we met. He was cold, powerful, and feared by nearly everyone in Sicily. But I had never been afraid of him. I found excuses to have dinner with him, brought him gifts, and took every opportunity to be near him. I believed that if I loved him long enough, he would eventually love me back. Then one night, after a family celebration, we slept together. A few weeks later, I discovered I was pregnant. Luca married me. The wedding was extravagant, and everyone called me the luckiest woman in Sicily. I believed our baby had finally made him realize that he loved me. Then I learned about Viviana. Before our wedding, she and Luca had fought. Viviana married another man to hurt him, and Luca married me soon afterward. I had not won his heart. I had simply become pregnant at the right time. I placed the last dress in my suitcase. My passport and several other documents were still downstairs, so I took Sophia’s hand and led her to the living room. The moment we entered, I stopped. Luca stood beside the sofa with Viviana in his arms. Her arms circled his neck, and her cheeks were flushed from wine. Once, I would have demanded an explanation. Why was he holding her? Why had he brought her home? Why had he never held me with the same care? Now, I only felt tired. Luca saw me and stiffened. “She’s drunk.” I said nothing. His expression hardened. “Don’t make a scene. She’s asleep.” I almost laughed. He still believed every feeling I had began and ended with him. “There’s lemon water in the refrigerator,” I said. “It should help with her hangover.” Luca stared at me. I took Sophia’s hand and walked past them. Without looking at Viviana again, I opened the cabinet and collected my passport and documents. Sophia remained silent beside me. She didn’t ask why Daddy was holding another woman instead of Mommy. She only tightened her small hand around mine. Five more days. Then Sophia and I would be gone. Chapter 3 The change was quieter than I expected. On the fourth day after I stopped chasing Luca, I took Sophia to the amusement park she had begged to visit. In the past, I always checked Luca’s schedule first. “What about Sunday?” “Or next week?” “Sophia really wants you to come.” No matter how many times I asked, his answer was always the same. “I’m busy.” Sophia and I always ended up going alone, and I always spent the day wishing he were there. Not this time. Sophia ran from one ride to another, laughing as the carousel carried her past me. After the roller coaster, she pulled me toward an ice cream stand. “Mommy, can we stay until tonight?” “Of course.” I wiped a streak of ice cream from her cheek. For once, I didn’t keep checking my phone. I didn’t wait for Luca to answer a message or look at Viviana’s social media to see whether they were together. My phone stayed silent. Instead of hurting, the silence felt peaceful. By the time Sophia and I returned to the estate, it was dark. I opened the front door and stopped. Viviana was sitting on the sofa in an oversized white shirt. I recognized it immediately. It belonged to Luca. He stood behind her with one hand resting on the back of the sofa. When he saw me, something shifted in his expression. “She just returned to Sicily and has nowhere to stay,” he said. “She drank too much last night, so I told her she could remain here for a few days.” I nodded. “Alright.” Viviana looked down as if she were embarrassed. “Are you sure? I don’t want to interfere with your family.” I gave her a polite smile. “Don’t worry. Consider this your own home.” Soon, it would be. I took Sophia’s hand and headed for the stairs. “Elena.” I stopped but didn’t turn around. “There’s a private auction the day after tomorrow,” Luca said. “You’ve always wanted to attend. I’ll take you.” Once, I had dreamed of entering that auction on his arm and letting every powerful family in Sicily see me as Mrs. Moretti. Now the thought meant nothing. But the divorce agreement would not take effect for another three days, and I didn’t want to give Luca a reason to examine the papers he had signed. “Alright.” My indifference seemed to unsettle him. “You went to the amusement park today,” he added. “Next time, I’ll go with you.” I continued upstairs without answering. Behind me, Viviana lowered her voice. “Is she angry?” Luca sounded almost amused. “How could she be?” Then he said the words I had expected. “She spent ten years chasing me. She won’t leave over something this small.” I almost laughed. For ten years, Luca had mistaken my love for a guarantee. He believed he could neglect me, humiliate me, and choose Viviana every time because I would always be waiting when he turned around. He was right about one thing. For ten years, I had never left. In three days, I would. Chapter 4 On the day of the auction, Luca sent a car for me. The event was jointly hosted by several of Sicily’s most powerful families. The guests came not only to bid, but also to measure their rivals and test old alliances. Luca was waiting at the entrance. The moment he appeared, the conversations around him faded. He reached for my hand, but I pretended not to notice and walked beside him. Once, I had dreamed of entering an event like this on Luca’s arm. I wanted everyone to see that I was Mrs. Moretti. Now that it was finally happening, the title meant nothing to me. Our seats were in the front row. I was about to sit beside Luca when a familiar voice called his name. “Luca.” Viviana approached in a gold gown covered with tiny crystals. Without asking, she took the seat on his left. Luca didn’t object. I sat on his right. Throughout the auction, Viviana leaned close to whisper in his ear. Occasionally, she laughed, and Luca answered in a low voice. I kept my attention on the stage. Then the auctioneer presented a sapphire necklace. A moonstone rested at the center of the pendant. It looked as though it had been made to match the ring my mother had left me. I stared at it for a few seconds too long. Luca noticed. “Do you like it?” “A little.” He raised his paddle. “Five million euros.” The price climbed, but Luca continued bidding. At twenty million euros, no one challenged him again. “Sold.” I looked at him in surprise. It was the first time Luca had ever chosen something for me without being asked. “Thank you.” “If you like it, it was worth it.” An attendant placed the box in my hands. Before I could lift the necklace, Viviana leaned closer. “It’s beautiful.” She looked at Luca and bit her lower lip. “I like it too. Don’t you remember? You once told me sapphires suited me better than any other stone.” Luca hesitated. Then he held out his hand to me. “Give it to her.” I stared at him. “She likes it,” he said. “Let her have it.” I had held the necklace for less than a minute. That was all it took for Viviana to claim it. I closed the box and handed it to her. “Take it.” A violent crash came from outside the auction hall. Gunshots followed. People screamed as the windows shattered. Above us, the massive crystal chandelier began to sway. Someone shouted a warning. The chandelier tore free from the ceiling. The crowd scattered. I tried to move to the right, but several overturned chairs blocked my path. Luca reacted immediately. He lifted Viviana into his arms and ran toward the emergency exit. The chandelier struck the floor where they had been sitting, sending glass across the room. I dropped to the ground and covered my head. Shards cut through the back of my dress. Warm blood slid down my skin. Across the hall, Luca carried Viviana through the emergency exit. He never looked back. His instinct had answered the question Viviana asked in his study. When it mattered, Luca would always choose her. A medic removed the glass from my back and bandaged the cuts. None were deep enough to require stitches. Luca never came to check. When I returned to the estate, I didn’t pack anything else. Everything was already waiting by the door. The following morning, our divorce agreement took effect. At five, I carried the sleeping Sophia downstairs. The sky was still dark as I placed her in the car. Before getting in, I looked at the estate one last time. I had spent years trying to turn that house into a home. Now I felt nothing. As the car pulled away, Sophia stirred in my arms. “Mommy, are we going to Boston now?” “Yes.” “You get to do your science?” I smiled. “I do.” “And I get to go to my new school.” She settled against me again. For the first time in ten years, the life ahead of me belonged to me. I took out my phone and sent Luca one final message. The divorce is final. Sophia and I are leaving for Boston. We won’t disturb you again. For ten years, Luca had left my messages unanswered. This time, my phone vibrated before our car reached the estate gates. What divorce?