Chapter 7: The Don Finds His Donna

Morning arrived without sunlight.

The sky above the Marino estate was covered with dark clouds, as if the city itself knew that something terrible was about to be revealed.

I had barely slept.

My suitcase stood beside the bedroom door.

Everything was ready.

The research institute was waiting for me.

My new identity was ready.

My old life was only hours away from disappearing.

Yet I couldn't stop thinking about my parents.

About Sophia.

About the attack.

And about the look on Lucian's face when he realized someone inside his own family had betrayed him.

A knock sounded.

"Come in."

Lucian opened the door.

He was dressed in black from head to toe.

The Don.

The man who terrified half the city.

But there was exhaustion in his eyes.

"The security team found something," he said.

"What?"

"Sophia's car."

"Where?"

"At the private airfield."

My heart tightened.

"She's trying to leave."

"Yes."

Lucian picked up his phone.

"She's also used one of the old family accounts."

"The same account connected to your parents' deaths."

I stood immediately.

"Then let's go."

"You shouldn't come."

"It's my family."

He hesitated.

"Alright."

We left the estate with a convoy of security vehicles.

The private airfield was nearly deserted.

Sophia's vehicle stood beside a small plane.

She was already walking toward it.

The moment she saw Lucian's convoy approaching, she stopped.

Her face went pale.

"Lucian..."

He stepped out of the car.

His expression was terrifyingly calm.

"Where are you going?"

"Away."

"Why?"

"Because you no longer trust me."

"Give me one reason I should."

Sophia looked toward me.

"She told you everything, didn't she?"

I said nothing.

"I didn't kill your parents," Sophia said.

"But I know who did."

Lucian took one step forward.

"Then talk."

Sophia's breathing became uneven.

"Your uncle wasn't the mastermind."

"He was only the middleman."

"The person who ordered the attack was someone who wanted both the Vettori and Marino families weakened."

"Who?"

"Your family's former financial adviser."

Lucian's eyes narrowed.

"Gabriel Moretti?"

Sophia nodded.

"He manipulated the accounts."

"He financed both sides of the blood feud."

"He arranged your parents' deaths because they discovered the money trail."

I felt dizzy.

"Then why did you help him?" I asked.

Sophia looked at me.

"Because he promised to make Lucian mine."

Lucian's face turned cold.

"You knew he was involved."

"Yes."

"You watched my family fall apart."

"Yes."

"And you still came after my wife?"

"I thought you would eventually leave her for me."

My stomach turned.

Seven years of lies.

Seven years of manipulation.

All because Sophia wanted Lucian.

Lucian walked toward her slowly.

"Did you know about the affair?"

"Yes."

"Did you know she was pregnant?"

Sophia looked at my stomach.

"Yes."

"Did you leak information about her disappearance?"

She hesitated.

"Yes."

Lucian's hands tightened into fists.

"You nearly got her killed."

"I didn't order the attack."

"You gave them the information they needed."

Sophia had no answer.

Security officers stepped forward.

"Take her."

"Lucian!" Sophia screamed.

"You love me!"

Lucian looked at her with nothing but disgust.

"I thought I did."

"But I was wrong."

Sophia was taken away.

I watched silently.

The woman who had spent years trying to replace me was finally exposed.

But I didn't feel victorious.

Only tired.

Lucian turned toward me.

"It's over."

"Your parents' case can finally be reopened officially."

"The evidence is strong enough to expose Gabriel Moretti too."

I nodded.

"Good."

We returned to the estate.

By afternoon, the authorities had arrested Gabriel.

The financial records, hidden accounts, and testimony from Sophia connected him to the blood feud.

Five years of unanswered questions finally had answers.

My parents hadn't died because of random violence.

They had been deliberately silenced.

That evening, I stood alone in the garden.

Lucian approached slowly.

"Your flight is at dawn."

"Yes."

He looked toward the suitcase beside the door.

"You're still leaving."

"Yes."

"Even now?"

"Especially now."

He lowered his head.

"I understand."

I looked at him.

"Do you?"

"I think I finally do."

"You spent seven years believing I would always be there."

"I did."

"You thought you could betray me and still come home to me."

"Yes."

"You thought being my husband gave you the right to decide what I should accept."

"I was wrong."

He took a slow breath.

"I don't deserve another chance."

"No," I replied.

"You don't."

He nodded.

"But I still want to ask for one."

I looked at him in silence.

"I don't want to stop you from leaving."

"I know I can't."

"I just want you to know that I will spend the rest of my life regretting what I did."

"That's your burden."

"I know."

"And I won't carry it for you."

He looked at me with tears in his eyes.

I had never seen Lucian Marino cry.

Not once.

Not in seven years.

But tonight, he couldn't hide it.

"I love you," he whispered.

"Maybe I realized it too late."

I looked away.

"You loved the woman you thought would never leave."

"You didn't love the woman standing in front of you."

"I know."

He stepped closer.

"But I want to learn."

"Then learn without me."

The words hurt both of us.

But they were necessary.

That night, I slept alone.

Not because Lucian was with another woman.

Because I had finally chosen myself.

At dawn, the car arrived.

My luggage was loaded.

My professor had sent the final authorization.

I was ready.

Lucian stood at the entrance.

He didn't try to stop me.

That mattered.

I walked toward him.

"Goodbye, Lucian."

"Goodbye, Eleonora."

He looked at my stomach one last time.

"Take care of our child."

"I will."

"And yourself."

"I will."

I stepped into the car.

The gate opened.

The Marino estate disappeared behind me.

For the first time in seven years...

I was free.

I didn't look back.

But Lucian remained standing there long after the car had disappeared.

The Don had lost his Donna.

And only now did he understand what she had truly been worth.