Chapter 2

Early the next morning, not long after I woke up, I got an urgent summons from Harvey’s father.

He demanded that I bring my son back to the Miller estate immediately.

My son was excited. He thought Harvey had finally decided to spend time with us.

“Is Dad going to talk with me about my victory party?” he asked.

He’d won first place in the school piano competition, and he’d been desperate for Harvey to know.

All the way there, he was practically bouncing with excitement -- but the dread in my chest wouldn’t go away.

Harvey’s father had never liked me. If he suddenly called us back, it couldn’t be anything good.

My son held my hand and led me into the grand hall.

“Why is Dad holding Auntie’s hand?” he whispered in my ear. He knew I couldn’t see, so he always described what he was looking at. “They look like a married couple. And Auntie’s belly got way bigger.”

Then Harvey’s father spoke, his voice cold and severe.

“Skyler, I have good news to announce. Betty is pregnant. According to our family rules, Harvey can now inherit the title of Godfather of the Miller family.”

He continued, “Their child will be the family’s future heir.”

I tried to locate Harvey by sound, but he didn’t speak. He didn’t want me to know where he was.

Betty’s voice chimed in -- light, sweet, and triumphant.

“Harvey, you’re finally going to be a father. Aren’t you happy?”

Harvey finally answered. “I’ll take good care of you and the baby. I’ll be a responsible father.”

My heart stabbed with pain.

Finally?

What did “finally” mean?

Wasn’t my son his child?

Was he really going to abandon his own blood to raise his “sister’s” baby -- a child born from some relationship this twisted?

“Mom...” My son tugged my hand and hid behind me, scared. “Why is Dad taking care of someone else? Shouldn’t he be taking care of us?”

His voice wasn’t loud, but it still carried through the hall. It reached the ears of the people watching.

A sharp, mocking voice cut in.

“Hah. He’s just a bastard. Who gave him the guts to call Harvey his father?” It was Harvey’s cousin -- she’d always looked down on me because I was blind.

Harvey’s father snapped at us, colder than ice. “The Miller family only needs one heir, and that’s Betty’s child. Don’t think you can steal that position!”

Whispers rippled through the hall.

“She’s right. What is a blind woman’s bastard doing here?”

Harvey’s mother added, dripping with contempt. “Skyler, you were an orphan, and you’re blind. We were kind enough to take you in. From today on, you’re nothing but a maid in this house -- your job is cleaning. As for that child, he’s just an orphan we took in. If you don’t accept it, then get out.”

“I’m not an orphan! I’m not!” my son screamed, his small body shaking.

He didn’t understand why everyone hated him.

To them, I was just a blind woman with no one backing her.

When I ran away with Harvey, I hid who I really was. He never knew my own family was the biggest mafia family in Italy.

My three brothers were among the most powerful mob bosses in America, too -- controlling a huge part of the business.

I faced Harvey. I could hear him shift like he wanted to explain.

“He’s not a bastard, and he’s not--”

But his words died before they could finish. I could almost feel Betty’s grip stopping him.

Under everyone’s gaze, Harvey abandoned us in the end.

“Skyler, take the child home,” Harvey finally said. “I’ll come see you later.”

I stared at him. “Harvey, from this moment on, there’s nothing between us anymore.”

I turned to leave --

And Betty’s voice rang out behind me. “Skyler, since you’re leaving, shouldn’t you leave that bracelet behind? As the Miller family’s new Donna, that bracelet should’ve belonged to me.”

I looked at her, then at Harvey.

He didn’t say a word.

That bracelet had once been proof of my place in his life -- a token Harvey gave me, a promise that I was part of his family.

He had sworn that as long as I wore it, I was his only wife.

“Harvey... is that what you think too?” I asked, clinging to the last, pathetic hope.

Harvey paused, then slowly lifted his head.

“I’m sorry, Skyler. It’s our family rule.”

His words were a blade straight through my heart.

I took a deep breath, slid the bracelet off my wrist, and placed it softly on the table.

Then I tightened my grip on my son’s hand and walked out without looking back.

Tears blurred my vision -- but I knew I would never turn around again.

Eight years with Harvey shattered in that instant.

The moment I got home, I called my father.

“Skyler... you finally made up your mind?” His voice trembled with emotion. “When are you coming back? Your mother and your brothers have been waiting every day.”

“I miss you,” I said. “And I have good news -- I have a son now. He’s smart and handsome.”

For a second, my father’s breath caught. Then his joy exploded.

“Really? Skyler, that’s incredible! He’s our blood. Come home. Your home is here -- in Italy.”

Going back to Italy meant a clean break with Harvey.

But what about my son? He was so young. Could he bear all of this?

“Mom... are we leaving?” He held my hand and asked quietly. “Dad doesn’t like me, does he?”

My heart shattered. Tears surged up.

How was I supposed to hide the cruel truth from a child -- that his father didn’t love him?

“I know,” he said softly.

“Dad wants to be with someone else. He’s not my dad anymore. If we stay, I’ll have to call him Uncle instead of Dad... right? No one here likes us, right?”

His maturity tore me apart.

He was still so little, and yet he understood so much.

I crouched and hugged him tight. “We’re just going back to Mom’s home,” I whispered. “There, you’ll have grandparents who love you a lot... and three uncles who are really, really powerful.”

“Okay.” His voice wobbled. “But... I want to have my victory party with Dad first.” He swallowed. “He promised me last year. He said if I got first place in the piano competition, he’d celebrate with me.”

I looked at him and hesitated.

I knew once we left, we’d never have another chance to celebrate anything with Harvey.

I took a deep breath and nodded. “Okay. Mom promises.”