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00:04that woman you're ugly go away i was a little annoyed calm down he was just a kid i scanned
00:10the room and immediately spotted them action figures everywhere grabbing two action figures
00:14from the coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon don't worry i'm not feeding
00:19you i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to little hero's mouth come
00:24on open wide you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs you can't protect
00:30anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong the boy
00:37swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you share some
00:42with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's head
00:48in agreement
00:48then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite
00:54only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even
01:00reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger
01:07than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into
01:12a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room then
01:17gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman who
01:22snuck
01:23up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i
01:27thought
01:28about the gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out
01:33in the closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay
01:44luca sat in the living room legs crossed swirling a glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama
01:49him trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped
01:57raise
01:57my ex's nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to
02:02quit
02:02my job fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing
02:08but
02:09an unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body
02:19and he looked down on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that
02:24you saw the ad i'm looking for a mother for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him
02:31when
02:32he was little ever since then he's never felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends
02:38i work long hours so i need someone patient to stay with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays
02:45separate especially what happens in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat
02:50my ex and i signed a similar prenup over our background gap when the love died i left and a
02:56powerful mafia family like the castellanos they would be even more cautious i understand honestly
03:03if you just need someone around the house we don't have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all
03:07the
03:07paperwork luca shook his head he leaned forward lightly tapping his fingers against the table
03:12the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love something stable and lasting and marriage is the
03:18strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your way don't worry
03:25you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i actually
03:29cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course it's yours
03:35then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor of course
03:41so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony just like
03:47my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me it was the
03:51castellano family signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given me his family
03:58ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a home i fell
04:03silent for
04:03a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten into bed when
04:10my door
04:10creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur pajamas
04:15what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you more
04:21money
04:24come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd waited
04:28all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he fell
04:37fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept in my
04:42bed
04:42luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's really too much
04:48not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing but
04:55eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him
05:03a story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand
05:08around my
05:08finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000
05:13you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became
05:19my
05:20little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month
05:25in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
05:35great until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the house
05:39if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for me
05:45at home
05:45i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a word
05:50only looked
05:50at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor then i'll
05:55come
05:56straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking he scrambled
06:00into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to the hospital
06:04with
06:04nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better just take
06:14it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was waiting for me
06:19in
06:19the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny tiny i didn't eat
06:25and got
06:25super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have my candy dad says
06:33it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression quit faking sick
06:41just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the day she came back
06:45he called me fat and ugly but this ford zanyardzan old mafia air pressed his very last piece of candy
06:51into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect you then you'd better
06:56grow up
06:56fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybach was idling at the curb luca was
07:02leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed dad as long
07:12to line with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me another raise this
07:19time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
07:27nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
07:32take leo
07:32out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is a quarter
07:38million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's black
07:44bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the hospitals
07:48but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
07:54your wife needs company keep her stress free
07:58i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd always been insecure and barely knew the world
08:03outside
08:04now i wanted to show it to him our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand and
08:09pulled
08:09me over to take pictures then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like
08:13that in his entire life i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few
08:20steps
08:20just this once okay and no more ordering lobster nora
08:26it was sebastian my ex-husband nora we're husband and wife stop thanking me his voice came out low
08:35soft around the edges we're a paper husband and wife you didn't have to his arm lifted long fingers
08:42tilted my chin up his thumb brushed slow against my jaw nora what if i don't want a paper marriage
08:48anymore my husband kicked me out because i ate too much signing the divorce papers that night i left
08:54with nothing with only a duffel bag and 36 dollars in my pocket i wandered the rainy streets alone
08:59then i spotted a flyer on a utility pole stepmother needed room and board included that exact flyer
09:05changed my life it turned me into a woman far beyond my ex-husband's reach that night i followed
09:10the address and entered the estate of luca castellano the head of new york's oldest mafia family
09:15outside the mansion the butler beside me oozed quiet arrogance
09:20the don needs a mother for his child not a wife
09:23get that straight the don is highly attractive don't get any ideas i lowered my head secretly
09:29delighted honestly this job was perfect for me in short they just needed an upscale nanny and the
09:35last thing i wanted was another husband free mansion lodging at this point that felt like a miracle
09:41don't worry i won't get any ideas as we passed a room with its door ajar a gunshot rang out
09:47and a man
09:47crumpled to the floor instantly through the crack in the door i recognized the face i'd seen in the
09:51new york times the don is handling some business don't take it personally after i changed into dry
09:59clothes he led me to the dining room at one end of a long wooden table father and son sat
10:04in a tent
10:04standoff the man with the murderous glare was gone in his place at the table sat an exhausted
10:09helpless father just one bite one tiny bite is that too much to ask it was almost funny he could
10:16deal with traitors and torture enemies but now this little brat had him stumped feeding him was
10:21harder than running an empire don the candidate is here so this was no dream no scam new york's
10:26feared man a man like luca castellano had no reason to trick some homeless nobody name
10:32nora bennett try so this was my interview if i failed i'd be sleeping on a train tonight
10:39wearing my warmest smile i stepped toward the boy he dove under the table only his big round
10:44dark eyes peeked out glaring furiously at me make her leave they're all bad women he'd
10:50already burned through countless stepmothers before me fat woman you're ugly go away i was
10:55a little annoyed calm down he was just a kid i scanned the room and immediately spotted them
10:59action figures everywhere grabbing two action figures from the coffee table i crouched beside the
11:04table and held up a spoon don't worry i'm not feeding you i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop
11:09up a spoonful and held it to little hero's mouth come on open wide you heroes skip dinner look at
11:15those
11:15skinny little arms and legs you can't protect anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies
11:21good choice spinach makes you strong the boy swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of
11:27tears
11:27wait little hero can you share some with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to
11:34eat too
11:34i nodded little hero's head in agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little
11:39man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite only a little we don't want you to get stronger than
11:45little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have
11:51veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano
11:58the corner of his mouth lifted into a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same
12:03night the butler led me to my room then gave me one final warning do not go to the third
12:07floor
12:08ever his voice dropped the last woman who snuck up there and tried to get into don luca's bed
12:13he threw her out of a second story window i thought about the gun from an hour ago i nodded
12:17hard
12:17i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out in the closet damn it i seriously need to lose
12:24weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in the living room legs crossed swirling a
12:34glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids
12:41do you have any of your own no i helped raise my ex's nephew for two years his family called
12:48me a
12:48glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my job fired the nanny then dumped their kid on
12:53me
12:53i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced
13:02yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down on my small town roots i guess only
13:10a coward
13:11would say something like that you saw the ad i'm looking for a mother for leo not a date for
13:16myself
13:18my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since then he's never felt safe hates going outside
13:23and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone patient to stay with him we'll sign a
13:31prenup everything stays separate especially what happens in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and
13:37my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a similar prenup over our background gap when the love
13:42died
13:42i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos they would be even more cautious
13:48i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house we don't have to make it legal
13:53i don't mind skipping all the paperwork lucas shook his head he leaned forward lightly tapping his
13:58fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love something stable and
14:04lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your way don't worry
14:13you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i actually
14:17cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course it's yours
14:23then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor of course
14:29so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony just like
14:34my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me it was the
14:39castellano family signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given me his family
14:46ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a home i fell
14:50silent for
14:51a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten into bed when
14:57my door
14:58creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur pajamas
15:03what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you more
15:09money
15:11come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd waited
15:16all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he fell
15:25fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept
15:30in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's really
15:36too much not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing
15:42but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a
15:51story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around
15:56my
15:56finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000
16:02you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became
16:07my
16:07little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month
16:12in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
16:22great until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the house
16:27if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for me
16:32at home
16:33i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a word
16:37only looked
16:38at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor then i'll
16:43come
16:43straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking he scrambled
16:48into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to the hospital
16:52with
16:52nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better just take
17:02it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was waiting for me
17:07in
17:07the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny tiny i didn't eat
17:13and got
17:13super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have my candy dad says
17:21it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression quit faking sick
17:29just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the day she came back
17:33he called me fat and ugly but this ford zanyardzan old mafia air pressed his very last piece of candy
17:38into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect you then you'd better
17:44grow up
17:44fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybach was idling at the curb luca was
17:50leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed dad as long
18:00until i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me another raise this
18:07time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
18:14nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
18:19take leo
18:20out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is a quarter
18:25million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's black
18:31bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the hospitals
18:36but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
18:41your wife needs company keep her stress free
18:46i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd always been insecure and barely knew the world
18:51outside
18:51now i wanted to show it to him our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand and
18:56pulled
18:57me over to take pictures then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like
19:01that in his entire life i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few
19:07steps
19:08just this once okay and no more ordering lobster nora
19:14it was sebastian my ex-husband just one bite
19:23don the candidate is here so this was no dream no scam new york's most feared man a man like
19:29luca
19:29castellano had no reason to trick some homeless nobody name nora bennett so this was my interview
19:37if i failed i'd be sleeping on a train tonight wearing my warmest smile i stepped toward the boy
19:41he dove under the table only his big round dark eyes peeked out glaring furiously at me
19:46make her leave they're all bad women he'd already burned through countless stepmothers before me
19:52fat woman you're ugly go away i was a little annoyed calm down he was just a kid i scanned
19:57the
19:58room and immediately spotted them action figures everywhere grabbing two action figures from the
20:02coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon don't worry i'm not feeding you
20:07i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to little hero's mouth come on
20:11open wide you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs you can't protect
20:17anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong the boy
20:23swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you share some
20:28with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's head
20:34in
20:34agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny
20:39bite only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon
20:45even
20:45reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger
20:52than little hero you mean i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into a genuine
20:57approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room then gave me
21:02one
21:02final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman who snuck up there
21:08and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i thought about
21:12the gun
21:12from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out in the closet
21:18damn it
21:19i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in the living room
21:29legs crossed swirling a glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem trying to hide my stomach
21:35you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped raise my ex's nephew for two
21:41years
21:42his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my job fired the nanny
21:47then
21:47dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an unpaid babysitter
21:53your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down on my small
22:02town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm looking for a
22:09mother
22:09for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since then he's never
22:16felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone patient to stay
22:23with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays separate especially what happens in the bedroom
22:29i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a similar prenup over
22:33our
22:34background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos they
22:39would be even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house we don't
22:45have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head he leaned forward
22:50lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love
22:55something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your
23:02way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part
23:09i actually cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine
23:13of course it's yours then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second
23:19floor
23:19of course so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony
23:25just like my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me
23:29it was the castellano family's signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given
23:36me his family ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a
23:40home
23:40i fell silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just
23:47gotten into
23:47bed when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur
23:52pajamas what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you
23:59more
23:59money come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd
24:05waited all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he
24:14fell fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that
24:18leo had slept in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's
24:24really too much not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do
24:31nothing but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid
24:38reading him a story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny
24:43warm
24:43hand around my finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched
24:48another 50 000 you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that
24:54day on leo became my little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home
24:59for an entire month in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping
25:04him
25:04happy until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the house
25:14if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for me
25:19at
25:19home i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a
25:24word only
25:24looked at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor
25:29then i'll come straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking
25:33he scrambled into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to
25:37the
25:37hospital with nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting
25:47better just take it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was
25:52waiting for me in the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny
25:57tiny i
25:57didn't eat and got super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have
26:04my candy dad says it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression
26:12quit faking sick just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the
26:16day she came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zanyard zan old mafia air pressed his
26:21very
26:22last piece of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect
26:26you then you'd
26:27better grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the
26:32curb luca was leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed
26:42dad as long till i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me
26:49another raise this time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
26:57nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
27:02take leo
27:02out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is a quarter
27:08million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's black
27:13bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the
27:17hospitals but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
27:23your wife needs company keep her stress free
27:27i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd always been insecure and barely knew the world
27:32outside now i wanted to show it to him our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand
27:37and
27:38pulled me over to take pictures then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like
27:42that in his entire life i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few
27:48steps
27:48just this once okay and no more ordering lobster nora it was sebastian my ex-husband nora we're husband
27:59and wife stop thanking me his voice came out low soft around the edges we're a paper husband and wife
28:07you didn't have to his arm lifted long fingers tilted my chin up his thumb brushed slow against my jaw
28:13nora what if i don't want a paper marriage anymore my husband kicked me out because i ate too much
28:20signing the divorce papers that night i left with nothing with only a duffel bag and 36 dollars in my
28:25pocket i wandered the rainy streets alone then i spotted a flyer on a utility pole stepmother needed
28:30room and board included that exact flyer changed my life it turned me into a woman far beyond my
28:36ex-husband's reach that night i followed the address and entered the estate of luca castellano
28:41the head of new york's oldest mafia family outside the mansion the butler beside me oozed quiet arrogance
28:48the don needs a mother for his child not a wife get that straight the don is highly attractive
28:54don't get any ideas i lowered my head secretly delighted honestly this job was perfect for me in
29:00short they just needed an upscale nanny and the last thing i wanted was another husband free mansion
29:05lodging at this point that felt like a miracle don't worry i won't get any ideas as we passed a
29:12room with its door ajar a gunshot rang out and a man crumpled to the floor instantly through the
29:17crack in the door i recognized the face i'd seen in the new york times the don is handling some
29:22business don't take it personally after i changed into dry clothes he led me to the dining room at one
29:30end of a long wooden table father and son sat in a tent standoff the man with the murderous glare
29:34was gone in his place at the table sat an exhausted helpless father just one bite one tiny bite is
29:42that
29:42too much to ask it was almost funny he could deal with traitors and torture enemies but now this little
29:47brat had him stumped feeding him was harder than running an empire don the candidate is here so this
29:52was no dream no scam new york's most feared man a man like luca castellano had no reason to trick
29:57some
29:58homeless nobody name nora bennett try so this was my interview if i failed i'd be sleeping on a train
30:06tonight wearing my warmest smile i stepped toward the boy he dove under the table only his big round
30:12dark eyes peeked out glaring furiously at me make her leave they're all bad women he'd already burned
30:19through countless stepmothers before me fat woman you're ugly go away i was a little annoyed
30:24calm down he was just a kid i scanned the room and immediately spotted them action figures everywhere
30:29grabbing two action figures from the coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon
30:33don't worry i'm not feeding you i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to
30:39little hero's mouth come on open wide you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs
30:45you can't protect anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong
30:52the boy swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you
30:57share
30:58some with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's
31:03head in
31:04agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite
31:10only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even
31:16reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger
31:22than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into
31:28a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room then
31:33gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman who
31:38snuck
31:38up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i
31:43thought about
31:44the gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out in
31:49the
31:49closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in
32:00the living room legs crossed swirling a glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem
32:05trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped raise
32:13my ex's
32:13nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my
32:18job
32:19fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an
32:24unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down
32:35on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm
32:42looking
32:42for a mother for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since
32:49then he's never felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone
32:57patient to stay with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays separate especially what happens
33:03in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a
33:07similar
33:07prenup over our background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos
33:13they would be even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the
33:20house we don't have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head
33:24he leaned forward lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a
33:29mother's love something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is
33:36fine we'll do it your way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of 100 000 that was the part
33:45i
33:45actually cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course
33:50it's yours then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor
33:56of course so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony
34:02just like my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me
34:06it was the castellano family signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given
34:13me his family ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a
34:18home
34:18i fell silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just
34:24gotten
34:25into bed when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his
34:29dinosaur pajamas what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give
34:37you
34:37more money come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like
34:44he'd
34:44waited all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when
34:52he fell fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo
34:57had slept in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's
35:03really too much not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyes or you
35:10do
35:10nothing but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid
35:17reading him a story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny
35:23warm
35:23hand around my finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched
35:28another 50 000 you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day
35:34on leo became my little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home
35:39for an entire month in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping
35:44him
35:45happy great until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the
35:55house if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for
36:00me at home i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't
36:05say a word
36:05only looked at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor
36:10then i'll come straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking
36:15he scrambled into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to
36:19the
36:19hospital with nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better
36:29just take it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was
36:34waiting for me in the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny
36:39tiny i
36:40didn't eat and got super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have
36:47my
36:48candy dad says it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression
36:55quit faking sick just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the
37:00day she came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zan yerdzan old mafia air pressed his
37:05very
37:05last piece of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect
37:10you then you'd
37:12better grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the curb
37:17luca was leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed dad
37:27as long till i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me another
37:34raise this time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
37:42nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
37:47take leo
37:48out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is a quarter
37:53million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's black
37:59bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the hospitals
38:04but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
38:09your wife needs company keep her stress free
38:14i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd always been insecure and barely knew the world
38:19outside now i wanted to show it to him our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand
38:24and
38:24pulled me over to take pictures then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like
38:29that in his entire life i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few
38:35steps just this
38:36once okay and no more ordering lobster nora it was sebastian my ex-husband