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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
00:15from the coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon don't worry i'm not feeding
00:20you 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
00:49then 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
01:23snuck
01:23up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i
01:28thought
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 hem
01:50trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped raise
01:57my ex's
01:58nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my
02:03job
02:03fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an
02:09unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down
02:20on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm
02:27looking
02:27for a mother for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since
02:34then he's never felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends i work long hours so i need
02:41someone patient to stay with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays separate especially what
02:47happens in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed
02:52a similar
02:52prenup over our background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos
02:58they would be even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the
03:04house we don't have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head
03:09he leaned forward lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's
03:14love something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it
03:22your way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i actually
03:30cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course it's yours
03:35then okay
03:36as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor of course so three days
03:43after i signed
03:43my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony just like my first wedding but at dinner luca
03:49suddenly
03:49slid a ring across the table toward me it was the castellano family signet ring there's no need to
03:55do this sebastian had never even given me his family ring this was all for leo only later did i
04:00realize
04:01he needed the illusion of a home i fell silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep
04:07it safe that
04:08night i had just gotten into bed when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there
04:13fidgeting with his dinosaur pajamas what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime
04:19story i can ask dad to give you more money come here i pulled back the covers to make room
04:26for him
04:27he scrambled in beside me like he'd waited all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal
04:35i was only halfway through the story when he fell fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at
04:40breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to
04:46your
04:46monthly allowance mr castellano that's really too much not even close i'd put far more into my last
04:51marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too
04:58generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a story is no trouble at all the moment i
05:05said that
05:05leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around my finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes
05:10like
05:11two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000 you've earned it it's not up for negotiation
05:16i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became my little shadow luca was busy with deals
05:22guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month in that massive mansion it was just
05:27leo 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
05:56come
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
06:15it 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
06:25got super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have my candy
06:33dad says it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression quit
06:40faking sick just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the day she
06:45came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zanyardzan old mafia air pressed his very last piece
06:50of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect you then
06:56you'd better
06:56grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the curb
07:01luca was leaning against it
07:07he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed
07:11dad as long till i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me
07:18another raise this time 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 then
08:59i 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 get that straight the don is highly attractive
09:27don't get any ideas i lowered my head secretly delighted honestly this job was perfect for me
09:32in short they just needed an upscale nanny and the last thing i wanted was another husband
09:37free mansion lodging at this point that felt like a miracle don't worry i won't get any ideas
09:44as we passed a room with its door ajar a gunshot rang out and a man crumpled to the floor
09:48instantly
09:49through the crack in the door i recognized the face i'd seen in the new york times
09:53the don is handling some business don't take it personally
09:58after i changed into dry clothes he led me to the dining room at one end of a long wooden
10:03table
10:03father and son sat in a tent standoff the man with the murderous glare was gone
10:07in his place at the table sat an exhausted helpless father
10:12just one bite one tiny bite is that too much to ask it was almost funny he could deal with
10:17traitors and torture enemies but now this little brat had him stumped feeding him was harder than
10:21running an empire don the candidate is here so this was no dream no scam new york's most feared man
10:27a 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 dark eyes
10:45peeked out glaring furiously at me make her leave they're all bad women he'd already burned through
10:51countless stepmothers before me fat woman you're ugly go away i was a little annoyed calm down he was
10:57just a kid i scanned the room and immediately spotted them action figures everywhere grabbing
11:01two action figures from the coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon don't worry
11:06i'm not feeding you i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to little hero's
11:12mouth come on open wide you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs you can't
11:18protect anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong the boy
11:25swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you share some
11:30with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's head
11:36in
11:36agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite
11:42only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even
11:48reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger
11:55than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into
12:00a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room then
12:05gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman who
12:10snuck up
12:11there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i thought
12:15about the
12:16gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out in the
12:21closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in
12:33the living room legs crossed swirling a glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem
12:37trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped raise
12:45my ex's
12:45nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my
12:50job
12:51fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an
12:57unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down
13:08on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm
13:14looking
13:15for a mother for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since
13:21then
13:21he's never felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone
13:29patient to stay with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays separate especially what happens
13:35in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a
13:39similar
13:40prenup over our background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos
13:46they would be even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house
13:52we don't have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head he leaned
13:57forward lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love
14:03something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your
14:10way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i
14:17actually cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course
14:23it's yours then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor
14:28of course so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony
14:34just like my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me
14:38it was the castellano family's signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given me
14:45his family ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a home
14:50i fell
14:50silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten into
14:57bed when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur
15:02pajamas what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you
15:09more
15:09money come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd
15:16waited
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 too much
15:36not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing but eat
15:43and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a story is
15:51no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around my finger
15:56he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000 you've
16:02earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became my
16:08little
16:08shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month
16:13in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
16:23great 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
16:33at
16:33home i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a
16:37word
16:38only looked at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor
16:43then i'll come straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking
16:47he scrambled into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to
16:52the
16:52hospital with nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better
17:01just take it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was
17:06waiting for me in the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny
17:12tiny i
17:12didn't eat and got super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have
17:20my candy dad says it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression
17:27quit faking sick just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the
17:32day she came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zan yerdzan old mafia air pressed his
17:37very
17:38last piece of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect
17:43you then
17:44you'd better grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the
17:49curb luca was leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed
17:59dad as long till i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me
18:06another raise this time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
18:15nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
18:20take leo out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is
18:25a
18:25quarter million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's
18:31black bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the
18:36hospitals but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
18:41your wife needs company keep her stress free i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd
18:49always been insecure and barely knew the world outside now i wanted to show it to him our first
18:54stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to take pictures then i took him
18:59to
18:59a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like that in his entire life i don't want to carry this
19:05leo my hands are full it's only a few steps just this once okay and no more
19:10ordering lobster nora it was sebastian my ex-husband just one bite
19:24don 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
19:58the room and
19:58immediately spotted them action figures everywhere grabbing two action figures from the coffee table
20:02i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon don't worry i'm not feeding you i'm feeding him
20:08i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to little hero's mouth come on open wide
20:12you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs you can't protect anybody like that
20:18oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong the boy swallowed hard i pretended
20:24not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you share some with him
20:29if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's head in agreement
20:34then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite
20:40only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even
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 meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into a
20:57genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room
21:01then gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman
21:07who snuck up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story
21:11window i
21:12thought about the gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid
21:17out in the closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight
21:23come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in the living room legs crossed swirling a glass of
21:31whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem trying to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have
21:37any of your own no i helped raise my ex's nephew for two years his family called me a glutton
21:44who made
21:44no money they forced me to quit my job fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't
21:49their
21:49daughter-in-law i was nothing but an unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes
21:58why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down on my small town roots i guess only a
22:05coward would
22:06say something like that you saw the ad i'm looking for a mother for leo not a date for myself
22:12my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since then he's never felt safe hates going outside
22:17and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone patient to stay with him we'll sign a
22:25prenup everything stays separate especially what happens in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and
22:30my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a similar prenup over our background gap when the love
22:35died
22:35i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos they would be even more cautious
22:41i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house we don't have to make it legal
22:46i don't mind skipping all the paperwork lucas shook his head he leaned forward lightly tapping his
22:51fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love something stable and
22:56lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your way don't worry
23:05you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i actually
23:09cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course it's yours
23:15then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor of course
23:20so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony just like
23:26my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me it was the
23:30castellano family's signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given me his
23:36family ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a home i
23:41fell
23:41silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten into
23:47bed
23:48when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bed head 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
24:06waited all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he
24:14fell
24:14fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept
24:19in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's really
24:25too much not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyes or you do
24:31nothing
24:31but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a
24:39story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around
24:44my finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50
24:49000 you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo
24:55became my little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire
25:00month in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
25:10great 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 play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking he
25:33scrambled into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to the
25:38hospital with nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better
25:47just 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 day
26:17she came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zanyardzan old mafia air pressed his very last
26:22piece of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect you
26:27then you'd
26:28better grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the
26:33curb luca was leaning against it
26:38he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed dad as long till i'm with
26:44nora
26:44you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me another raise this time he even
26:51offered 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
27:14bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the
27:18hospitals 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
27:28i 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
27:38and
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
27:49just 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
28:12my jaw nora what if i don't want a paper marriage anymore my husband kicked me out because i ate
28:19too
28:19much signing the divorce papers that night i left with nothing with only a duffel bag and 36 dollars
28:25in my pocket i wandered the rainy streets alone then i spotted a flyer on a utility pole
28:29stepmother needed room and board included that exact flyer changed my life it turned me into a
28:35woman far beyond my ex-husband's reach that night i followed the address and entered the estate of
28:40luca castellano the head of new york's oldest mafia family outside the mansion the butler beside me
28:45oozed quiet arrogance the don needs a mother for his child not a wife get that straight the don is
28:54highly attractive don't get any ideas i lowered my head secretly delighted honestly this job was
29:00perfect for me in short they just needed an upscale nanny and the last thing i wanted was another
29:04husband free mansion lodging at this point that felt like a miracle don't worry i won't get any ideas
29:12as we passed a room with its door ajar a gunshot rang out and a man crumpled to the floor
29:16instantly
29:17through the crack in the door i recognized the face i'd seen in the new york times
29:21the don is handling some business don't take it personally
29:26after i changed into dry clothes he led me to the dining room at one end of a long wooden
29:31table
29:31father and son sat in a tent standoff the man with the murderous glare was gone in his place at
29:36the table sat an exhausted helpless father just one bite one tiny bite is that too much to ask it
29:43was
29:43almost funny he could deal with traitors and torture enemies but now this little brat had him stumped
29:48feeding him was harder than running an empire don the candidate is here so this was no dream
29:53no scam new york's most feared man a man like luca castellano had no reason to trick some homeless
29:58nobody 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 calm
30:24down 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
30:45legs you can't protect anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you
30:52strong the boy swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can
30:58you share some with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded
31:03little hero's
31:04head in agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just
31:09a tiny bite only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad
31:15before the spoon even reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared
31:21i'm gonna be stronger than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his
31:27mouth lifted into a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to
31:32my room then gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the
31:38last
31:38woman who snuck up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second
31:43story
31:43window i thought about the gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk
31:48pajamas
31:48laid out in the closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh
31:57okay
32:00luca sat in the 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
32:13ex's nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit
32:18my job
32:19fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an
32:25unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down
32:36on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm
32:42looking
32:43for 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 in the
33:03bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a similar prenup
33:08over our
33:08background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos they would be
33:14even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house we don't have
33:21to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head he leaned forward
33:25lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love
33:31something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your
33:38way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i
33:45actually cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course
33:51it'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's 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 i
34:18fell silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten
34:25into bed
34:25when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur pajamas
34:31what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you more
34:37money
34:40come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd waited
34:44all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he fell
34:53fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept
34:58in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's really
35:04too much not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing
35:11but eat and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a
35:19story is no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around
35:24my
35:24finger he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000
35:30you've earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became
35:35my little shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month
35:41in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
35:51great until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the house
35:55if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for me
36:01at home
36:01i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a word
36:06only looked
36:06at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor then i'll
36:11come
36:12straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking he scrambled
36:16into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to the hospital
36:20with
36:20nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better just take
36:30it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was waiting for me
36:35in
36:35the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny tiny i didn't eat
36:41and got
36:41super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have my candy dad says
36:49it
36:50makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression quit faking sick just for
36:57attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the day she came back he called me
37:02fat
37:02and ugly but this ford zanyardzan old mafia air pressed his very last piece of candy into my hand
37:07i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect you then you'd better grow up fast
37:13sweetheart
37:13when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was idling at the curb luca was leaning against it
37:23he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was calm and composed dad as long till i'm with
37:29nora
37:29you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried to give me another raise this time he even
37:36offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
37:43nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
37:48take leo out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is
37:53a
37:53quarter million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside
37:59luca's black bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis
38:03matched the hospitals but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded
38:08before your wife needs company keep her stress free i will the next day i took leo out with me
38:17he'd
38:17always been insecure and barely knew the world outside now i wanted to show it to him
38:21our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand and pulled me over to take pictures
38:26then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like that in his entire life
38:30i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few steps just this once okay
38:37and no more ordering lobster nora
38:42it was sebastian my ex-husband
38:44you
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