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00:00:01my husband kicked me out because i ate too much signing the divorce papers that night i left with
00:00:06nothing with only a duffel bag and 36 in my pocket i wandered the rainy streets alone then i spotted
00:00:12a flyer on a utility pole stepmother needed room and board included that exact flyer changed my
00:00:18life it turned me into a woman far beyond my ex-husband's reach that night i followed the
00:00:22address and entered the estate of luca castellano the head of new york's oldest mafia family outside
00:00:28the mansion the butler beside me oozed quiet arrogance the don needs a mother for his child
00:00:34not a wife get that straight the don is highly attractive don't get any ideas i lowered my head
00:00:41secretly delighted honestly this job was perfect for me in short they just needed an upscale nanny
00:00:47and the last thing i wanted was another husband free mansion lodging at this point that felt like a
00:00:52miracle don't worry i won't get any ideas as we passed a room with its door ajar a gunshot rang
00:00:59out and a man crumpled to the floor instantly through the crack in the door i recognized the
00:01:03face i'd seen in the new york times the don is handling some business don't take it personally
00:01:10after i changed into dry clothes he led me to the dining room at one end of a long wooden
00:01:15table
00:01:15father and son sat in a tent standoff the man with the murderous glare was gone in his place at
00:01:20the table
00:01:20sat in exhausted helpless father just one bite one tiny bite is that too much to ask it was almost
00:01:28funny he could deal with traitors and torture enemies but now this little brat had him stumped
00:01:32feeding him was harder than running an empire don the candidate is here so this was no dream
00:01:37no scam new york's most feared man a man like luca castellano had no reason to trick some homeless
00:01:42nobody name nora bennett try so this was my interview if i failed i'd be sleeping on a train
00:01:51tonight wearing my warmest smile i stepped toward the boy he dove under the table only his big round
00:01:56dark eyes peeked out glaring furiously at me make her leave they're all bad women he'd already burned
00:02:03through countless stepmothers before me fat woman you're ugly go away i was a little annoyed calm down
00:02:09he was just a kid i scanned the room and immediately spotted them action figures everywhere
00:02:13grabbing two action figures from the coffee table i crouched beside the table and held up a spoon
00:02:18don't worry i'm not feeding you i'm feeding him i pretended to scoop up a spoonful and held it to
00:02:23little hero's mouth come on open wide you heroes skip dinner look at those skinny little arms and legs
00:02:29you can't protect anybody like that oh little hero wants veggies good choice spinach makes you strong
00:02:36the boy swallowed hard i pretended not to see him on the verge of tears wait little hero can you
00:02:42share
00:02:42some with him if he wants to grow big and strong he has to eat too i nodded little hero's
00:02:48head in
00:02:48agreement then turned to the boy you want to be strong little man he nodded eagerly just a tiny bite
00:02:54only a little we don't want you to get stronger than little hero he'd be sad before the spoon even
00:03:00reached him he lunged mouth wide open why can't i have veggies are you scared i'm gonna be stronger
00:03:07than little hero you meanie i glanced at luca castellano the corner of his mouth lifted into
00:03:12a genuine approving smile i moved into the castle that same night the butler led me to my room then
00:03:17gave me one final warning do not go to the third floor ever his voice dropped the last woman who
00:03:23snuck
00:03:23up there and tried to get into don luca's bed he threw her out of a second story window i
00:03:28thought about
00:03:28the gun from an hour ago i nodded hard i promise i slipped into the silk pajamas laid out in
00:03:33the
00:03:33closet damn it i seriously need to lose weight come downstairs we need to talk oh okay luca sat in
00:03:45the living room legs crossed swirling a glass of whiskey i tugged awkwardly at my pajama hem trying
00:03:50to hide my stomach you're good with kids do you have any of your own no i helped raise my
00:03:57ex's
00:03:58nephew for two years his family called me a glutton who made no money they forced me to quit my
00:04:03job
00:04:03fired the nanny then dumped their kid on me i wasn't their daughter-in-law i was nothing but an
00:04:09unpaid babysitter your file says you're divorced yes why he was ashamed of my body and he looked down
00:04:20on my small town roots i guess only a coward would say something like that you saw the ad i'm
00:04:27looking
00:04:27for a mother for leo not a date for myself my enemies terrified him when he was little ever since
00:04:33then he's never felt safe hates going outside and has zero friends i work long hours so i need someone
00:04:41patient to stay with him we'll sign a prenup everything stays separate especially what happens
00:04:47in the bedroom i looked into his eyes and my heart skipped a beat my ex and i signed a
00:04:52similar
00:04:52prenup over our background gap when the love died i left and a powerful mafia family like the castellanos
00:04:58they would be even more cautious i understand honestly if you just need someone around the house
00:05:04we don't have to make it legal i don't mind skipping all the paperwork luca shook his head he leaned
00:05:09forward
00:05:10lightly tapping his fingers against the table the marriage is for leo he needs a mother's love
00:05:15something stable and lasting and marriage is the strongest contract there is fine we'll do it your
00:05:22way don't worry you'll have a monthly allowance of one hundred thousand dollars that was the part i
00:05:29actually cared about if we ever get divorced will the money you've given me still be mine of course
00:05:35it's yours then okay as for sex i have no expectations of you just stay on the second floor
00:05:40of course so three days after i signed my divorce papers i got married again there was no ceremony
00:05:46just like my first wedding but at dinner luca suddenly slid a ring across the table toward me
00:05:51it was the castellano family signet ring there's no need to do this sebastian had never even given me
00:05:58his family ring this was all for leo only later did i realize he needed the illusion of a home
00:06:02i fell
00:06:03silent for a moment then i took the ring i'll keep it safe that night i had just gotten into
00:06:09bed when my door creaked open barefoot with wild bedhead leo stood there fidgeting with his dinosaur
00:06:14pajamas what's wrong little man nora can you read me a bedtime story i can ask dad to give you
00:06:21more
00:06:21money come here i pulled back the covers to make room for him he scrambled in beside me like he'd
00:06:28waited
00:06:29all day nora it's so cramped oh you little rascal i was only halfway through the story when he fell
00:06:37fast asleep against my shoulder the next morning at breakfast the butler told luca that leo had slept
00:06:42in my bed luca froze i'll add another 50 000 to your monthly allowance mr castellano that's really too much
00:06:49not even close i'd put far more into my last marriage than that an eyesore you do nothing but eat
00:06:55and sleep mr castellano you're really too generous i like leo he's a good kid reading him a story is
00:07:03no trouble at all the moment i said that leo walked over wrapping his tiny warm hand around my finger
00:07:09he looked up at me with big dark eyes like two grapes he was clearly touched another 50 000 you've
00:07:15earned it it's not up for negotiation i gave in and thanked him from that day on leo became my
00:07:20little
00:07:20shadow luca was busy with deals guns and bloodshed he didn't come home for an entire month
00:07:25in that massive mansion it was just leo and me i poured my heart into keeping him happy
00:07:35great until my follow-up appointment the butler had warned me that leo could not leave the house
00:07:39if he did it could trigger a panic attack i crouched down in front of him sweetheart wait for me
00:07:45at
00:07:45home i'll be back in an hour he clutched my hand and refused to let go he didn't say a
00:07:50word
00:07:50only looked at me with those dark sorrowful eyes i'll be right back i'm just going to see the doctor
00:07:55then i'll come straight here and play okay you stay here and play before i could finish speaking
00:07:59he scrambled into the back seat the butler fought to hide his rising hope do you want to go to
00:08:04the
00:08:04hospital with nora thank god he's finally willing to leave the house your depression is getting better
00:08:14just take it slow and try to relax i picked up my prescription and medication then left leo was
00:08:19waiting for me in the lobby with his little little hero toy nia are you sick when i was teeny
00:08:24tiny i
00:08:25didn't eat and got super sick promise you won't do that to yourself does it hurt here you can have
00:08:32my
00:08:32candy dad says it makes the pain go away tears suddenly spilled down my cheeks i have depression
00:08:40quit faking sick just for attention the nephew i'd raised for two years stood beside his mother the
00:08:45day she came back he called me fat and ugly but this ford zan yerdzan old mafia air pressed his
00:08:50very
00:08:50last piece of candy into my hand i'm gonna eat all my meals so i can grow up and protect
00:08:55you
00:08:56then you'd better grow up fast sweetheart when we walked out of the hospital a black maybok was
00:09:01idling at the curb luca was leaning against it he pulled leo into his arms but he noticed leo was
00:09:10calm and composed dad as long till i'm with nora you don't have to worry anymore that night luca tried
00:09:18to give me another raise this time he even offered me a black card i refused instantly making him laugh
00:09:27nora you must want something can you help me find a used car under five grand that way i can
00:09:32take leo
00:09:32out without relying on a driver take any car you want from the garage your cheapest car is a quarter
00:09:38million i'm not driving that fine the next morning a beat-up sedan was parked beside luca's black
00:09:44bentley he'd even brought in a psychiatrist from out of town for me the diagnosis matched the hospitals
00:09:49but this time i was prescribed imported brand name meds i could never have afforded before
00:09:54your wife needs company keep her stress free
00:09:59i will the next day i took leo out with me he'd always been insecure and barely knew the world
00:10:04outside now i wanted to show it to him our first stop was the amusement park he grabbed my hand
00:10:09and
00:10:09pulled me over to take pictures then i took him to a farmer's market he'd never been somewhere like
00:10:13that in his entire life i don't want to carry this leo my hands are full it's only a few
00:10:20steps
00:10:20just this once okay and no more ordering lobster nora it was sebastian my ex-husband he was in a
00:10:30crisp suit hair perfect looking like he'd stepped out of a magazine cover it had been five weeks since
00:10:35the divorce my stomach nodded on contact sebastian and i had met in college he came from one of those
00:10:40wall street elite families the golden boy of high finance he'd ignored every objection from his
00:10:44family to put a ring on me at our wedding he'd promised to protect me for life then he took
00:10:48over
00:10:49crane capital he started finding fault with everything he wanted me to quit my job taking
00:10:52care of his parents take care of his sister's kid cook laundry cleaning i did all of it because i
00:10:57loved him because i'd never been loved by my own family and didn't know any better until one day i
00:11:01caught him in a private club with a girl in his lap my whole world shattered i cried i screamed
00:11:05i begged
00:11:06him to swear it would stop the whole crane family said i was overreacting what successful man
00:11:10doesn't have side action sebastian said i'd been spoiled rotten he blocked my number stopped coming
00:11:14home my depression cratered i filed for divorce he thought it was a bluff his family told him don't
00:11:19let her win he had his lawyer draft papers i walked out with nothing signed them in seven seconds four
00:11:24years of dating three years of marriage done noah ivy league degree and here you are playing nanny
00:11:30what were you thinking not your business norah try to understand the day you married into the crane
00:11:36family you represent the crane name sebastian we're divorced i have nothing to do with your
00:11:41family anymore even divorced you're my ex-wife people still bring me up when they talk about
00:11:45you stop embarrassing use your head for one stop being emotional all the time nora a few weeks out
00:11:50here bet you miss being mrs crane don't you admit you were wrong i'll think about taking you back
00:11:55the girls outside the marriage those were nothing i haven't replaced you the position's still open
00:11:59just swallow your pride apologize to my mother and my sister
00:12:03don't bother holding it give the seat to someone else sebastian i'm not interested on the drive home
00:12:08a new number called connor the nephew i'd raised for two years i'd blocked the rest of the cranes not
00:12:13him kids didn't pick their parents hey con nora you divorced loser my mom wants to talk to you
00:12:19my throat closed up then cassandra crane took the phone noah sebastian tells me you're working as a nanny
00:12:25have you ever thought about anyone but yourself you're slapping sebastian's face you're slapping the
00:12:31crane name what does that look like to people nora i always said it you'll never rise above your
00:12:36roots trash dressed in silk i hung up blocked her pulled over i crashed onto the steering wheel and
00:12:42bawled i cried until i couldn't breathe i cried until i was so empty i felt nothing then i sat
00:12:48up
00:12:48wiped my face felt the exhaustion settle bone deep nora hear tissue i'd forgotten leo was in the back seat
00:12:54he was holding a tissue out from his car seat big sad eyes glued to me i'm sorry sweetheart did
00:12:59i scare
00:12:59you i'm not scared you can cry as long as you want i'll wait adults crying isn't shameful i won't
00:13:05laugh thanks my little gentleman auntie's done no more crying from now on let's go home i went to bed
00:13:11early that night didn't feel up to dinner then a knock nora can i come in robe tied carefully i
00:13:20made
00:13:20sure nothing was showing come in he was wearing a shirt making the snake tattoo stand out even more
00:13:26dark hair falling loose over his forehead whiskey in his hand looser than i'd ever seen him he sat in
00:13:32the chair by my bed his gaze flicked to my wet collarbone then immediately to the wall like he'd
00:13:36been caught the clothes in your closet you never wear any of them they're too nice i'm not used to
00:13:46it
00:13:46i'd learned one thing from the crane marriage don't force yourself into a world that isn't yours
00:13:50the fall is uglier when they shove you out are they not your style i'll have the designer come
00:13:56fit you for new ones no no mr castellano i i'm in the house all day with leo there's nowhere
00:14:01to wear
00:14:02that kind of thing truly i heard you saw your ex today his name's crane the stupid crane capital
00:14:08i froze leo had snitched yes that crane old news nora since you came leo's been a different child
00:14:15thank you his eyes were dark and serious on mine i shifted uncomfortable you pay me very well it's
00:14:21what i'm here for nora ask me for anything i can probably make it happen mr castellano i don't need
00:14:27anything he was quiet a long moment his fingers tightened on his knee then released he stood up
00:14:35i'll say this again i'm the don of the castillo family if you want if you want i can make
00:14:39sure
00:14:39he never speaks anymore more by tomorrow i took a step back still not used to him being this close
00:14:44without warning he tucked a strand of hair behind my ear did i scare you i said nothing his hand
00:14:49slid
00:14:49down from my cheek he gave a faint smile then walked out for the next two weeks luca started coming
00:14:54home
00:14:55early dinner with leo and me sometimes board games after sometimes a movie a man who ran half of new
00:14:59york's underworld didn't change his schedule for no reason i was starting to worry was the family
00:15:03in trouble not that i cared about him i just really cared about my 150 grand a month mr castellano
00:15:09you don't have to keep coming home this early leo has me if you've got business take it luca picked
00:15:14up a red lego brick voice perfectly neutral the psychiatrist said you need family leo and i are
00:15:20your family now we have responsibilities since when are we family i wanted to say i didn't honestly leo's
00:15:26enough the doctor said my improvement is mostly thanks to him he stroked his chin avoiding eye
00:15:31contact i grabbed leo's hand and stood come on buddy story time daddy still has work leo and i walked
00:15:37out luca's voice stopping me at the doorway yes his ears were faintly pink he cleared his throat
00:15:42tomorrow night there's an event plus sun's required would you come with me me you i don't have time to
00:15:49find someone else i'll pay you an appearance fee a man with his face couldn't find a date in 24
00:15:57hours
00:15:57i didn't think too much there was money on the table sure i don't know the social rules in your
00:16:02world though i don't want to embarrass you the cranes were a moneyed family too but sebastian had
00:16:09never taken me to anything because his mother she doesn't know how to act in public don't let her
00:16:15embarrass us stand next to me that's all luca's brow eased if you want i can make the gossipers
00:16:23shut up for good the butler chimed in miss bennett you don't need to know the rules the dawn is
00:16:30the
00:16:30rules hard to argue with that the next afternoon a design team showed up at the mansion five people
00:16:36most of them flown in from paris hair makeup dress jewelry they huddled and debated each detail for 20
00:16:42minutes at a stretch by the time luca came home i was starting to feel sick about how much was
00:16:47on me
00:16:48he walked in saw me his eyes did something a brief flash almost stunned before he caught himself
00:16:54daddy look how pretty nora is call her mom leo turned his head and her rump wouldn't say it
00:17:00i patted his hair it's okay i like nora makes me feel young the event was charity gala at the
00:17:07plaza
00:17:08every major name in new york was there old money bigger money political faces a few faces i recognized
00:17:14from the papers and a few i knew not to recognize at all they orbited luca immediately conversations
00:17:19started landing on me mr castellino who's the beautiful lady i jumped in to save him i'm a
00:17:26friend of mr castellino's my wife nora the room shifted a chorus of polite gasps compliments raining
00:17:35down my face went hot to my collarbone luca squeezed my hand leaned in nora is being my wife really
00:17:41that
00:17:41embarrassing you couldn't say it bourbon and cedar on his breath no i just i didn't want to embarrass
00:17:47you his eyes darkened he looked at me like he was lighting something on fire only a weak man is
00:17:54embarrassed by his wife i had to look away i'll grab a drink i bolted i'd been hiding by the
00:17:59champagne
00:18:00tower for about 90 seconds when there was no date just him had it luca said plus ones required
00:18:05sebastian's face was pure stunned it is you i almost didn't recognize you i've never seen you look like
00:18:10this i stepped back stay away from me nina about my sister's call that wasn't me i'd never authorize
00:18:17that truth is i only agreed to the divorce to teach you a lesson bratty wife needed reminding i never
00:18:22actually planned to let you go apologize to my mom and my sister will remarry i'll i'll forget the rest
00:18:29crane capital is bleeding right now i'm slumped stop making thing hard for me he reached for my hand
00:18:35the sebastian special one slap one kiss he'd run me on that loop for three years i am not the
00:18:40nora he
00:18:40married anymore i yanked back sebastian divorce means divorced i'd rather sleep under the brooklyn peerage
00:18:47then wear your last name again find someone else for that throne still stubborn you haven't suffered
00:18:52enough crawl find me when you've actually been broken that is when luca started walking toward us
00:18:57sebastian's whole posture changed nora we'll talk later there's a heavyweight i need to corner don't
00:19:02get in the way plastered on his best smile and intercepted luca with a business card already out
00:19:07my don i'm sebastian crane crane capital i'd like to talk about the mandate you pulled five years crane
00:19:14capital ran the books on every fund castellano holdings put on the street then you cut us out
00:19:18overnight if we fell short tell me where whatever you need i'll make it right sebastian half bowed
00:19:24luca's eyes went past him straight to me nora what do you think should i give him a second chance
00:19:30sebastian's smile froze nora what does she have to do with mr castellini you should know nora is my
00:19:37ex-wife i don't know how she got in here tonight probably trying to ambush me into reckoning illusion
00:19:41she's just a housewife pay her no mind luca didn't even glance at him nora your call i'll
00:19:47follow your lead i kept my voice flat mr crane just asked me not to interfere in his business
00:19:52conversation i'd hate to interfere sebastian flared a man's business is none of your concern
00:19:58of course small town instincts luca's voice came in cold and final then i'd assume my wife doesn't
00:20:04approve of crane capital we'll have to pass his arm slid around my shoulders he turned us toward the
00:20:09bar sebastian was still standing there brain catching up then a man in a tuxedo brushed past
00:20:15him crane you insulted don's wife you stepped on a live mine that's the only woman who's ever been
00:20:20on his arm in 20 years castellano's wife impossible the woman's a nanny in the castellano house
00:20:26sebastian had seen nora at the farmer's market driving the cheap car carrying a lobster for the
00:20:31brat he knew what he saw a fancy dress didn't make a duchess the man shook his head and walked
00:20:35off
00:20:35some idiots won't listen let them die that night luca bit on a picasso study and three pieces of
00:20:40war era jewelry 180 million in collectibles donated to the children's hospital under my name after that
00:20:46the gala turned into a receiving line mrs castellano there's a small tea at my place next
00:20:50week would you grace us mrs castellano my husband is bidding on a castellano project just a quiet word
00:20:54to the dawn i'd never been on this side of a room i drank three glasses to keep my hands
00:20:58steady
00:20:58on the fourth luca intercepted apologies everyone my wife isn't a drinker i'll take hers then he
00:21:06drank for me three more times by the time we slid into his rolls royce we were both lit i
00:21:11glanced out
00:21:11the window sebastian was on the curb watching us mouth curled in that ugly little smirk like i was
00:21:16the punchline i closed the curtain turned to luca mr castellano thank you for tonight for what you did
00:21:22with sebastian nora we're husband and wife stop thanking me his voice came out low soft around
00:21:30the edges we're a paper husband and wife you didn't have to his arm lifted long fingers tilted
00:21:36my chin up his thumb brushed slow against my jaw nora what if i don't want a paper marriage anymore
00:21:43he was too close his face was carved out of something dangerous eyes blown black heat from his breath
00:21:48landed on my throat he smelled like bourbon and that cedar cologne and something underneath that
00:21:53was just him the most controlled man in new york was looking at my mouth like he wanted it
00:21:57mr castellani you've had too much
00:22:03you're right i'm sorry i had too much the rest of the ride was silence a heavy humming silence with
00:22:11my
00:22:11pulse loud in my ears leo saved me he sprinted at the front door with his picture book i scooped
00:22:16him
00:22:16up and ran upstairs before i had to look luca in the face again i tucked leo in then opened
00:22:20my laptop
00:22:21and started scrolling job boards sebastian was right about one thing my ivy league degree shouldn't be
00:22:25wasted by eating in a mansion playing house i'd done that marriage already stayed home made myself small
00:22:30the minute he didn't need me he tossed me into the street with nothing i'd be damned if i let
00:22:34that
00:22:34happen twice while leo needed me i had a place here the day he didn't what was i though i
00:22:39am not ready
00:22:40to go back to work yet physically or mentally but knowing the market updating a resume that couldn't hurt
00:22:44then my phone lit up a text from luca the butler did the coffee always and the first rule of
00:22:49this
00:22:49house was don't go to the third floor i ground a fresh espresso anyway then i stood at the bottom
00:22:54of the staircase hesitated was this a test did the last applicant get launched out a window after being
00:22:59summoned upstairs was this revenge the car i called him mr castellina coffee's here come down for it
00:23:05bring it up i hit the record button on my phone caught it if he tried anything sketchy i had
00:23:10proof
00:23:11i climbed the stairs knocked come in i pushed the door open and forgot how to breathe he'd just
00:23:21gotten out of the shower black silk robe loosely tied at the waist a drop slid from his jaw down
00:23:25his
00:23:26throat into the open robe bathhouse art renaissance painting holy hell he took the coffee his fingertips
00:23:32dragged across mine on purpose that scared of me norah am i a monster norah from now on you can
00:23:39come
00:23:39into my room whenever you want my face still burned the rules of this house and the rules of
00:23:45my heart were both breaking i woke up the next morning with a sore throat sneezing of course wet
00:23:50hair late night fancy dress too much champagne i trudged downstairs fully expecting the sprawling
00:23:55living room to be empty instead lupa was sitting on the couch and he sat down the newspaper he'd been
00:24:00holding you're sick a little the back of his hand landed on my forehead calm practice like he did
00:24:04every morning i went stiff as a board not bad i'll grab some therapy you'll be fine he guided me
00:24:11to
00:24:11the couch like i was made of glass walked to the kitchen a six put something mafia don stirring a
00:24:17packet of cold medicine into a mug usually a don would poison the drink instead i caught myself
00:24:22wondering what kind of woman leo's mother had been to deserve a man like this i drank the theraflu and
00:24:28slunk back to bed i didn't want to be in his way so i just dozed off when an unknown
00:24:32number rang
00:24:35nora it's me sebastian don't i am parked outside the castellini gate come out or i'll be at the
00:24:41front door up to you sebastian intercepted me on the sidewalk nora how long is this stunt going on
00:24:47for mrs kerr working as a nanny you don't feel humiliated but i do i'm not doing anything to you
00:24:53sebastian stop the act you dressed up last night to make me jealous fine i'll admit it after you
00:24:58left i missed you a little here's the deal apologize to my mom and my sister we remarry
00:25:04you can stop scrubbing floors for strangers sebastian i didn't do anything wrong what am i
00:25:11apologizing for you still don't see the problem you haven't been beaten down enough i was about to
00:25:19fire back when a small round cannonball blew past me leo when he saw a strange man hassling me he
00:25:24did
00:25:24not hesitate my mom didn't do anything wrong my mom is the best mom in the whole world he glared
00:25:31up at him like a furious cherub protecting me something cracked open in my chest i pulled him in
00:25:36tight kid what did you just call her isn't she your nanny you're a nanny your whole family is a
00:25:43nanny
00:25:43nora is my mom my best mom he pulled back anxious i nodded my eyes were wet again
00:25:50nora you'll be my mom right i'll be so good i promise leo i am your mom sweetheart he squeezed
00:25:58me tighter and refused to let go sebastian's face twisted into a slow ugly smile oh i see it now
00:26:05nora you're putting a child up to it you're playing the long game on castatoni he grabbed my arm
00:26:12listen castorano isn't a man you scam he's known for ice in his veins he finds out you're using his
00:26:18son to angle for him he'll bury you in the east river a warm hand landed on my waist i
00:26:23hadn't heard
00:26:24him come outside luca he pulled me into him mr crane the last time we spoke you insulted my wife
00:26:29that's why i pulled the mandate i was planning to tell the other firms on the street that this
00:26:32was personal they could keep doing business with crane capital after today i don't think i need
00:26:36to castellino what wife who's your wife mr crane are you really still confused or are you only
00:26:42capable of believing what you want to believe nora's my wife the mother of my son send him off
00:26:47luca turned to the butler at the door if anyone like this bothers mrs castellane again have my men
00:26:52throw him out he took leo with one arm wrapped the other around me walked us inside the second the
00:26:57door closed i peeled out of luca's arm awkward as hell i took leo upstairs to my room leo where
00:27:02were
00:27:02you all morning i didn't see you all day don't even ask dad sent me to preschool what you pre
00:27:07-score
00:27:07he said he didn't want you working too hard he said he need alone time with you why does he
00:27:12need
00:27:12alone time with me dad said he had to make you fall in love with him otherwise you might leave
00:27:16us
00:27:17leo was four sentences into his report when luca appeared in the doorway leo downstairs dinner stop
00:27:22bothering your mother my whole face hot mom i'll be back to keep you company in a bit he scampered
00:27:27out
00:27:27luca didn't leave he walked in feeling better i looked sideways mr castellano thank you for what
00:27:34you did please don't ruin a business decision for me i'm really not worth it not worth what what you
00:27:38did out there nora i told you you're my wife protecting you is my job but stop calling this a
00:27:42paper marriage nora i want a real one i had not expected him to swing this hard this fast my
00:27:48face
00:27:48went up in flames i'll give you time take whatever you need but right now i want to collect just
00:27:54a
00:27:55little husband privilege before i could form a coherent thought he leaned in a long warm hand
00:28:00cradled my cheek can i i didn't say a word i'll take this as consent then his lips crashed against
00:28:06mine hard and ruthless his tongue swept into my mouth stealing the air from my lungs right this was
00:28:11how a mafia boss kissed cold merciless taking whatever he wanted the kiss lasted so long my mind
00:28:16went blank by the time he finally pulled away he rubbed his thumb over my swollen lips my little
00:28:21princess that's enough for today next time i won't let you off so easily leo got hauled to
00:28:28preschool again the next morning under protest my cold was almost gone if i wanted to see a movie
00:28:34after everything that had happened i thought about it we were married on paper if something real was
00:28:39going to grow there that wasn't the worst outcome he had a private media room on the third floor it
00:28:43was my first time entering other room in third floor before that he showed me his collection room an
00:28:48entire wall was covered in cold weapons daggers knives blades of every kind honestly it was
00:28:53breathtaking i was still standing there staring at the wall when he stepped up behind me and fastened
00:28:57a necklace around my neck another snake exactly like the tattoo on his body a little gift don't
00:29:02reject it then he took my hand and led me into the media room he put on a french romance
00:29:06film slow
00:29:07elegant kisses on the screen mixed with far less elegant sounds in the background luca leaned closer
00:29:12his voice brushing against my ear his body covered mine as his mouth came down online soft at first
00:29:19careful one hand slid gently around my throat then the kiss deepened rougher heavier the kind that stole
00:29:24every thought from my head he slid a glossy stack of brochures into my hand nora pick a wedding planner
00:29:31i owe you a real wedding dawn's wife should carry that honor forever i want every person in this city
00:29:35to
00:29:36know nora bennett is my wife and i'm her husband i only regret i didn't put it all at your
00:29:41feet the
00:29:42night you walked through that door the night i walked through that door we didn't even know each
00:29:45other how are we supposed to nira the night i saw you in that doorway i already wanted you
00:29:52our wedding was bigger than anything new york had hosted in a decade old families new money senators a
00:29:57cardinal the mayor we were on the front page for three days running i scolded luke of the butler
00:30:01beamed mrs castellano the dawn has been quiet his entire life this is the first time he's ever been
00:30:07loud indulge him this once i let it go the night of the wedding a strange number called me luca's
00:30:12long arm reached over and killed the call his fingers tightened on my waist after he was winding
00:30:17a strand of my hair around his finger he cleared his throat a little awkward nora i want to tell
00:30:22you
00:30:23a secret i made a small sleepy sound he spoke quietly in pieces leo isn't my son he's my sisters
00:30:29his
00:30:29parents had died when he was 13 he and his elder sister went through a dark period in the empire
00:30:34until one day she married head leo but happiness suddenly ended when she and her husband were killed
00:30:38in a shooting three years ago luca wiped out that whole family then he put leo on his own birth
00:30:42certificate quietly so nobody could ever take him i thought it would be leo and me forever then you
00:30:47walked in and nothing was the same he kissed me again a few months later i walked out of the
00:30:52hospital
00:30:52alongside leo mom dad said you weren't sick anymore why'd we go to the hospital because mom has a
00:30:59baby in her temi yes i finally get a sister what if it's a brother if it's a brother we
00:31:04throw him in
00:31:05the trash if it's a sister she plays with me out of the mouths of babes i was laughing when
00:31:09a figure
00:31:10stepped in front of me a man wild hair filthy coat hunched shoulders i almost dug for a few bucks
00:31:15sebastian crane leo planted himself in front of me on instinct i pulled him to my side and squeezed
00:31:20his shoulder sebastian what happened to you nora help me you're the only one who can all of new
00:31:27york knows castellani loves you he'll listen to you please then i remembered what luca had mentioned
00:31:32weeks back first the castellano family cut all ties with crane capital then the rest of new york
00:31:38followed nobody wanted to risk losing castellano favor within weeks sebastian's company collapsed his
00:31:44sister cassandra the person he trusted most had been stealing client money for years the moment
00:31:49everything fell apart she fled to the south of france with her family she left sebastian alone
00:31:54to take the blame crane capital went bankrupt overnight now sebastian stood in front of me
00:31:59sobbing begging i didn't feel anything for him sebastian people are equal your fault your mess you pay
00:32:08for it no one can help you behind me the lobby door is open luca had just finished with my
00:32:13ob
00:32:14he walked toward us nora let's go home we walked past sebastian crane like he wasn't there because
00:32:21he wasn't not in our life not anymore through my whole pregnancy luca was far more anxious than i was
00:32:26he doubled the security on the entire estate i never went anywhere without an escort he had every
00:32:31sharp corner in the house padded fit carpet laid across every floor sometimes i'd only shift in bed
00:32:36and he would ask worriedly does something hurt he'd stroke my belly pressing his ear against it
00:32:43i think i just heard the baby calling for me leo asked wide-eyed why isn't the baby calling for
00:32:48me
00:32:48one night after leo fell asleep i found him alone out on the balcony i walked over and wrapped my
00:32:54arms
00:32:55around him from behind you don't have to worry the baby will be born safe he kissed my forehead
00:33:01i keep wondering if who i am has put you and the kids in too much danger my sister died
00:33:05because of
00:33:05the family name and before you came leo wasn't happy neither was i before you came we just complete
00:33:10each other i pressed closer to his chest i made my peace with it a long time ago being the
00:33:15don's wife
00:33:16can't be harder than being the crane's maid my brave girl at nearly 10 months my water broke at 2am
00:33:22a team of doctors and nurses rushed me into delivery luca waited outside the contractions came like waves
00:33:28trying to break me in half a nurse held my hand her grip was wrong too strong too steady i
00:33:34looked up at
00:33:34her face sharp calm a small scar through one eyebrow you're not a nurse no there's a debt your husband
00:33:43never finished paying the family he buried three years ago still has a few teeth left we came to
00:33:48collect tonight my breathing went ragged the other nurses in the room started screaming but i knew he was
00:33:54standing right outside so i didn't panic i gripped the sheet go ahead and try right then the delivery
00:34:00room door opened a rat that should have died years ago i've been waiting for you too long luca and
00:34:05his
00:34:05men had the woman pinned in seconds he held my hand and the coldest mafia boss in new york let
00:34:11a single
00:34:11tear fall my baby girl was born at 4 42 am seven pounds furious lungs luca took her like she
00:34:18was made of
00:34:20glass sofia after my sister leo barged in at dawn peered into the blanket and gasped it's a girl
00:34:28i'll be her hero from now on she'll be the princess i laughed until i cried the four of us
00:34:33finally
00:34:33impossibly whole i learned the rest later the fake nurse was a remnant of the family that murdered
00:34:38luca's sister three years ago sebastian had fled to europe in sicily he found what was left of them
00:34:43clinging to life hatred drove him to something insane they thought the don would be too busy with
00:34:48a wife in labor to notice that night while the hospital stood locked down several of the docks
00:34:53were hit at the same time but luca built this empire out of blood and bone at 16 turning back
00:34:58an
00:34:58attack like that was as easy as breathing for him blood gunfire i didn't see most of it my life
00:35:03stayed bright house filled with laughter because of sofia's coming one night luca asked if i wanted
00:35:08to see sebastian just once he keeps begging to see you i was busy making faces at sofia with leo
00:35:14no
00:35:14need do whatever you want with him that man has nothing to do with me now i only care about
00:35:18my new
00:35:18family leo loves his sister and he takes his new job seriously by the second week he had appointed
00:35:24himself sofia's full-time bodyguard no bad guys get past me dad said sofia blinked at him then sneezed
00:35:31mom she did a magic spell he was convinced he was sofia's personal interpreter too every cry held a
00:35:37meaning only he could understand she wants the blue blanket not the yellow one obviously three
00:35:42years later accompanied by our little man leo our daughter sofia grew up and i decided to return to
00:35:48work he handed me the company he valued most meridian they once offered me a position on their
00:35:53securities desk i leaped into his arms luca your wife is going back to work you should have told me
00:35:58sooner i fund half the businesses in jersey city but i must prove it myself as nora bennon a woman
00:36:04who can
00:36:05take on a new day can take on anything i'll arrange an apartment closest to the office i have a
00:36:09villa on
00:36:10cave and point peninsula once i settle things here i'll bring the kids to you mama i want to go
00:36:14with
00:36:15you sweetheart it's only a week i'll have someone pick you up the plane touched down in jersey city
00:36:21dragging my carry-on out of arrivals i spotted a woman holding up a sign it clearly read my name
00:36:27nora bennett she wore a tailored skirt suit flanked by two or three employees with flawless makeup she
00:36:34oozed arrogance as i approached she scanned me head to toe raised a brow and laughed so it really is
00:36:40you
00:36:40nora she folded her arms her voice dripping with contempt i thought headquarters sent a big shot but
00:36:45it's just you i recognized her vanessa thorne she'd been my college classmate for four years and she
00:36:51bullied me the entire time now she was an executive at meridian jersey city branch the exact person
00:36:57luca sent to pick me up she clearly didn't link me to the special rep from headquarters to her i
00:37:02was
00:37:02just a newbie who lucked into meridian her employees snickered eyeing my simple casual outfit years after
00:37:08graduation and you're still this broke thought you'd actually make something of yourself after
00:37:12disappearing all these years guess you're just scraping by in jersey then again in college you
00:37:15were too poor to even afford club dudes yet now you're at meridian did you sleep your way in
00:37:25oh and i almost forgot she deliberately raised her voice letting everyone hear i'm close with the
00:37:32owner mr luca castellano you'd better watch yourself around here one word from me and you'll be clearing
00:37:39out your desk i watched her show in silence luca had told me vanessa would be meeting me i just
00:37:44didn't
00:37:44expect her i planned to go undercover earn my place on my own mistaking my silence for fear vanessa grew
00:37:50even smugger she waved me off like a beggar forget it i was going to drive you but look at
00:37:55you you'll
00:37:56dirty my car take a cab report to the office by nine tomorrow if you're late don't even bother coming
00:38:03her employees snickered silently but no one dared say a word i didn't argue i turned and wheeled my
00:38:08suitcase away outside the airport i called my driver luca had already arranged my private car and
00:38:14cabin point estate i just didn't want to show them off yet rain poured harder against the car window
00:38:19touching the starlight sapphire bracelet around my wrist i traced the engraved ellen n inside luca had
00:38:25said that once he wrapped things up in new york a week later he would bring leo and sophia to
00:38:29be with
00:38:29me i drew in a slow breath jersey city meridian i was back this time i'd stand on my own
00:38:35two feet
00:38:35next morning i showed up at the jersey city office right on time vanessa froze seeing me her lips curling
00:38:41into a smirk heels clicking she strode over slamming a thick stack of files onto my desk
00:38:46so you actually dared to show up she folded her arms and looked down at me newbies start with the
00:38:51basics organize these files by the end of the day not one page missing whispers moved through the
00:38:56office around me my co-workers eyed me curiously sucking up to vanessa i heard someone whisper
00:39:01vanessa what's the new girl's story what's her story vanessa laughed not loudly but enough for half
00:39:07the floor to hear an old college class raid dirt poor back then lord knows how she lucked into
00:39:12meridian watch yourselves don't associate with rip rag it makes you look cheap no one spoke after
00:39:18that everyone knew vanessa had influence at the company rumor said she was tight with hq's big boss
00:39:24nobody dared cross her over the next few days vanessa targeted me constantly she threw my proposals
00:39:29back publicly calling them complete garbage in meetings she grilled me with trick questions waiting
00:39:35for a stumble she even mocked my homemade lunch poor people really know how to pinch pennies too
00:39:40cheap for takeout i never defended myself just working in silence then on friday afternoon vanessa
00:39:46stepped to the center of the office clapping listen up everyone she smiled with satisfaction
00:39:52our team building is next monday at a private estate on cave in point peninsula the office erupted at once
00:39:59cave in point isn't that mr castellano's private estate vanessa actually got us in there that's
00:40:06insane i always heard she and mr luca castellano were close guess the rumors are true soaking up the
00:40:13praise vanessa glared at me with undisguised defiance some people will never set foot in a place like
00:40:18that she drawled this team building is for everyone even our newest hire nora consider it a chance to see
00:40:25real high society stop living under a bach i looked up at her with a faint smile the estate on
00:40:30cabin
00:40:30point peninsula the very place luca gave me the keys to last week before i could pull out my access
00:40:36card and expose her she delivered herself to me fine let's watch her play mistress in my own home
00:40:41sure i'm in i set down my pen and met her gaze calmly let's see just how impressive it is
00:40:48vanessa sneered
00:40:49walking away she probably thought i was just saving face she was waiting to see me embarrass myself
00:40:55there zoe the colleague beside me quietly tugged my sleeve she whispered don't take vanessa to heart
00:41:01she's just like that but cave in point is hard to get into watch what you say there i smiled
00:41:08at her
00:41:09without explaining seven days flew by monday morning the company bus drove everyone to cave in point
00:41:15peninsula vanessa sat in front talking about her history with luca the entire ride she claimed luca
00:41:21valued her and she could visit anytime i leaned against the window quietly amused the bus stopped
00:41:28at the estate's wrought iron gates piling off everyone stared at the sprawling coastal estate in awe
00:41:33the heavy elaborately carved gates were closed beside them the access panel gleamed in the cold light
00:41:40vanessa open the gate already we're dying to see inside nodding calmly vanessa reached into her bag
00:41:47she rummaged through her bag her face turning pale i stood behind the group with my arms folded and spoke
00:41:53up slowly what's wrong no access card every eye turned toward me vanessa's face flushed crimson she
00:41:59jerked her head up and glared at me nonsense i'm the lady of this house why wouldn't i have an
00:42:04access
00:42:04card it's just buried deep in my bag her voice stayed firm but her hands kept digging she nearly
00:42:09emptied her bag but still no card the whispers around her grew louder a thin sheen of sweat formed
00:42:14on her forehead my hand had already found the black access card luca had given me in my pocket just
00:42:18as
00:42:18i touched it a side gate cracked open a middle-aged housekeeper hurried out unnoticed she slipped
00:42:23something to vanessa and vanished back inside it was margaret the head housekeeper of the estate and
00:42:28vanessa's mother i raised an eyebrow and took my hand out of my pocket interesting so that was their plan
00:42:33the next second vanessa straightened up and triumphantly waved a white access card in front of me
00:42:38she lifted her chin high see it's right here i was only teasing you seeing how worked up you'd get
00:42:43some people will never so much as touch an access card like this in their entire lives all they can
00:42:48do is stand on the sidelines and make bitter little comments she turned and tapped the access card
00:42:51against the reader a beep sounded the heavy gate slowly opened vanessa you're amazing she really got
00:42:58us in i guess vanessa really is the lady of the house the praise kept coming vanessa soaked it up
00:43:03like a peacock showing off she strutted through the gates first then shot me a vicious glare over
00:43:08her shoulder i followed at the back of the group taking my time margaret stood in the shadows of the
00:43:13entry hall when she saw me her brow furrowed almost imperceptibly but a second later her face was back
00:43:18to its usual professional blankness she clearly hadn't recognized me to her i was just another
00:43:24employee tagging along the estate was lavish inside crystal chandeliers hung overhead marble floors
00:43:29stretched beneath our feet and artwork filled every room my co-workers stared around in amazement
00:43:34vanessa led everyone through the rooms like she owned the place luca had this done especially for
00:43:39me i picked that piece myself she made it all sound so convincing as if the estate really belonged to
00:43:44her i walked to the floor to ceiling windows in the living room and looked out over the private beach
00:43:49sunlight caught the starlight sapphire bracelet at my wrist scattering tiny flashes of blue vanessa turned at
00:43:55that exact moment and saw it her eyes lit up and she came straight toward me what are you wearing
00:44:00vanessa grabbed my wrist and raised my hand my co-workers crowded around at once staring at the
00:44:05sapphire bracelet around my wrist isn't that the starlight sapphire bracelet mr castellano bought at last
00:44:10year's charity gala i heard it was worth 30 million dollars mr castellano gave it to his wife
00:44:18her vanessa laughed and tightened her grip on my wrist
00:44:21as if she could afford the real thing it's obviously some cheap knockoff the design is close
00:44:27but it feels weightless as she spoke she pulled harder at the bracelet i tried to pull my hand free
00:44:33but her grip was too tight others around us joined in laughing and jostling then i heard a sharp snap
00:44:39the bracelet broke the sapphire beads hit the marble floor and rolled in every direction
00:44:44someone shoved me hard i lost my balance and hit the floor my palms scraped the marble
00:44:49and blood immediately welled along the broken skin oh i'm sorry she deliberately ground her heel over
00:44:56the scattered sapphire beads but you shouldn't have worn a fake around trying to show off maybe it's
00:45:01better that it broke at least you won't embarrass yourself wearing it in public exactly it's only a
00:45:06knockoff so what if it broke vanessa's the one who should be wearing the real thing nor is is
00:45:10obviously fake she must be desperate buying a fake just to look rich and at the castellano estate of
00:45:15all places their mockery came at me from every side vanessa stood over me with a triumphant smile
00:45:20she bent down picked up a sapphire bead and waited in her palm disdainfully the workmanship isn't
00:45:26terrible it might fool someone who doesn't know any better then she lifted her hand about to throw
00:45:33the sapphire through the window trash like this doesn't belong at the castellano estate i sat on the
00:45:38floor and watched her gloat i slowly curled my hand into a fist i never wanted things to come
00:45:44to a head this soon i only wanted to settle into my new job quietly and prove myself through my
00:45:49work
00:45:49but she kept pushing me again and again just as vanessa raised her hand the quick tap of little
00:45:55dress shoes came from the entryway a young boy's bright excited voice rang out mommy i was looking for
00:46:01you everyone instinctively turned toward the sound leo came running in with a small backpack on his
00:46:06shoulders his eyes shining with excitement then he saw me sitting on the floor his smile froze and his
00:46:12little face crumpled he stood there for two seconds then ran toward me as fast as his little legs could
00:46:17carry him he threw himself into my arms and frantically reached for my bleeding palm his voice was thick with
00:46:24tears mommy what happened why are you bleeding the room fell silent for a beat vanessa blinked then seemed
00:46:33to realize something she crossed her arms and let out a scornful laugh so that's it you brought your
00:46:38little tag along here to freight load too she gave leo a sideways look her voice sharp with contempt a
00:46:43single mom bringing her bastard kid into a place like this aren't you worried he'll dirty the castellani's
00:46:48estate shut up my expression went cold as i pushed myself to my feet vanessa take it out on me
00:46:54if you
00:46:54want but don't talk about my son what did i say something wrong vanessa sneered and slapped me hard
00:47:00across the face a sharp slap rang out my head snapped to the side unsteady on my feet i fell
00:47:05heavily to the
00:47:06floor again you think you get to make demands of me she looked down at me with contempt a woman
00:47:11nobody
00:47:12wants dragging around a bastard kid thinks she can act all high and mighty around me you're bad don't hit
00:47:19my mommy leo's eyes reddened he clenched his tiny fists and punched vanessa's leg as hard as he could
00:47:24his little body shaking with rage he looked up at her and shouted every word as loudly as he could
00:47:30don't hurt my mommy my daddy is luca castiano the words exploded through the living room everyone
00:47:37froze and looked at one another in shock vanessa froze for a moment then she doubled over laughing
00:47:42as if she'd heard the funniest thing in the world she laughed until tears nearly came to her eyes
00:47:46luca castiano then she grabbed leo by the ear and twisted it hard you little bastard couldn't you
00:47:54come up with a more believable lie your mother looks like she can barely afford to feed herself and you
00:47:58expect anyone to believe she knows mr castiano you're just like her nobody wants you and all you do is
00:48:05lie leo's eyes reddened with pain but he clenched his teeth and refused to cry he only glared at her
00:48:11then the entire living room went dead silent the people who had been whispering moments ago went quiet
00:48:16hardly daring to breathe vanessa didn't notice she was still twisting leo's ear that mocking smile still
00:48:21on her face at the entryway stood a tall figure silent and still luca wore a custom black suit with
00:48:27our precious little sophia in his arms his expression was icy his dark eyes fixed on vanessa's hand still
00:48:33tugging leo's ear the head housekeeper margaret went pale she hurried over with her head bowed her voice
00:48:38shaking mr castiano why are you here luca didn't look at her he didn't give her so much as a
00:48:44glance
00:48:45he bent down and carefully set sophia on the floor in a white tulle dress she toddled through the crowd
00:48:50on unsteady little legs luca followed behind her as they came toward us sophia's round eyes stayed on
00:48:57me as i sat on the floor mommy
00:49:03how did this happen i'm fine i just fell that's not true she pushed mommy and she broke the bracelet
00:49:11dad
00:49:11gave mommy luca's gaze snapped to vanessa his eyes were cold mr castiano why are you here if i hadn't
00:49:19come how would i have seen someone mistreating my wife under my own roof the crowd erupted his wife
00:49:29nora is mr castiano's wife oh my god the starlight sapphire bracelet was real we were just mocking her
00:49:35with vanessa vanessa said she was the lady of this house what is going on as whispers broke out around
00:49:39us vanessa went pale then flushed then went pale again she forced a smile though her voice trembled
00:49:45mr castellano you have to be kidding she's just some broke new hire how could she possibly be your
00:49:50wife she must have fooled you back in college shut up vanessa fell silent at once trembling where she
00:49:56stood then margaret rushed forward from the back of the crowd she dropped to her knees with her head
00:50:01bowed mr castellino this is my fault i made a mistake i made a mistake i secretly gave vanessa the
00:50:08access card i never thought she would so that was it my co-workers understood at once
00:50:14vanessa wasn't the lady of the house and she didn't have any special relationship with luca
00:50:19it had all been a lie she was only the head housekeeper's daughter using her mother's position
00:50:25she had slipped into the estate and pretended to be the lady of the house to put on a show
00:50:29all the color drained from vanessa's face she looked from her mother on the floor to luca
00:50:34his face was dark with anger her legs gave out and she nearly collapsed luca ignored both of them
00:50:41he called the family doctor and told him to come immediately the doctor arrived quickly and
00:50:45crouched beside me to treat the scrape on my palm when the antiseptic touched the wound i winced
00:50:51slightly luca's face darkened leo and sophia stood on either side of me glaring at the doctor
00:50:56they looked just like luca when he was angry be gentle leo called out you're hurting my mommy
00:51:04the doctor's hand jerked he immediately softened his touch when he finished treating my hand he stood
00:51:10and addressed luca respectfully mr castellino mrs castellino has only superficial injuries
00:51:16she and the baby are both fine no one but luca knew i was eight weeks pregnant at the word
00:51:22baby
00:51:22vanessa swayed her face went white as a sheet only then did luca turn to margaret and vanessa
00:51:28still on their knees margaret he said calmly his authority unmistakable you've been the head
00:51:36housekeeper in my home for 10 years i've been good to you and this is how you repay me by
00:51:41letting
00:51:42your daughter use my estate without permission pass herself off as one of my family and mistreat my wife
00:51:47margaret stayed on her knees apologizing again and again mr castellino i was wrong i wasn't thinking
00:51:54please give me one more chance another chance luca gave a cold laugh as of today you're fired
00:52:01you are never to set foot in any castellino property or business your daughter used a private
00:52:06estate without permission damaged valuable property and assaulted my wife we'll handle this through the
00:52:11proper legal channels she'll be held responsible for every dollar in damages he paused and looked at
00:52:15vanessa you won't be returning to meridian jersey city branch you're permanently blacklisted no one in
00:52:22this industry will hire you again vanessa crumpled to the floor permanently blacklisted it meant she
00:52:27would never work in this industry again luca looked over the other employees in the room everyone who
00:52:33had joined in the taunting and mocked me lowered their heads no one dared make a sound everyone here
00:52:39today luca said slowly who mocked or shoved my wife will report to human resources and pick up their
00:52:46termination papers those who stood by and watched will be moved down one pay grade and receive a
00:52:52formal warning no one dared object security soon entered and escorted margaret and vanessa away
00:52:57before vanessa was taken out she looked back at me her face was full of hatred and resentment but
00:53:03there was nothing she could do she could only let them lead her away my co-workers followed them out
00:53:07in silence the estate so loud only minutes before suddenly fell quiet once everyone was gone luca sat
00:53:14beside me and gently pulled me into his arms i'm sorry his voice full of guilt i should have handled
00:53:20this better i never expected her to be someone you knew in college and i never thought she'd go
00:53:25this far if i'd known i never would have let you come here alone i leaned against his shoulder and
00:53:30smiled this isn't your fault i was the one who wanted to keep my identity hidden i wanted to try
00:53:36on my
00:53:36own but you were hurt he cupped my face his fingertips brushing my cheek i told you no one was
00:53:42allowed to
00:53:42touch you i failed to protect you leo and sophia came over and leaned against my legs one on each
00:53:48side
00:53:48i'll protect you from now on mommy leo clenched his little fists his face serious if anyone picks on
00:53:55you again i'll beat them up sophia protect mommy too my heart warmed as i reached out and ruffled their
00:54:03hair honestly i hadn't let vanessa's petty jabs get to me compared to the bullying i'd endured in
00:54:08college her taunts were nothing i just hadn't expected my identity to be exposed this way oh
00:54:14right i looked up at luca why are you here early i missed you he bent down and kissed my
00:54:19forehead
00:54:20the kids immediately started giggling and i was worried you might not be settling in here
00:54:25on your own i wanted to surprise you but i didn't expect the surprise had turned into a scare instead
00:54:31i couldn't help smiling as i wrapped my arms around his waist maybe this was for the best i was
00:54:36done
00:54:37hiding who i was from now on i could openly take charge of operations at the jersey city branch as
00:54:42nora bennett not as mrs castellano but on my own merit luca seemed to know what i was thinking he
00:54:47gave
00:54:47my hand a gentle squeeze do what you want to do i'll always have your back no matter what happens
00:54:53i'll handle it at some point the rain outside had stopped sunlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling
00:54:58windows and the sapphires scattered across the floor glimmered softly i leaned into luca's arms
00:55:03listening to his steady heartbeat while our two little ones chattered beside us my story in jersey
00:55:08city was only just beginning and this time i had the man i loved to back me up and the
00:55:13confidence to
00:55:14move forward on my own three weeks after joining the branch i landed the hartwell account the project
00:55:19was a complete disaster no one else wanted to touch it i spent nine straight days cleaning up the mess
00:55:24at monday's partners meeting nora bennett a newcomer with no connections snagged the quarter's biggest
00:55:30account after noon light slanted through the floor to ceiling windows i closed the last contract file
00:55:35and tapped my fingers against the desk victoria strolled past coffee in hand glaring at the contracts
00:55:40on my desk she curled her lip then she headed into the manager's office her voice was just loud enough
00:55:45for me to hear mr davis i've been working on that client for a long time i never expected a
00:55:51newbie
00:55:51to snatch them god knows what trick she used hearing her i merely raised an eyebrow letting it go in
00:55:58the
00:55:58last two weeks alone she had tried to steal credit for my work three times i picked up my water
00:56:02bottle
00:56:03just as i reached the break room my phone rang are you leo's parent your son got into a fight
00:56:09and hurt
00:56:09another kid you need to come here right now my heart tightened grabbing my bag i rushed out leo was
00:56:14stubborn but he never started trouble dread filled me i quickened my pace driving my ordinary car i
00:56:19reached st mary's elementary in 15 minutes i rushed into the school as i rounded the corner i saw a
00:56:24small figure at the end of the hall leo my little boy stood there with his backpack on crumpled tissues
00:56:29plugged his nostrils blood slowly seeping through his uniform collar was dusty he stood rigidly in the
00:56:34corner his small fists clenched red-eyed he fought back tears leo i rushed over and crouched in front of
00:56:39him holding his shoulders what happened why is your nose bleeding does it hurt his lower lip trembled
00:56:46he shook his head mom it doesn't hurt he called me names first so i hit him what did he
00:56:53call you
00:56:54he called me a fatherless bastard he said nobody wants you i won't let him talk bad about you i
00:57:00felt
00:57:00both hurt and angry come on let's go talk to them your teacher said you hurt another student i'd like
00:57:08to see exactly how badly he's hurt the moment i pushed open the office door my face darkened the
00:57:13heat was on and the office was warm on the sofa a chubby boy devoured chocolate ice cream face smeared
00:57:18cookies and juice sat beside him he sat there like a little prince the teacher sat behind her desk
00:57:23fawning over the woman beside her they were deep in conversation and didn't even notice leo and me at
00:57:27the door the woman sat angled toward the teacher in her designer suit she giggled my son is just a
00:57:32little mischievous please go easy on him miss carter his dad will donate new computers to the
00:57:36school soon not at all jacob's such a sweet boy you've raised him so well but that other kid
00:57:43no home training he just lashed out such terrible manners i swallowed my anger and led leo into the
00:57:49office miss carter my voice calm but cold you called and said my son hurt his classmate where exactly
00:57:54is he hurt why is he eating ice cream while my son stands outside bleeding they both turned toward
00:57:59me the woman across from me froze when she saw my face she gave a short laugh folded her arms
00:58:04and got
00:58:04to her feet well look who it is nora victoria smirked so this rude little bastard is your son i
00:58:11never
00:58:11expected to run into victoria here for the past two weeks she'd been stealing my proposals and taking my
00:58:16client files she'd also been spreading rumors that i only got the job because of my connections i
00:58:21couldn't be bothered to engage with her but of all places we had to run into each other at school
00:58:24so it's you my gaze turned cold meaning this loud mouth kid is yours
00:58:31what if he is victoria lifted her chin looking as arrogant as ever was my son lying you're a single
00:58:38mom flirting around stealing everyone's credit no wonder your kid only knows how to throw punches
00:58:43did you even ask your son why leo hit him he called leo a bastard and insulted me too shouldn't
00:58:48he be
00:58:49taught a lesson i pointed at jacob victoria laughed like i had said something ridiculous
00:58:53teach him a lesson who do you think you are my son even speaking to you is more than you
00:58:58deserve
00:58:58mark my words we're not done miss carter immediately chimed in mrs bennett it's crystal clear your son
00:59:04hit jacob first and that is a serious issue you need to apologize to jacob and mrs rosso cover jacob's
00:59:10medical expenses and submit a written apology why he insulted us first i didn't do anything wrong
00:59:17leo shot back you're still talking back no father no manners typical my face went completely cold
00:59:25miss carter speak with actual proof miss carter speak with actual proof two kids fight and you
00:59:31don't even ask why you punish only my son and insult him personally is this your standard as a teacher
00:59:37my voice was quiet but firm standards victoria sneered you don't get to talk about standards
00:59:43with her arms crossed she walked over and looked down at me i suggest you be smart about this get
00:59:48on your knees apologize to my son and pay one hundred thousand dollars for emotional distress
00:59:51then we can put this behind us otherwise don't blame me for being ruthless
00:59:56i almost laughed get on my knees keep dreaming victoria raised a brow and pulled out her phone
01:00:03waving it in front of me dreaming do you know who my husband is he's the underboss of the rizzo
01:00:08family
01:00:09the biggest mafia outfit in jersey city he calls all the shots in the city's underground business
01:00:13one call from me and you won't be able to stay in jersey city you'll even lose your pathetic job
01:00:17that's right leo's mother mrs rizzo's husband is a very powerful man you can't afford to offend him
01:00:22just apologize get on your knees and make this go away otherwise you and your son will pay the price
01:00:26the rizzo family just a fringe branch under lucas thumb even the head of the rizzo family would have
01:00:30to bow his head to lucas i almost laughed to myself before i could say anything jacob suddenly
01:00:35rushed at leo and shoved him hard thud caught off guard leo stumbled his back slammed hard into the
01:00:40doorframe jacob planted his hands on his hips and yelled smugly bastard my dad is the boss hit me
01:00:47again and my dad will feed you and your mom to the fishes i immediately pulled leo behind me and
01:00:52shielded him with my body jacob don't you dare raise your voice at my son victoria stepped in front
01:00:56of jacob and swung at my face you think you can yell at my son you bitch you must have
01:01:01a death wish
01:01:02i caught her wrist before her hand could land you want to hit me you're trying to assault someone
01:01:07in a school office victoria you've got some nerve so what if i hit you victoria tried to yank her
01:01:12hand free but she couldn't i won't just hit you i'll run you out of jersey city miss carter you
01:01:17saw
01:01:17that right this crazy woman taught her son violence and now she's assaulting me call the police get her
01:01:22arrested miss bennett you've gone too far let go of mrs rizzo right now i'm warning you if you keep
01:01:29causing trouble i'll expel your son this minute he'll be banned from every school in jersey city
01:01:34i almost laughed from sheer disbelief i'm causing trouble you didn't see her son shove leo you didn't
01:01:40see her try to slap me so everything is suddenly our fault with victoria backing her up miss carter
01:01:44puffed out her chest it is your fault get on your knees and apologize now or neither of you is
01:01:49leaving
01:01:49this room good very good i let go of her wrist and slowly rubbed the spot she had gripped my
01:01:55eyes went
01:01:55cold victoria rubbed her wrist and glared at me viciously so you really don't know when to quit
01:01:59fine i'm calling my husband right now let's see how long you can keep acting tough she dialed his
01:02:04number instantly switching to a sweet voice babe get to the school right now someone bullied our son
01:02:10that woman hit me too yeah just some single mom she's incredibly arrogant claim she's not afraid of
01:02:15you hurry over babe i'm totally humiliated after hanging up victoria looked at me smugly
01:02:21just wait my husband will be here in 10 minutes then i'll make you beg me on your knees miss
01:02:26carter
01:02:26immediately fawned over her mrs russo we're honored your busy husband is coming once he's here we'll
01:02:31make her apologize properly then she turned on leo again and you just wait until jacob's father gets
01:02:38here let's see you talk tough then oh wait you don't even have a father how pathetic leo's little
01:02:43face turned red with anger he balled his fists and started forward but i caught him right away
01:02:48don't i lowered my voice for leo mommy's here i had been holding my anger in for too long i
01:02:52hadn't
01:02:53wanted to reveal who i was i just wanted to reason with them but victoria and her son had gone
01:02:57too far
01:02:58they wouldn't even spare a child 10 minutes later the office door was kicked open a burly floral
01:03:03shirted thug strode in with two henchmen he looked like trouble who the hell messed with my wife and son
01:03:08the man's voice boomed through the room the moment he walked in he swept the office with a furious glare
01:03:13victoria rushed over and clung to his arm her tears came instantly honey you're here it was her
01:03:19her son hit jacob and then she hit me too you have to stand up for us this was tony
01:03:25rizzo
01:03:25the underboss of the rizzo family he controlled most of jersey city's underground casinos and
01:03:30entertainment venues around here he was considered someone important he followed victoria's pointing
01:03:35finger to me he looked me over from head to toe i was dressed in an ordinary business suit
01:03:40with only a child at my side contempt filled his face just you tony sneered strutting over arms
01:03:46crossed a woman and her kid you think you can mess with tony rizzo's wife and son you got a
01:03:52death
01:03:52wish you should ask your son what he said first i met his gaze calmly your son was the one
01:03:58who got
01:03:58physical he started this everything my son says is right tony was utterly overbearing i don't care why
01:04:05it happened you hit my son pay the price he pointed at the floor get on your knees and apologize
01:04:12to my
01:04:12wife and son beg them to forgive you then pay five hundred thousand dollars for emotional distress
01:04:18and we'll call it even otherwise you'll lose your job and you won't be able to stay in jersey city
01:04:24miss carter quickly chimed in exactly mr rizzo has spoken apologize now don't push your luck
01:04:31i didn't budge you want me to kneel i looked at him a trace of mockery in my eyes you
01:04:37sure what
01:04:38still refusing tony's face darkened he gave the men behind him a look they immediately stepped forward
01:04:44glaring at me with threatening expressions listen carefully in jersey city no one dares disrespect
01:04:51tony rizzo tony gave a cold smile you won't kneel fine he suddenly reached out grabbed leo by the arm
01:04:59and yanked him to his side mommy leo flinched and struggled leo my face changed instantly
01:05:08let him go let him go tony gripped leo's arm looking pleased with himself are you gonna kneel or not
01:05:17if you don't i won't be so nice to your son kids are fragile it would be a shame if
01:05:23he fell and broke
01:05:24an arm or a leg don't you dare my voice went cold tony tightened his grip you think i won't
01:05:29leo's small
01:05:30face went pale with pain but he clenched his teeth and refused to cry honey stop wasting time on her
01:05:36she's so protective of her son isn't she let's see if she'll kneel if she won't break that little
01:05:43bastard's leg miss carter stood off to the side her head lowered as she pretended not to see a thing
01:05:49she didn't dare stop them or say a word my chest tightened as i watched leo's face go pale with
01:05:54pain i didn't fear tony only that leo would get hurt fine i'll kneel mommy don't i don't want you
01:06:02to kneel leo cried anxiously i'm not afraid of him it's okay sweetheart i looked at my son
01:06:07apologetically slowly i bent my knees getting closer and closer to the floor tony and victoria exchanged a
01:06:13smug look victoria lifted her chin see should have done this from the start always have to learn the
01:06:20hard way i straightened back up i knelt give me back my son but they had no intention of keeping
01:06:27their word you knelt what about your son you've gone too far i pulled my phone from my pocket tony
01:06:35frowned
01:06:35what are you doing trying to pull something pull something you want to play games i gave a cold laugh
01:06:41and tapped the call button fine i'll see this through let's see who ends up paying for this
01:06:47today the call went through it rang only once before someone answered though a trace of hurt
01:06:52slipped through luca my voice was calm someone forced me to kneel they're trying to expel leo too
01:06:59wait for me the call ended and the office fell silent for a few seconds tony paused for a moment
01:07:05then threw his head back and laughed he pointed at me who you scaring think name dropping scares me
01:07:11listen in jersey i tony rizzo am the law victoria started laughing too covering her mouth mockingly
01:07:18luca you don't mean the legendary ceo of our company luca castellano do you that's right
01:07:28nora who are you kidding you no mr castellano miss carter visibly relaxed and joined in
01:07:35i thought you'd called someone important so this was all just an act do you have any idea
01:07:43who mr clastellino is how could he possibly be your husband this is ridiculous the three of them
01:07:51piled on laughing without restraint to them i was just an ordinary single mother maybe i had been
01:07:57clever enough to get into meridian but there was no way i could be connected to the all-powerful
01:08:01castellano family hearing them laugh at his dad leo puffed out his little chest and shouted
01:08:06don't laugh luca's my dad he's really powerful you'll be sorry when he gets here
01:08:12oh the little bastard can lie too if your dad is luca castellini then my husband is the president
01:08:18you're just like your mother nothing but lies don't touch me enough stop wasting time since no
01:08:28nobody leaves until i'm satisfied i'll give you one last chance kneel or don't your choice i stared
01:08:35at him coldly and said nothing i knew how fast luca could get here from cabin point peninsula it would
01:08:40take him no more than 15 minutes to reach the school i just had to hold out until he arrived
01:08:44but tony
01:08:45clearly had no patience left fine when he saw i wouldn't give in he finally snapped you won't kneel
01:08:52go get me a pair of scissors the man immediately left the office
01:08:57less than 30 seconds later he came back from the administration office with a sharp pair of craft
01:09:02scissors tony took them and snipped them twice in the air the blades flashed coldly you don't want
01:09:07to kneel fine tony walked over to leo and used the scissors to lift a lock of his hair kid's
01:09:12got nice
01:09:13hair don't kneel i'll snip him completely bald for school think the other kids will laugh at him
01:09:23you wouldn't dare i rushed to pull leo away but two of tony's men blocked me
01:09:28leo was scared but he clenched his teeth and refused to cry he lifted his chin and glared at tony
01:09:33go ahead i'm not scared of you
01:09:38oh you're a tough little kid let's see how long you can keep talking tough
01:09:44or if my scissors change your mind honey stop wasting time on her if she won't kneel cut it
01:09:51let's see if she still acts tough miss carter stood trembling in the corner she didn't dare say a word
01:09:56as the scissors drew closer to leo my heart leaped into my throat stop i'll kneel i'll apologize let my
01:10:03son go my voice shook with rage fists clenching white see could have saved yourself the trouble
01:10:09kneeling isn't enough tony smiled smugly and lowered the scissors you upset my wife earlier
01:10:16so here's the deal crawl over here lick my shoes clean then beggar to forgive you then i'll let your
01:10:21son go don't push this too far too far i can take it a lot further you choose lick my
01:10:27shoes or watch
01:10:28your son go bald he raised the scissors again poised to snip mommy don't leo stood straight
01:10:34let him cut it all off it'll grow back mommy you can't bow to him never leo's voice wasn't loud
01:10:42but every word was clear i looked at leo's determined face my heart aching and warming at once
01:10:47my little man already knew how to protect his mommy but i couldn't let leo suffer this kind of
01:10:51humiliation i took a deep breath and slowly bent down my gaze fell on tony's polished leather shoes and
01:10:57my stomach churned a tide of humiliation washed over me nearly drowning me my face was only inches
01:11:02from one of his shoes the office door was kicked open from the outside you're begging for death
01:11:11boss
01:11:14everyone spun around several bodyguards in black suits stood at the door their presence imposing at their
01:11:18center stood a man in a tailored black coat his face was cold and stern terrifying rage swirled in
01:11:23his eyes just standing there he made the room feel suffocating it was luca he had arrived faster
01:11:28than i expected a team of security personnel stood behind him he looked like he'd stepped out of the
01:11:32cold itself tony's smile froze he stared at the man in the doorway his eyes widening as the color slowly
01:11:38drained from his face his arrogance gave way to disbelief then sheer terror boss tony's voice
01:11:43trembled his legs gave out and he dropped to his knees with a thud the scissors slipped from his hand
01:11:48and clattered onto the floor the entire office went silent victoria's sneer froze as her fearless
01:11:52husband dropped to his knees stammering boss her mind went blank miss carter froze in place the pen
01:11:58slipped from her hand and fell to the floor luca didn't look at tony kneeling on the ground his eyes
01:12:02swept across the room before finally landing on me when he saw my red rimmed eyes and the tissue in
01:12:07leo's
01:12:08nose the air around him seemed to turn even colder he strode over helped me to my feet then pulled
01:12:13leo to
01:12:13his side and shielded him behind him luca's voice softened a stark contrast to his earlier icy tone
01:12:19it's okay now leaning into luca my forced composure finally shattered my nose stung leo immediately
01:12:25wrapped his arms around luca's leg daddy it's okay leo daddy's here luca stroked leo's head but his
01:12:31eyes grew colder then he looked up at tony who was trembling on his knees his voice was ice cold
01:12:36tony rizzo forcing my wife to kneel on my turf touching my son boss i'm sorry i didn't know they
01:12:43were your family i was blind i'm an idiot please give me one more chance tony was terrified he kept
01:12:50groveling at luca's feet i was blind he was truly scared who was luca castellano the dawn of the new
01:12:56york mafia the king of the entire east coast underworld tony was only the underboss of a peripheral
01:13:01branch to luca tony was nothing victoria stood nearby trembling all over she stared at the
01:13:06scene before her stunned the quiet simply dressed new hire at the company the one whose credit
01:13:11victoria had stolen several times was really the legendary mrs castellano at the thought of what
01:13:17she'd done to me at work and what she'd just said victoria's legs went weak she nearly sank to her
01:13:22knees too no that's impossible victoria muttered under her breath how could she be mrs castellano
01:13:29she drives such an ordinary car she takes the subway to work every day luca gave her a cold look
01:13:35sharp as a knife she fell silent at once ignoring the terrified couple luca looked down his voice
01:13:41softening tell me what happened i took a deep breath and told him everything from the beginning
01:13:46jacob called leo a bastard the boys got into a fight without first finding out what happened
01:13:52miss carter made leo stand in the corner victoria twisted the truth then tony came in he used leo to
01:13:58threaten me forced me to kneel and threatened to cut his hair with scissors i spoke calmly but luca's
01:14:04expression darkened with every word daddy he called mommy a woman no one wants leo added that's why i
01:14:12pushed him luca was silent for a few seconds after hearing that then he reached out and gently wiped
01:14:18the blood from beside leo's nose his fingers were cold good boy luca looked at his son his voice steady
01:14:26someone insults mom you teach them a lesson i told you a man protects his mother you did leo's eyes
01:14:33lit up
01:14:33and he nodded hard luca stood and turned to miss carter she had already gone pale huddled in the corner
01:14:39and shaking you're his teacher two kids get into a fight and you don't even ask what happened instead
01:14:47you punish only my son and insult him too who gave you the nerve i i victoria said she said
01:14:56her
01:14:56husband was a big shot i so you decided to suck up to her and twist the facts luca let
01:15:00out a cold
01:15:01laugh and pulled out his phone principal here now immediately call ended tony kept groveling on the floor
01:15:09boss i know i was wrong i'll never do it again please give me one more chance tony was sobbing
01:15:17so hard
01:15:17he could barely get the words out please boss i have a family to take care of please have mercy
01:15:25mercy luca looked down at him without a trace of warmth in his eyes when holding scissors to my son
01:15:31did you think of mercy when forcing my wife to lick your shoes did you think of today he tipped
01:15:36his chin
01:15:37toward the bodyguards behind him two bodyguards immediately stepped forward and hauled tony up
01:15:41freeze all of the ricco family's assets luca's tone was flat tony overstepped break one of his hands
01:15:48throw him out of jersey city he is never to set foot on castellano territory again no boss please
01:15:53average tony was terrified he struggled desperately but the bodyguards held him down victoria screamed
01:16:00let go of my husband she tried to rush toward him but a bodyguard shoved her aside
01:16:05she hit the floor hard luca looked at her coldly don't worry you're next tony was dragged out his
01:16:13screams slowly fading down the hall the office was dead silent you could hear every breath victoria
01:16:18slumped on the floor her face drained of all color she knew she was finished i stood beside luca and
01:16:23watched it all without feeling anything they had brought this on themselves if they'd been reasonable
01:16:28they wouldn't end up here i just hadn't expected luca to arrive so fast shielding us so fiercely after
01:16:33dealing with tony luca turned his attention to victoria you work for the meridian jersey city
01:16:39branch luca's tone was calm but it sounded like a death sentence you repeatedly passed off your
01:16:45co-workers work as your own you spread rumors and stirred up trouble you let your son bully others
01:16:52and you conspired with others to harm my family victoria trembled from head to toe
01:16:57she looked at me with tears in her eyes nora no mrs castiano i'm sorry i know i was wrong
01:17:05i shouldn't
01:17:06have stolen your proposal i shouldn't have bad-mouthed you at work and i never should
01:17:11have targeted you and leo at school please forgive me this one time i'll never do it again i looked
01:17:17at
01:17:17her calmly i gave you a chance at work you chose not to stop starting today you're fired from meridian
01:17:24group
01:17:24for good you're blacklisted from this industry for life no company in jersey city is to hire you take
01:17:29your son and get out of jersey city never come back no no victoria completely broke down a lifetime
01:17:37blacklist and exile from jersey city would destroy her career and every connection she had everything
01:17:42she had been so proud of was gone in an instant she tried to beg again but the bodyguards grabbed
01:17:49her
01:17:49and pulled her up jacob burst into tears beside her crying for his mother no one paid him any
01:17:56attention victoria and jacob were dragged out together their cries fading into the distance
01:18:02at last the office was quiet cowering in the corner miss carter shook like a leaf it was clear she
01:18:08had
01:18:08backed the wrong side she had thought victoria's husband was a big shot but she never imagined my
01:18:13husband was the one ruling supreme
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