The Don’s Secret Family

I woke in the middle of the night to my Don husband murmuring in his sleep. “Juno, be good. Tomorrow I’ll buy you and Mamma a new house.” My eyes flew open. Juno? That was the name I’d always planned for a purebred Ceylon cat I dreamed of owning, but I’d never gotten one because of my pet fur allergy. And a new house? Could this just be a coincidence? I shook him lightly. “What did you just say?” He frowned and mumbled coarsely, “Had a nightmare. Dreamt of a shootout.” I didn’t press further. In the darkness, I reached for his phone and silently opened his messages. Chapter 1 I woke in the middle of the night to my husband, Don Leonardo Demarco, murmuring in his sleep. “Juno, be good. Tomorrow I’ll buy you and Mamma a new house.” My eyes flew open. Juno? That had always been the name I wanted for the Ceylon cat I dreamed of owning. I’d never gotten one because of my pet fur allergy, though I’d been in treatment for years. And a new house? Next month is my 25th birthday. The doctor said I could safely be around animals again. Could Leonardo be planning a surprise? I shook him lightly. “What did you just say?” He frowned and mumbled, voice thick with sleep, “Had a nightmare. Dreamt of a shootout.” I didn’t press further. In the darkness, I reached for his phone and silently opened his messages. There was a transfer of two million dollars to Sienna Russo with a remark, “Full payment for the house.” It was dated two months ago. I searched for Sienna Russo on social media, and the pinned post was a photo of my favorite cat breed, a Ceylon. The caption read: [My favorite Ceylon kitten. I want to take it home.] That was posted six months ago. Five months ago, she posted: [I finally have my own little kitty. So happy.] The photo showed Sienna’s and Leonardo’s hands clasped together, gently stroking the cat. Then, four months ago: [Overflowing happiness. We’re the happiest family of three in the world.] The photo was of Sienna cradling the cat while leaning into Leonardo’s arms. His arms were gently wrapped around her waist as he tilted his head downward, looking at the woman and the cat with adoring tenderness. It was a tenderness and devotion I had never seen in the two years of our marriage. Three months ago, she posted: [Finally bringing our baby home! Kitty’s father and I officially named it Juno. The stars in the sky are its eyes, silently watching over us forever. So blessed!] It was a photo showing Sienna leaning gently on Leonardo’s shoulder, both smiling sweetly as they gently stroked Juno the Ceylon cat in her arms. I couldn’t help but recall how I’d mentioned Ceylon cats to Leonardo when we were newlyweds. I wanted a cat just for us two, as a witness to our love. Scrolling further down, I saw a post from two months ago. It was the same day after my Don husband transferred funds to Sienna. There they stood, holding hands, in front of a villa. Her face glowed with a delightful surprise. [Thank you to the husband who loves me most, for giving me and little Juno a new home. Love you!] Although every photo only showed Leonardo’s side profile, two years of marriage were not a waste. I instantly recognized that familiar face as my husband, Leonardo Demarco. I took screenshots of everything. I sent them to my father and wrote, [Papa, is this what you meant by the benefits of marrying beneath me?] Papa, who was also a Don, replied instantly, [Don’t be upset, darling. Papa will deal with this bastard right now! [He’s nothing but a don of a small family I recently helped rise to power. He dares betray my Principessa? I’ll completely erase his family from the Mafia.] Chapter 2 I looked through the photos again. At some point, my tears had soaked through the front of my nightgown. Looking at Leonardo’s sleeping face with the faint curve at the corner of his lips and imagining him dreaming of intimacy with Sienna, I couldn't fall asleep anymore. I got out of bed and walked straight into the study. My top priority was to find out exactly who Sienna Russo was. As the sole heir to the most powerful Mafia family in the country, I would never allow this bastard and his mistress trample all over me. When dealing with betrayal, the best way was to make them wish they were dead. I turned on my computer and began typing rapidly. Lines of code flooded the screen. Ten seconds later, a black-and-white skull interface appeared. It was the dark web under my control. Logging in, I swiftly issued a series of commands. Within ten minutes, Sienna’s complete dossier and social connections were laid bare before me. While waiting for them to finish loading, my mind drifted back to the villa I’d seen earlier. Two years ago, just after our wedding, we happened to pass by the exact villa in the photo. I fell in love with the layout at first sight. The moment Leonardo saw the price, though, his expression darkened. “Giada, don’t we already have a villa? It’s more than enough for us. There’s no need to waste money on another one just to let it collect dust. The family is still expanding. We need to save our funds for critical moments.” Noticing the displeasure in his tone and in consideration of his feelings, I, Giada Romano, reluctantly conceded, “You’re right. Let’s not buy it for now. I was just saying.” Yet, in just two years, he purchased it without hesitation and gifted it to his kept woman. Ding. The email notification on my computer snapped me back to reality. It contained Sienna’s complete and detailed background. The file bearing her name, Sienna Russo, noted she was twenty-two years old. She was a high school graduate and never attended university. Rather than being from a Mafia family, she was from a poor household with five children. She was a minor figure, hoping to cling to power and change her fate. She was currently working as a secretary for my husband, with her daily duties mainly involving simple tasks such as fetching coffee for him. What infuriated me even more was the date she was employed; just three months after our wedding. The blatant audacity of it ignited my temper instantly. She was nothing but a whore who refused to work hard, choosing instead to take shortcuts by selling her body to climb into the beds of the wealthy. Women like her were the easiest to deal with. I wouldn’t even need to dig a trap; I’d just make her fall where she had climbed. As for Leonardo, what awaited him was the fatal blow he’d never forget for the rest of his life. The next morning, Leonardo behaved as usual, reading the paper and making small talk with me over breakfast. His expression was nothing unusual. “What are your plans for today?” Chapter 3 Casually, I asked him, “Any special plans today?” “Not really. I should be back early tonight to spend time with you,” he replied simply without looking up. Just as he was about to leave, his phone rang. He picked it up immediately. From the other end came a soft, coquettish voice, “Leo, darling, can we spend New Year’s Eve on an island? I love the midnight fireworks there.” “Alright, I’ll make arrangements.” The indulgence in his voice was something I had never heard before. After hanging up, he calmly finished putting on his shoes, with no sign of unease. Just as he opened the door to leave, he seemed to remember something suddenly. “Honey, there’s an arms auction in Trinacria today. I have to go this afternoon and probably won’t be back till late.” Forcing a smile and carefully managing my emotions, I said, “Sure, the family comes first. Be safe.” He looked at me, slightly surprised at my gentle reminder, as though he had expected me to complain, as I had always done whenever he said he’d be home late. Right after, he turned and strode off with a trace of smugness on his face. I curled my lips and snorted. He must be in quite a hurry to see his mistress. I walked over to the sofa, sat down, and dialed my personal lawyer’s number. “Gather every piece of evidence of Leonardo’s infidelity. Draft the divorce agreement. I want him to come with nothing and leave with nothing.” “As you command, Principessa. “I’ve waited for this day. I’ll give it my all. Please wait for good news.” After shutting down my computer, I decided to go for a spa session. For the past two years, Leonardo had constantly harped on, “The family business has only just secured its footing, and our foundations are still shallow. Expenses are mounting. Don’t spend lavishly. “Rein in your old extravagant habits for now. When the family’s interests are more stable, you can spend as you wish.” Under his repeated admonitions, I hadn’t lived for myself in two years. Even my spa visits had become infrequent. Today, though, I intended to unwind completely. Afterward, I went straight to the Demarcos’ headquarters. I wanted to see for myself what kind of woman had managed to captivate Leonardo. As the Donna, though I rarely visited the family, everyone inside recognized me. Amid greetings from the family members, I walked in calmly. Near the Don’s office, I saw Sienna picking up the phone with slightly trembling hands. She whispered into it, “Don Demarco, your wife is here.” She looked remarkably young, almost like a high school student, with two large, dark eyes set in a face as small as a palm. In person, she seemed even more lively than in her photos. With such an innocent, naive face, it was hard to associate her with someone who schemed to climb into power as a mistress. I approached her. “Is the Don inside?” She looked flustered as she stammered, “M-Madam, hello. “W-Why are you here?” I smiled. “Oh? Am I not allowed here?” “No, no… That’s not what I meant.” From her nervous reaction, it was obvious she recognized me. Even though I rarely visited, Sienna definitely recognized me. She knew I was the Don’s legally wedded wife, their Donna! I chuckled softly. “Do you have a cat at home?” Her face flushed visibly, her hands and feet awkward. Then I kindly pointed to the cat fur clinging to her strapless top. “Next time, remember to brush it off before you leave the house.” Ignoring her awkwardness, I turned and walked into the Don’s office. Leonardo stood motionless before the massive floor-to-ceiling windows, a cigar clamped between his fingers. Lost in thought, he hadn’t stirred for some time. Hearing the door open but no immediate voice, he turned with surprise etched on his face. “Giada? What brings you here?” “I was out and happened to pass by the headquarters. Thought I’d drop in to see. “Whether you’re free? “For lunch together?” Chapter 4 I smiled playfully, perfectly concealing the fire burning in my chest. After a brief flicker of surprise, Leonardo glanced at his wristwatch. “Alright, I’ll head to Trinacria in two hours. “We only have an hour for lunch. Let’s grab a quick bite in the restaurant upstairs.” “Sure. I’ll use the restroom first.” As I stepped out of the office, I heard the girls outside chatting. “Sienna, your cat is gorgeous!” “When did you get it? You never mentioned having one.” Sienna stood chatting with two female colleagues, huddled around her phone. “Look, everyone! This is a rare Ceylon cat.” “Exactly! It’s priceless.” Under the increasingly sycophantic praise, Sienna shot me a nervous yet smug glance. I paid no attention to this awkward performance and headed to the restroom. When I came out, Leonardo had already left his office. His eyes, slightly tense, were fixed in the direction of Sienna’s desk. Pretending not to notice, I walked up to Leonard and slipped my arm through his with a smile. “Let’s go.” Inside the elevator, I spoke casually, “That young lady earlier looked so young. How old is she? She seemed like a high schooler.” “No idea. New hire, I guess. Never really paid attention.” His eager attempt to distance himself amused me. If I hadn’t known better, I might have been fooled by his feigned ignorance. At lunch, I kept placing food on his plate while chatting lightly, showing constant concern for his health and the family’s affairs. He swallowed his food contentedly and raised his sparkling wine. “Good thing I have a wife who cares deeply about me. With you by my side, danger and hardship are nothing.” I sneered inwardly but casually shifted the topic. “Leo, now that our home and the family are quite stable, how about tomorrow you accompany me to buy that Ceylon cat I’ve always wanted? “The name Juno can finally belong to our home.” Leonardo froze for a moment, the clatter of his wine glass against the tableware echoing loudly. He looked up at me, eyes flickering. “Buy a cat? Why the sudden idea? “Our place is small now, and you take care of everything at home yourself. If we bring a cat back, how would you manage? “Let’s wait until we move into a bigger house. Once it’s more spacious, I can hire a nanny to help, then we’ll get one.” I lowered my head, hiding the faint mockery in my eyes as I picked up more food. “Hmm, alright.” So I couldn’t buy a cat because the house was small? Because I handled everything alone? It seemed he had already arranged even a nanny for Sienna. Yet in our two years of marriage, he had insisted stubbornly that we not hire one. “Giada, our house isn’t big, and the family business has just started. Every penny counts. Can you manage for now? We’ll hire domestic help once things are stable.” Blinded by my hopes for marriage and the future, I had readily agreed to that seemingly reasonable yet utterly disrespectful request. That “for now” had lasted two whole years. Seeing the clear relief on his face now, I suddenly let out a soft “Hmm?” He paused mid-wipe and looked up at me. “Honey, how about we go buy a car tomorrow?” Chapter 5 Leonardo’s expression shifted, and his breathing grew slightly uneven. “Why do you suddenly want to buy a car again? “Don’t you already have one?” “Honey, that old clunker of mine was given to me by Papa back in college. It’s way past its prime and should’ve been replaced long ago. When I pulled into the parking lot today to see you, the guard wouldn’t even let me in when he saw my battered car. “I had to roll down the window, and only after he recognized me did he let me through. “A car is part of one’s image. You wouldn’t want me to lose face when I go out, would you?” Leonardo looked at me, clearly troubled. “We can put buying a car on the agenda, but it’s not urgent. We should take our time to choose one you truly like. “Besides, the family is currently having several major transactions going through. The capital involved is no small sum, and the financial pressure is immense. Your car will have to wait.” So buying me a car meant tight cash flow and financial pressure? Yet when it came to buying Sienna a house, it was no big deal. Why wasn’t there any pressure then? “Alright, fine. We’ll wait.” After lunch, I deliberately returned to the headquarters after he left. As I stepped out of the elevator, I slowed my steps and heard Sienna chatting with several colleagues nearby. “Sienna, are wedding bells coming soon?” “Your boyfriend treats you incredibly well. Luxury car, luxury house, and he even found you a rare cat breed. His devotion to you is truly out of this world.” “Sienna, when will you introduce us to the handsome, wealthy boyfriend of yours? We’d love to meet him.” “Soon. He said once he gets through this busy period, he’ll hold the grandest wedding with me.” She responded to their teasing with a mix of pride and shyness. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely let you all know when we get married. You must all come.” Marriage? I hadn’t even divorced? The legitimate wife is still around? And he was already thinking about marrying someone else? I’d be damned if I didn’t see how these two plan to pull this off. Just then, Sienna spotted me and her face instantly drained of color. “Donna,” she said as she stood in panic. I nodded at her and walked over with a smile. “I heard wedding bells mentioned? “Who’s getting married? Is the date set? “It’s been ages since our family had a celebration. What day is it? “I must go with your Don to share the joy.” Her face turned ghostly pale as she stammered, “N-No date yet…” “Oh, not set yet? Well then, you must observe carefully. When choosing a husband, you must find someone of good character, someone who truly treats you well. “How about I arrange for someone to test his character for you? “You wouldn’t want to end up with a jerk, would you? That would mean entrusting your whole life to the wrong person.” I spoke earnestly, meeting her eyes. “T-That’s not necessary. “Thank you, Donna.” Sienna stammered. I gave her a meaningful look and turned to step into the elevator. As the doors closed, I caught a glimpse of something dark and unreadable flickering in her large eyes. If that was how it was, then I wouldn’t mind letting them experience my methods. Leonardo returned after midnight. The sharp scent of perfume hit me like a punch, nearly making me gag. Noticing my gaze, he offered a vague excuse, “A few Dons insisted I drink with them.” Watching him head into the bathroom, I grabbed his phone and saw numerous messages. They were messages between him and Sienna. [Darling, thank you for spending New Year’s Eve with me. Love you. [Darling, our little Juno was so happy, too. It kept meowing, like it was calling for Papa and searching everything for you.] Every sentence had a “darling.” [Darling, I love you so much.] Leonardo replied, [I’m happy, too. Tell our little Juno that tomorrow I’ll take you to buy a castle. Our kitty son deserves the most luxurious one to call home. [Sweetheart, I’ll give you the best things in the world. [I love you both! [Rest early. I’ll pick you up tomorrow. Give me a kiss. ] Reading their shamelessly saccharine messages, my nausea rose again. It seemed, in their world, I had already been naturally blocked out. Chapter 6 When Leonardo came out of the bathroom, I took a towel and began drying his damp hair, asking casually, “I overheard some young girls from the family chatting today. Is your secretary getting married? She looks like a high schooler. Getting married so young… I wonder what kind of man she found? I hope she doesn’t end up with a scumbag.” In the next instant, Leonardo’s body stiffened. “Is that so? I had no idea.” “Should we look into it for her?” “No need.” The refusal came without hesitation. Then, as if realizing that was too abrupt, he added, “Tomorrow. I’ll check with the family first and decide then.” “Alright.” I replied with a cold laugh, “I just hope her boyfriend is dependable, and not some irresponsible scumbag. She’s so young. If she gets deceived, she’ll regret it for the rest of her life.” “That shouldn’t happen.” Leonardo was already sweating by now. The next day, I instructed my soldati to continue tailing them. Sure enough, we saw them hand-in-hand entering the most exclusive luxury pet boutique. In one photo, Sienna nestled sweetly against Leonardo, pointing at a magnificent blue castle and looking up at him, saying something. The tenderness in his eyes made me think of our early days as newlyweds. The next photos showed Leonardo swiping his card to buy a porcelain palace worth 180,000 dollars. A cat bed. He spent one hundred and eighty thousand dollars on Sienna without hesitation. I remember when we first married, I had wanted a cat, and he said, “Our place is too small. Let’s wait until we move to a bigger house.” “But our kitty just needs a tiny corner for a bed. It won’t take up much space,” I pleaded, hoping he’d agree. Still, he refused me coldly. Now, he not only bought his mistress the cat I’d always wanted, but he also spent a fortune on a top-tier luxury villa and porcelain palace for it. That afternoon, a soldato informed me Sienna was meeting a friend at a café. I chose the table next to theirs. “Sienna, have you really decided to be with him? He’s married. Are you going to be his mistress forever?” “No. You don’t know how good he is to me. He waved his hand and spent tens of millions. And he promised me he’ll divorce. “He says the family still needs Giada Romano’s connections and financial backing. Once he fully devours her family, he’ll divorce her and marry me. He’s already told me to prepare for pregnancy. When he finishes swallowing her family, that will be the moment our child is born.” My vision nearly went red. My entire body trembled as I thought, ‘How dare they? The gall of them!’ I clenched my fists and forced myself to listen on. “What if he can’t deliver, or he’s deceiving you? What then? “That won’t happen. Stop overthinking. “He’s already reserved a diamond ring worth three million. I can collect it in a month.” Her triumphant voice was impossible to conceal. “Aren’t you afraid his wife will find out?” “She won’t. She loves him too much. Leonardo plays the part perfectly at home. Whatever he says, goes. Like a fool, she’s wrapped around his finger. It’s only a matter of time before he takes over her family.” Her smug voice floated over again. “And besides, in love, there’s no first-come, first-served. The one not loved is always the other woman.” After the initial surge of rage, I became eerily calm. To swallow my family? They must be dreaming in broad daylight. Sienna Russo, did you really think that hiding in the shadows made you untouchable? I picked up my phone and dialed the number pinned at the top of my contacts. “Pap​​à, it’s showtime.”