The Don’s Double Standard: She Vanished with His Child Chapter 08

I lifted my chin, staring down at her, my voice perfectly steady.

“Whose mommy do you think you are?”

Serena’s hand flew to her cheek, her eyes wide with shock.

A second later, she lunged to hit me back.

But a hand caught her wrist before she could swing.

Something ice-cold moved through Dante’s eyes. He shoved her arm away.

Serena stumbled back.

She didn’t say another word. Just stared at me, hatred burning in every inch of her face.

I didn’t spare her a second glance. I turned, scooped up Talia, and walked out.

Outside the main doors, Dante’s car was already waiting.

Dante had followed us out. He bypassed me, striding toward the black SUV pulled up to the steps. He held the door open, one brow lifted. After a beat of silence, he looked away.

“I’ll drive you home.”

I didn’t move.

He said it again. Patient.

I glanced around the long, empty stretch of the private driveway. There wasn’t a cab in sight.

I swallowed my pride and got in the back with Talia.

…

Back home, I got Talia settled in her room with a quick excuse, then went back out to face Dante.

He was still waiting outside my front door, like he knew I’d come.

When I stepped out, Dante glanced up, stubbed out his cigarette, and tossed it aside.

I didn’t even get a word out before he spoke.

“Marry me.”

I stared at him. It took a full second for the words to register.

A few seconds of silence. Then I asked.

“Because of Talia?”

Dante’s eyes lifted to mine.

“If I said no, would you believe me?”

I shook my head.

Not for a second.

He scoffed.

“Then it doesn’t matter why. My mother knows about Talia now. She’ll never let a Moretti child be raised outside this family.”

“What happened today? That’s going to keep happening. And she has ways to make sure you never see Talia again.”

“You’ve got two options. Marry me, or spend the rest of your life fighting to keep her.”

“And if you’re thinking about cops or lawyers, don’t. She has people for that. The Moretti family isn’t something you can beat.”

“Besides, Talia would have the best education money can buy. The best schools. If you’re doing this for her, you already know the right answer.”

Every word landed like a lock clicking shut. He’d boxed me in completely.

He was right.

I hated it, but I couldn’t argue with any of it.

A family like the Morettis could give Talia everything I couldn’t.

So what was I holding on to?

Whatever his reasons were, the reality wasn’t going to change.

The silence stretched.

He stood there, watching me. Waiting.

I stared at the ground for a long time. When I looked up, I made sure he could see I meant every word.

“Dante. Will you be good to her?”

Something flickered in his eyes, confusion, maybe.

Then he laughed, almost offended.

“Clara, what do you think I am? She’s my daughter. You think I’d hurt her?”

I swallowed hard, holding his gaze.

“Swear to God. Swear you’ll take care of her. That you’ll love her.”

The smile dropped from his face.

“I swear to God. I’ll protect her with my life.”

“Then okay. I’ll do it.”

I turned around and closed the door, shutting him and everything else out.

I didn’t see the smile that crept across Dante’s mouth the moment the door clicked shut, slow, satisfied, and impossible to read.