The Mafia’s Substitute Bride Chapter 07

Callum’s POV

“Vivienne, I said, my voice raw “I need to see Vivienne”

The guards finally understood

“Ah Mrs Vivienne Russo She left for Europe today She won’t be back for about six months

I stood there, stunned.

The day after her wedding, she left for Europe.

No bridal duty. No bedside service. No old man waiting for her.

I went home to the house Vivienne and I had shared.

Without her, it was only rooms and furniture.

Mara found me there.

“Callum, why aren’t you answering my calls?” She grabbed my hand, crying “The debt collectors are here again. They want to sell me to some old man. Help me, please.”

I pulled my hand away.

“Why would I help you?” My voice was ice.

She froze. “Callum, what’s wrong with you? You said you would always protect me”

“You lied to me.”

Her face went white

“Three years ago, you didn’t donate a kidney for me Do you know what happens to people who lie to me?

“Callum, I never said I donated You assumed-”

“Shut up

For one second, I wanted to shoot her

Instead, I pointed to the door

“Get in the car. We’re filing for divorce Now I don’t kill women, Mara But if you ever show your face in front

of me again, I may forget that rule”

Vivienne’s POV

Six months later, I returned to Chicago.

The moment I stepped out of the airport, I saw him

“Vivienne I finally found you”

Callum ran toward me, eyes red, voice unsteady “You left without telling me You blocked me everywhere And the kidney it was you, wasn’t it? Why didn’t you say anything? What else are you hiding from me?

There was no point lying anymore

“Yes,” I said calmly “It was me You hid your illness because you didn’t want me to worry I donated my

kidney because I didn’t want you to feel guilty. What I don’t understand is how you ended up believing Mara

saved you.”

After the donation, I made up a work trip and stayed away for three months.

Even in summer, I covered the scar with thick concealer.

I hid it for three years.

Claire once asked if I regretted it.

I said no.

I still remembered the twelve-year-old boy who held my hand and said, “I’ll always protect you, V

A kidney for his lifetime of loyalty.

I thought it was worth it.

I just didn’t know his promise would rot with time.

Callum’s eyes turned bloodshot. His voice broke. “The nurse said my donor was in Bed Eight next door t

went there and saw Mara. All these years, I thought it was her’

I suddenly remembered

“At first, yes, I was in Bed Eight But I moved to another room because I was afraid you’d see me”

He stood frozen, like the truth had nailed him to the floor

Then he grabbed my wrist

“Vivienne, I was wrong I was so wrong Come with me You were supposed to be my wife The Donna of the

Shaw Family Not the Russos”

“Let go, Callum.” I pulled my hand free “I am the Donna of the Russo Family now The ceremony is done Like you said, a deal is a deal. I don’t have a choice”