The Don Never Heard Me

I loved Adriano Ferraro—yeah, that Don—for five freaking years. He wasn't just my fiancé; he was my anchor in a world where loyalty got tested, and weakness got you killed.

We had it all mapped out—dreams, plans, a future we actually thought we owned. Until I lost our baby.

I reached for him, shaking, desperate for anything.

But comfort never came.

Instead, it was her. His stepsister, propped up. "Don't buy her act. She's just fishing for attention—again."

That snake smiled like she just won a prize for emotional torture, dripping venom while fanning the flames.

And Adriano? He bought it. He turned away.

In that moment, it hit me—I wasn't just grieving. I was completely alone. The kid I carried, the future I built in my head? Gone. And so was I.

I walked out. On him. On the Ferraro Family I was stupid enough to think I could belong to.

All I left behind was silence. Empty space where we used to be.

Now Adriano's drowning in regret, but it's too damn late. The life we should've had, the love we should've built? Dust.

And her? The stepsister who ruined it all? She's paying for every lie.

When I lost the baby, I begged my fiancé, Don Adriano Ferraro, to save me. But his stepsister got there first.

"Don't buy her act. She's just fishing for attention—again."

And he believed her. He left me to die.

Next thing I knew, I was flat on a hospital bed, barely hanging on, while nurses whispered like I was invisible.

"I heard she's Don Ferraro's fiancée. Yikes, what a mess."

"Why pity her? They call her La Pazza for a reason. She went after Sofia—his stepsister. Big mistake."

"Any girl near the Don ends up wrecked. Poor Sofia..."

I cracked my eyes open. One nurse froze, then bolted.

"Doctor! Ms. Carlson's awake!"

Adriano stormed in seconds later, eyes cold as ice.

Sofia clung to his arm, smug as hell.

"This is so you, Cassie," he said. "Always a burden."

My chest tightened.

"Look at Sofia," he ran a hand through her hair. "She thinks before she acts. No drama."

Sofia's smile curled, eyes glittering.

"And you?" His voice cut sharp. "You faked a pregnancy just to rush the wedding."

I stared at him, stunned he bought that crap.

Sofia smirked. "Cassie, come on. Full drama mode? You really went all in."

I gripped the sheets, choking down the pain.

My hand slid to my now-flat belly.

Five days ago, Sofia asked me to go hiking.

I didn't hesitate.

Didn't know it was a setup.

At the cliff's edge, she shoved me. I tumbled into the ravine.

Terror swallowed me.

I screamed for help. Adriano showed up.

But Sofia beat me to him.

"Adriano, you have to believe me," she gasped, fake-shaken. "Cassie pushed me..."

I begged him to listen. He just stared, ice-cold.

"Cassie, this is what you do—lie and manipulate."

Then he walked away. Left me in the mountains.

Five