Don Begged, Donna Walked Chapter 03
The illegitimate kids who’d lain low all along finally bared their fangs, fighting viciously over the family wealth.
I was completely caught off guard.
In the end, all I had left was a hollow family with just ten members, plus a mountain of debt that felt impossible to pay off.
Then Mom suffered a heart attack and fell gravely ill too.
We had no money for proper hospital care.
We ended up at this tiny clinic. All she got were basic meds, barely keeping her alive.
Vincenzo stayed by my side.
I yelled at him, tried to chase him away, but he never left.
Debt collectors were everywhere.
We hid and ran nonstop.
Every single day was filled with fear.
When we got cornered in an alley, he’d pull me tight into his arms and cover my eyes with his palm.
“Don’t be scared. Don’t look.”
That’s where all those scars on his back came from.
We survived those two brutal years and paid off every last debt.
The family finally started getting back on its feet.
I worked up the nerve to say it. “We should get married.”
He froze for a second, then smiled and ruffled my hair.
“What’s the rush? Now’s not the right time. Just wait a little longer. I’ll save up for the most stunning band and give you a wedding no one will forget. You’ll marry me in style.”
He leaned down and kissed me to soothe me.
“Trust me. You’ll always be my donna. You’re not going anywhere.”
After that, he started going out for business engagements far more often.
And a new secretary appeared by his side.
Adelaide Ricci slowly wormed her way into every part of Vincenzo’s life.
By the time I realized something was wrong, it was already too late.
We fought over and over again.
I gave him two choices.
Fire Adelaide, or marry me.
He stayed silent and refused to pick either one.
Disappointment built up inside me, bit by bit.
We were in the thickest stretch of our cold war when I got pregnant the first time.
I had terrible morning sickness, my legs swelled up bad, and painful leg cramps jolted me awake at night.
He barely came home.
I endured it all alone.
He knew how much I loved the sea.
For my birthday, he booked a luxury cruise that lasted five full days and nights.
But out on the deck, I spotted Adelaide laughing and chatting happily.
On the second day of the trip, the cruise ship suddenly started sinking.
Panicked people swarmed toward the lifeboats.
I held my heavy belly, lost and terrified.
He’d paid a fortune for two spots on a lifeboat. As soon as he climbed aboard, he hurried to held me up.
Then Adelaide rushed over in a panic, crying and shoving me aside.
“Vin, she’s pregnant. The rescuers will let her board the next boat for sure. What about me?”
Vincenzo actually hesitated.
The crowd surged and pushed wildly.
Something fell from above. I lost my balance, and the water swallowed me whole in an instant.
“Caterina!”
When I woke up, sharp pain shot through my lower body.
The doctor told me the baby hadn’t survived after the C-section.
It was a boy.
I only glanced at him once before tears streamed down my face.
His eyes and features were just like Vincenzo’s.
Midway through the ride, I stumbled out of bed on the yacht.
I opened the urn I’d brought with me.
“Baby,” I whispered to the churning waves, “I’m so sorry.”
“Can I let you rest here?” My vision blurred with tears.
I scattered his ashes across the water.
After losing the baby, I grew quieter and quieter.
Whether he spoke gently or flew into a rage, I wouldn’t even glance at Vincenzo.
He couldn’t stand it anymore.
He dropped to his knees beside my bed, eyes red as he roared.
“What do I have to do to make you forgive me? Just tell me!”
After that, he came home almost every night and insisted on sharing my bed.
I never fought him off, but I never responded either.
And then I got pregnant again.