Don Begged, Donna Walked Chapter 09
“I didn’t mean it. I just wanted to let off some steam. She was always getting in the way of us…”
Adelaide crawled toward him in tears, trying to wrap her arms around his legs.
A far more horrifying thought struck him.
“Did you hire a hitman to kill her?”
Adelaide paled instantly. “I never did that. I’d never dare.”
The hitman had already reported the target was dead. That was why she dared to lie so brazenly.
“I did all this because I love you,” she begged.
“Get away from me!” Vincenzo kicked her away without mercy.
“Listen carefully, Adelaide Ricci. If anything happens to Caterina or the child she carries…”
He paused, speaking each word coldly.
“I’ll make you wish you were dead.”
He grabbed his coat and phone and rushed for the door.
The phone rang right then.
“Boss, we found her. Caterina had an abortion at a clinic in the west district yesterday afternoon!” the caller said urgently.
Vincenzo froze on the spot. The phone slipped from his hand and crashed to the floor.
Their child was gone.
Adelaide scrambled over, bowing repeatedly, her face streaked with tears and snot. “Vin, please spare me. Please.”
He let out a cold laugh.
“You’d better hope I find her alive and unharmed.”
He leaned down and whispered in her ear. “If not, I’ll take away everything you’ve worked so hard for. You’ll have nothing left.”
Striding outside, he shouted into the phone. “Get me the airport. Do whatever it takes. I need to fly back at once.”
…
The airport was packed with crowds.
Sebastiano went to the counter to check in the luggage, leaving me standing alone.
That was when I saw Vincenzo.
He headed straight for me and reached out to grab my wrist.
“Let go!” I stepped sharply back.
His hand closed on thin air. “Caterina, come back with me…”
A sharp slap echoed through the crowd.
Vincenzo’s head turned to the side, a clear handprint quickly rising on his cheek.
“Where are you going?” His voice was hoarse. His eyes drifted to my simple luggage. “Are you ever coming back?”
“You have no right to tell me what to do,” I said through gritted teeth.
“Didn’t you want me to admit these ten years were just my wishful thinking? That there was nothing between us? I’ve made it clear. From now on, my path is my own. It has nothing to do with you.”
I adjusted my clothes.
His gaze fell involuntarily on my flat belly. “Does it hurt?”
I tugged at my lips and said nothing.
Vincenzo fumbled to pull a small metal box from inside his coat.
“I went to the clinic. I found this. I read everything you wrote. I also visited the memorial park. I’m so sorry I forgot her death anniversary that day.”
He gently pressed a hand to his chest. “Caterina, my heart hurts too. It feels like it’s splitting apart.”
“I don’t care,” I replied flatly.
Before I could say more, he dropped to his knees right there in the busy crowd.
He pulled out a dark blue velvet ring box and flipped it open.
“I know what you’ve always wanted.” He looked up at me, eyes red-rimmed.
“Caterina, I love you. We’ve lost ten years already. Will you marry me?”
Camera shutters clicked and gasps broke out all around us.
“You’re proposing with a ring another woman has worn,” I said calmly.
“Does Adelaide agree to this?”
“It isn’t hers!” Vincenzo snarled.
“She stole it. This ring was always meant for you. You’re the only one I’ve ever loved.”
I slowly shook my head.
“I’ll never trust you again, Vincenzo.”