Never Offend the Hidden Don Chapter 10

Never Offend the Hidden Don Chapter 10

Victor screamed like a man losing his mind. “Bullshit! You’re Enzo’s wife. Of course you’d cover for him.”

Clara pulled a document from her bag and unfolded it in front of everyone.

“This is a copy of the debt collection notice from your London bank. It has your handwritten signature on it

Do you need me to have a translator read it out loud?”

Victor lunged forward to snatch it.

Mr. Bianchi and Sal grabbed him from both sides and held him back.

“There’s more.”

Clara took out her phone and played an audio recording.

“Mr. Blackwood, your British wife called again about money. She said if you don’t pay child support, she’ll

sue.”

“Let her sue. I’m in the States now. What can she do to me?”

Isabella closed her eyes.

Tears and rain streamed down her face.

So it had all been an act.

“So…” She opened her eyes and looked at Clara, then at the child in my arms. “You two…”

“Enzo and I ran into each other by chance two months after he was released.” Clara took my hand, her voice

calm.

“I helped him get used to life outside. He helped me take care of my sick mother. After that, things happened

naturally between us.”

She looked at Isabella.

“Isabella, I didn’t mean to hide it from you. But you were already married, and you never wanted to hear one

bad word about Victor. We drifted apart.”

Isabella staggered and almost lost her balance.

Victor was still struggling. “Bella! Even if I lied to you, haven’t I treated you well these seven years? I helped

you run the company. I gave you whatever you wanted. And Enzo? What did he ever give you?”

I finally spoke after staying quiet, “I gave her trust And I let her go.”

I looked at Isabella. “If you had asked me seven years ago, I would have given you the whole company and walked away. But you didn’t ask. You only believed him.”

Isabella broke down in tears.

Clara looked coldly at Victor. “You are now suspected of marriage fraud, business fraud, and helping provide

false testimony. A legal notice will be delivered to your company tomorrow.”

“Also, you illegally blocked and threatened someone today. Everyone here can testify.”

I gave Clara my full attention. She was my wife, my Donna, and my family lawyer.

These days, we knew exactly how to use the law.

The neighbors immediately shouted back.

“We’ll testify!”

Victor’s face turned ashen.

He couldn’t get out another word.

Finally, with one look from Isabella, two bodyguards dragged his limp body into the car.

The rain slowly eased.

Clara took our daughter from my arms and said softly, “Let’s go home.”

I nodded.

When I turned to leave, Isabella called after me. “Enzo.”

Her lips trembled, rain and tears mixing on her face. “I…”

“You don’t have to say it,” I cut her off. “It’s all in the past.”

She shook her head and took a stubborn step closer.

“I have to say it. I’m… sorry. I was blind back then. I was stupid. Can you forgive me?”

Her eyes held regret, pain, a plea for forgiveness, and a fragile hope she hadn’t even noticed herself.

“Isabella, I let go a long time ago.”

My tone was calm, like I was talking about the weather.

“I really did. So forgiveness doesn’t matter anymore.”

She froze.

It was as if she hadn’t understood.

Or maybe she had, but she didn’t want to believe it.

Then her tears came harder.

It was the kind of collapse that came from knowing there was no hope left.

She covered her face.

Her shoulders shook violently, but no sound came out.

My daughter gently tugged my sleeve.

I turned away and didn’t look back.

Later, I heard Victor was taken away that same night.

After Isabella went home, she checked the company accounts and discovered he had embezzled a massive

amount of money over the years.

With solid evidence, plus marriage fraud and other charges, he was eventually sentenced to ten years.

When the news reached the old neighborhood, I was fixing Mrs. Rossi’s radio.

She kept muttering, “Karma.”

I felt nothing but calm, like a lake in late fall, with no wind and no ripples.

Outside the window, the old sycamore dropped a few more leaves.

That little rainstorm and everyone standing in it felt like a life I had already left behind.