The Fake Heiress Who Tamed the Young Don Chapter 09

The Fake Heiress Who Tamed the Young Don Chapter 09

During dinner, I kept secretly staring at Tecla. 

Mom suddenly asked, “Talia, why is your face so red? Do you 

have a fever?” 

I choked and stammered, “No. I’m just a little hot.” 

The chair beside me suddenly scraped. 

A moment later, Tecla returned to her seat and smiled at me. 

“I lowered the AC a little. You should feel better soon.” 

For a moment, my face felt even hotter. 

After dinner, Mom made fresh juice. 

I took two glasses and ran to the living room to hand one to 

Tecla. 

“Thank you.” 

She smiled and reached for it. 

But the second I let go, the glass crashed to the floor. 

Juice splashed everywhere. 

Mom came out of the kitchen and asked, “What happened?” 

I stared blankly at the glass shards on the floor, my heart suddenly clenching hard. 

So she still hated me after all. 

Of course she did. 

The comments had said so. 

“My hand acted up again. My fingers suddenly locked, and I 

couldn’t hold the glass Talia gave me.” 

Tecla’s guilty voice sounded beside my ear. 

I suddenly lifted my head and met her apologetic eyes. 

Mom quickly helped her sit on the couch and massaged her 

hands. 

Only then did I notice that her fingers were twitching slightly 

and bending unnaturally. 

“I was in a car accident before and ended up with a mild 

neurological disorder. Sometimes my fingers suddenly don’t listen to me. Did I scare you? I’m sorry.” 

My throat clogged. 

Looking at the sincerity in her eyes, shame almost spilled over 

inside me. 

“I’m the one who should apologize. I took your place, and you 

suffered all these years because of me.” 

She tilted her head. 

“But I took your place too. And besides, I didn’t really suffer.” 

Once her hands could move, she began counting on her 

fingers. 

“I had a happy family growing up. Even though my parents unfortunately died when I was little, my grandparents, my uncles, and my little uncle all cared about me and loved me. 

They never let me suffer.” 

“As for that car accident, my little uncle gave me a Pagani HL 

for my eighteenth birthday. I got into an accident while racing someone. I can’t blame anyone else for that.” 

After hearing her, my mood instantly cleared. 

Tecla glanced at her phone, then suddenly raised a brow at me. 

“Do you want to go see your brother? He probably needs you right now.” 

Following the address Tecla gave me, I found Ricardo while he was pouring glass after glass of liquor down his throat. 

Several Sottocapo who were close to him were in the private room, and I had met all of them before. 

“Little princess, thank God you’re here. Talk to your brother. He’s lost his mind.” 

After saying that, the group disappeared in a flash. 

Only Ricardo and I remained. 

I reached out and grabbed the glass in his hand. 

“Stop drinking.” 

He didn’t even lift his head and simply picked up the bottle on 

the table. 

Annoyed, I covered his mouth with my hand. 

“I said stop.” 

He slowly raised his head and looked at me. 

After recognizing me for a moment, he suddenly dragged me into his arms. 

“…Talia Moretti, didn’t I let you go? Why did you come back?” 

That was what he said, but he held me tighter than anyone. 

I tried to pry his arms away. 

“Ricky, I can’t breathe.” 

He loosened his arms, then lifted my face instead. 

“I’m not your brother.” 

I stared at the mist in his eyes and looked away. 

“Ricardo, you’re drunk.” 

Ricardo lowered his head against my shoulder and murmured 

softly. 

“I’m not Mom and Dad’s child, Talia. From the beginning, I 

was never your brother.” 

My breath stopped for a moment. 

Actually, I had known that secret for a long time. 

Ever since I could remember, Ricardo always stood silently in 

the corner, watching me play with other children and 

watching me throw myself into our parents‘ arms. 

He always seemed out of place in this family. 

Until one time, when I was rummaging around the house, I 

accidentally found Ricardo’s adoption papers. 

In that moment, I seemed to understand everything. 

I watched a lot of shows before finally finding a way to help Ricardo feel like he belonged in this family. 

[The fastest way to help someone build a sense of belonging is to make him feel needed.] 

So from that day on, Ricardo had to wake me up. 

Ricardo had to squeeze toothpaste for me. 

Ricardo had to hold my hand when we crossed the street. 

At first, Ricardo resisted, but because of the adults, he could only do as I asked. 

Later, that turned me into someone who ordered him around 

in every little thing. 

Only after the comments appeared did I restrain myself. 

His fingers tightened around mine, pulling me back to the 

present. 

I lowered my eyes and met his black gaze. 

“So?” 

He propped himself up, his gaze slowly lowering. 

“So this doesn’t count as… wrong.” 

The last word disappeared between our lips.