Chapter 5
Old Mr. Mancuso’s emotions, suppressed for far too long, finally erupted. He pointed at Leonardo, voice
trembling with rage.
“Your mistress ran over Sofia and forced her into premature labor. The baby suffocated inside her before it
even had a chance to be saved. Her grandmother died from the shock.”
“Leonardo, every bit of this is your doing!”
Leonardo stood frozen, disbelief written all over his face. He looked around, then let out a derisive laugh. He
tore the divorce papers into shreds.
“Grandfather, you’re too old to be playing along with Sofia’s little theatrics.”
“I don’t believe for a second she’d dare divorce me. She’d never walk away from the power and wealth of the
Mancuso family.”
He kicked the funeral arrangement aside.
“Putting these gloomy things in the house… really? Just because you’re mad I didn’t come home to see the
kid?”
“Well, I’m here now. Where’s my child? Bring him to me. Did you name him yet? Does he look like me or like
Sofia?”
Leonardo whistled a low, dissonant tune as he glanced around. But every servant kept their head lowered,
faces weighted with sorrow.
No one answered him. A prickle of unease slid through Leonardo’s chest. He started searching the estate
room after room. But nothing was found.
And his voice, once arrogant, began to falter.
“Where are you hiding my child? Grandfather, I know I went too far last time. I shouldn’t have laid hands on
Sofia.”
“But she gave birth. Do you really think she’d still divorce me? Just tell me where she is. I’ll go apologize and
coax her back.”
He didn’t spare a thought for Sofia’s pain. He never had.
Leonardo believed Sofia couldn’t leave him. No matter how cruel he was, she always swallowed her dignity for her grandmother’s sake.
And now they had a child. Another anchor to drag her back to the depths. He was certain she wouldn’t
divorce him. Even more certain she wouldn’t leave.
Old Mr. Mancuso raised his cane and struck Leonardo across the back with all his strength.
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“You vile creature. How did the Mancuso family raise a monster like you? A woman as good as Sofia and
you cast her aside for a cheap internet celebrity.”
Leonardo simply shrugged, settling comfortably onto the sofa and crossing his legs.
“You’re saying all this because of that trending topic, right? So you all teamed up to scare me.”
“Grandfather, the women outside don’t matter. Those were just flings. Sofia is the one I love most. I have
never intended for anyone to replace her.”
“If you don’t believe me, I’ll prove it right now.”
He pulled out his phone and called Isabella.
“Did you like the wedding gown? I bought it for you. But you’re not that young anymore. Find a decent man
and marry him. Don’t show up in front of me again.”
Before she could respond, he hung up and blocked her. Then he spread his hands in triumph and looked at
his grandfather with a grin.
“See? Happy now? Alright, tell Sofia to bring the baby home. I’ll promise her I’ll stay with them on Mondays,
Wednesdays, and Fridays. Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays I’ll-”
Old Mr. Mancuso was shaking with fury. He had never felt such burning disappointment. He made up his
mind to teach this ungrateful grandson a lesson.
But the moment he lifted his cane, the world spun violently around him. Days of grief, stress, and heartbreak
finally overwhelmed the aging man.
He clutched his chest and collapsed.
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