Betrayed Wife: Hiding The Mafia Boss's Son

I woke up wrapped in the arms of a man I believed would burn the world for me. Michael Thorne was the underworld's golden boy, and I was pregnant with his legacy.

But by sunset, the illusion shattered. During our family brunch, the doors burst open and a woman dragged a four-year-old boy into the room.

The child had Michael's nose. His chin.

"Tell them who Leo is!" the woman screamed.

Michael froze. He didn't deny it. While I stood there in shock, his mistress lunged at me, clawing at my face. My husband hesitated.

In that split second, I realized I wasn't his wife; I was just an incubator for his empire. He had kept a secret family as an insurance policy.

My father destroyed Michael's career in an hour, stripping him of his money and status. But I wanted to destroy his soul.

He begged for forgiveness, weeping, claiming he loved our unborn child more than anything.

So I placed a hand on my stomach and looked him dead in the eye.

"There is no baby, Michael," I lied. "Your legacy is dead."

As he fell to his knees, broken, I walked away to build my own empire-with the son he would never know existed.

Chapter 1

Liv POV

I woke up wrapped in the arms of a man I believed would burn the world for me, never suspecting that by the time the sun set, he would be the one holding the knife to my throat.

Sunlight filtered through the intricate ironwork of the window, casting lace-like shadows across the sheets. I stretched, my hand instinctively drifting to the curve of my stomach.

It was barely a bump, a secret shared only between the velvet walls of this room and the man breathing steadily beside me.

Michael Thorne.

He was the underworld's golden boy, the alchemist who had scrubbed the Hayes family empire clean.

I turned to look at him.

Even in sleep, he was devastating. Sharp jawline, dark lashes resting against cheekbones that looked carved from cold marble.

I slipped out of bed, grabbing my silk robe. My camera sat on the vanity.

I picked it up, scrolling through the photos from last night's charity gala.

There he was.

Michael, holding my waist, his smile dazzling the donors who had no idea the wine they were drinking was bought with blood money.

To the world, we were shipping magnates. To the families in New York and Chicago, we were royalty.

I heard the sheets rustle.

"You're up early." Michael's voice was rough with sleep, a sound that usually curled my toes.

He sat up, the sheet pooling at his waist, revealing the lean, corded muscle of his torso.

"I was just looking at us," I said, walking back to the bed.

He pulled me down, his hand warm and heavy on my stomach.

"You and this baby," he whispered, pressing a kiss to my knuckles. "You are everything. My legacy."

It felt so real. It felt impenetrable.

A sharp knock on the door shattered the moment. It was Jennings, the head of security.

"Mr. Thorne. The auction house papers."

Michael's face shifted instantly. The loving husband evaporated, replaced by the calculating businessman.

"I have to handle this," he said, standing up and dressing with practiced efficiency. "It's for the Sunday Brunch. Your father expects perfection."

"Will you be long?" I asked.

"An hour. Maybe two." He kissed my forehead, brief and distracted. "I'm doing this for us, Liv. For the future."

I watched him leave, feeling like the luckiest woman alive.

Deciding to be useful, I went to organize his suit for the brunch tomorrow.

I walked into his walk-in closet, the scent of cedar and expensive cologne wrapping around me like a second skin.

I picked up the jacket he had worn two days ago to brush off a piece of lint.

Then I saw it.

Caught in the inner silk lining of the pocket.

A hair clip.

Cheap. Plastic. Neon pink.

I froze.

I don't wear cheap plastic. I don't wear neon.

I stared at it, a cold drop of unease landing in the pit of my stomach and spreading like ink in water.

It could be anything. Maybe he hugged a niece?

But we didn't have nieces that young.

I gripped the plastic until the jagged teeth dug into my palm.

The perfect picture in my camera suddenly felt blurry.

Michael POV

I parked the Aston Martin two blocks away from the apartment complex.

I hated coming here.

It smelled of stale cigarettes, boiled cabbage, and desperation.

I checked my Patek Philippe. I had forty-five minutes before I needed to be back at the estate to play the part of the doting husband.

I unlocked the door to 4B.

Serena was there before I could even take my coat off.

"You're late," she snapped, her arms crossed over her chest.

She was wearing something sheer, a desperate attempt to seduce me, but all I felt was a spike of irritation.

"I have business, Serena. I can't just drop the empire."

"Business? You mean her?"

I ignored the question. "Where is he?"

She pointed to the bedroom.

I walked in.

The boy was asleep. Leo.

He had my nose. My chin.

He was four years old.

He wasn't just a child; he was my insurance policy.

If Liv didn't produce a male heir, this boy was my ticket to keeping my seat at the High Table.

"He asked for you today," Serena said from the doorway, her voice trembling. "He wants to know why his daddy never stays."

I looked at the kid. I didn't feel love. I felt the cold satisfaction of a secure asset.

"He'll understand when he's older."

"I want to go to the brunch," Serena said suddenly.

I spun around, my patience snapping. "Are you insane?"

"I'm tired of hiding, Michael! He is your firstborn son. He deserves to be seen."

I closed the distance between us in two strides, grabbing her arm hard enough to bruise.

"You will stay here. You will keep your mouth shut. The Hayes family does not play games."

"But you do," she challenged, her eyes wet with angry tears. "You play games with her."

"She is my wife. She is the key to the vault. You are..." I trailed off, my eyes cold.

"I'm what?"

"You are a liability," I said softly. "One I am currently managing."

I let her go, watching her stumble back.

"Do not leave this apartment tomorrow. If you do, not even I can protect you."

I stormed out, checking my reflection in the cracked hallway mirror.

I fixed my tie.

I smoothed away the grime of this place and slid the mask of the loving husband back into place.

I had a role to play.