The Mafia Don's Obsession

Valentina's POV

The sound of the ticking clock seemed to echo faintly, yet it was all I could hear as I drifted into an agonizing daze.

What did he say? He must be mistaken. It couldn't be true.

"Mrs. Laurent." The monotone voice snapped me back to reality, and I blinked, staring at the man in the white coat.

"Mrs. Laurent, are you listening to me?" I blinked again, trying to focus on his words, but they seemed to slip through my mind like water through my fingers. The room felt smaller, the air thicker, as if everything was closing in around me.

Breathe, Valentina. Breathe.

"Repeat what you just said," I finally found my voice and demanded, but it was quieter than I intended-just barely above a whisper, yet sharp with a desperate edge I didn't recognize.

The doctor's eyes softened, but he didn't hesitate. "Mrs. Laurent, I'm afraid you have brain cancer. The prognosis is... very serious. You have only about a year to live."

A chill ran through me, the world shifting in a way I couldn't comprehend. His words echoed louder in my mind than the ticking of the clock.

"You're telling me... I'm dying?" I whispered, barely able to keep my voice steady.

He nodded solemnly. "Yes. The cancer has spread too far. Surgery isn't advisable in your case-it could do more harm than good. The best we can offer now is palliative care to make you as comfortable as possible."

The room spun as the weight of his words settled on my chest, suffocating me. Only a year. How could this be happening?

The signs-the signs I thought were pregnancy-were actually those of cancer?

"Is there really nothing that can be done? With all the advancements in medicine and technology, there has to be a cure-there should be!" I pleaded, my voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. Desperately, I searched the doctor's face for a glimmer of hope, but his silence was all the answer I needed.

"Mrs. Laurent, I advise you to come with your husband and get started-" I didn't wait for the rest of his words. I bolted for the door, my legs unsteady beneath me. The world spun, and for a moment, I almost collapsed, but I steadied myself, pushing through the dizziness. I managed to walk out of the consultation room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

I didn't know how I did it, but somehow, I made it into the backseat of the car. My heart hammered against my chest, and I could feel the driver's gaze on me, but I couldn't bring myself to look up. I didn't want to-not with the tears that kept falling despite my best efforts to keep them hidden.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" the driver asked, his voice soft with concern, but I was only able to shake my head, unable to form the words.

"Take me home, please," I whispered, my voice breaking as more tears spilled down my cheeks.

I could hear the car engine start, and as it began to move, I closed my eyes, trying to process the doctor's words. The throbbing pain in my head made it hard to focus. This morning, on my way to the hospital, I had been excited. I thought, after a year of grief from my miscarriage, I was finally pregnant. I had hoped for good news-something that might heal my relationship with Damien. But instead, I was told I had only a year to live, and I was slowly dying.

"Mrs. Laurent, we're here," the driver's voice broke through the silence, and I slowly opened my eyes, staring at the grand villa. Though lavish and filled with wealth, it felt cold-just like it had the day she returned.

I got out of the car and leaned against it, trying to steady myself. When I felt strong enough to walk, I made my way into the mansion. Mrs. Agatha, the housekeeper who had always been like a mother to me, bowed and gently took my coat from my shoulders.

"Is Damien around?" I asked weakly, and Mrs. Agatha nodded in response. She was about to say something else, but the loud sound of laughter from the sitting room caught my attention.

"Who else is here?" I turned back to her, but she looked down, unable to meet my gaze.

"The Laurent family, Madam, and-"

"Oh, isn't it the madam of this house?" a high-pitched voice interrupted, and I immediately recognized it.

"Tessa, you're here?" I asked, a hint of surprise in my voice. She scoffed, placing her hands on her hips, her gaze filled with disdain.

"What? Can't I visit my brother? Mom is here too, and you're just showing up now? You can't even respect your in-laws anymore. But I suppose I shouldn't expect anything from someone who can't even give birth to a child."

Her words hit me like a slap, and I frowned, swallowing the bitter sting. It was a surprise to see them here, especially since I hadn't been told they would be, but I said nothing. I simply offered an apology.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware. Damien didn't mention anything."

"Keep your useless apology to yourself," another voice cut in, sharp and condescending. I looked up to see my mother-in-law standing there, drink in hand, her eyes blazing with pure hatred as she spoke.

Not long ago, she had been laughing, but the moment she saw me, her expression soured. She looked at me like I was nothing more than dirt beneath her feet. I knew the reason. An illegitimate woman like me was beneath her son, unworthy to even share the same air.

"Look at you," she sneered, her gaze dripping with disdain. "Why would you be aware of anything? You can't do anything but eat and drink all day. You're just useless. I regret the day I allowed my son to marry someone like you."

"Even with all the food she's eating, she looks skinny-ill, even." Tessa snickered at her mother's words, and I could only close my eyes, trying not to let their words affect me.

Normally, I would apologize, even when they degraded me, but today, I had neither the strength nor the patience to endure it.

"Where is Damien?" I ignored them and turned to Agatha, who looked visibly shocked but quickly responded.

"In the bedroom, Madam."

I nodded and started to leave, but Tessa grabbed my hand, her nails digging into my flesh, making me flinch.

"Are you ignoring us?! How dare you-" Tessa began, but her mother cut her off.

"Let her go. Don't waste your breath on useless people," she sneered, pausing to eye me with a smirk. "There's a pleasant surprise waiting for you in that bedroom."

I raised an eyebrow, tempted to ask what she meant, but Tessa finally let go of my hand. I didn't want them to change their minds, so I walked toward the bedroom, but with each step, a dread settled in my chest, a gnawing feeling that something was terribly wrong.

As I approached the door, faint moans reached my ears. My stomach turned. I opened the door slowly and froze in place.

There, sitting on Damien's lap, was Caelina-his first love, the woman who had caused my miscarriage a year ago. My eyes drifted to her protruding belly, and I felt my world crumble around me.

Valentina's POV

This has to be a dream. It's just a nightmare-a terrible, haunting nightmare. So wake up and end this.

A faint and distant voice whispered in my ears, trying to delude me into believing that the sight before me wasn't real-that my husband of six years wasn't holding another woman in his lap, wasn't kissing her neck, leaving marks on her skin as if she were the most precious gem. And that woman... wasn't Caelina.

"Damien, I want you. Please, I really want you now," Caelina whispered to my husband, her eyes closed as soft moans escaped her lips.

"Naughty girl," Damien murmured, his voice dripping with amusement. "You're pregnant. Do you really think you can handle me? You know how rough I can be when I'm with you. Be patient, my love."

I stood there, frozen, watching the scene unfold, neither of them noticing my presence in the room.

I wanted to speak-scream, demand an explanation for what I was seeing-but the words were stuck in my throat. I could do nothing but stand there, frozen, and watch.

"B-but Damien," Caelina began, her voice soft as she opened her eyes, but she froze for a moment when her gaze locked with mine. Then, almost immediately, a slow, triumphant smirk spread across her lips.

"No buts," Damien replied, his tone firm and tender, completely unaware of my presence. "You know I can't risk anything that would harm my unborn child."

My eyes widened in disbelief as my legs threatened to give out beneath me. My vision blurred, the world around me closing in while a wave of nausea churned in my stomach.

His unborn child? No, it couldn't be. It was impossible. Yet the delight in Caelina's eyes as she took in my horrified expression told me otherwise.

"You really love your child. You can't seem to do anything that might hurt him," Caelina laughed, guiding Damien's hand to her belly, her gaze never leaving mine.

"Of course, it's my-" Damien began, a proud smile on his face, but the words died in his throat when he finally looked up and saw me standing by the door, tears streaming down my cheeks.

"It's your what, Damien?!" I screamed, my voice so loud it startled even me. My chest heaved as I fought to keep control. "It's your what?" This time, my voice was barely a whisper, trembling with the weight of my emotions. My hand gripped the doorframe tightly, the only thing keeping me from collapsing right there.

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes, leaning against the wall for support. I couldn't lose consciousness-not now.

When I opened my eyes again, Damien had already moved Caelina from his lap, settling her onto the bed beside him. I expected him to rush over, to scramble for an apology or at least offer some excuse for what I had just witnessed. But he didn't. He simply sat there, staring at me with a cold expression. Not a flicker of remorse crossed his icy blue eyes.

"I had planned to tell you this myself in a better way," Damien said, his voice steady and devoid of emotion. "But since it seems you've heard everything, I'll tell you now. Caelina is carrying my child, and I intend to divorce you and marry her."

"W-what?" I asked, my eyes widening in disbelief, unable to comprehend what I had just heard. I took a step toward him, but before I knew it, my legs gave out, and I collapsed to the floor, my knees scraping against the ground. The pain in my body was nothing compared to the agony that tore through my heart.

"You heard me, Valentina. Or are you deaf now?" Damien's voice was cold as he stared at me on the floor. He didn't even bother to stand and help me up. He simply held Caelina's hand, his gaze unwavering as he watched me crumble.

This wasn't the man I married. The person staring at me now was a stranger-a heartless man.

I closed my eyes, struggling to stand, and when I finally managed to rise, I grabbed onto the nearest support, which turned out to be the couch.

"A-Are you hearing yourself, Damien?" I managed to whisper, my voice shaky as I pointed to Caelina. "You cheated on me, and not only that-you cheated on me with the person who killed our child!"

Damien's eyes flickered for a moment, and for the first time, I saw an emotion in them-guilt. But before he could say anything, Caelina rolled her eyes at me, quickly replacing her expression with a feigned timidness. "Valentina, I- I honestly didn't push you down the stairs on purpose. It was really a mistake-" She couldn't finish her words, as fake tears welled up in her eyes and she began to cry.

Anger surged through me as I glared at her, the memory of two years ago flooding back. I could still see the look on Caelina's face when she shoved me down the stairs-I never believed it was a mistake, not after the smirk she wore as I bled on the ground. Damien had consoled me after the miscarriage, but when I demanded Caelina be sent to prison for what she had done, he turned cold. He called it an "honest mistake."

"Shut up!" I snapped, fighting the urge to use my last bit of strength to rush over and tear her apart. "You knew exactly what you did, and you knew it wasn't a mistake. Aren't you ashamed? You not only killed my child, but now you're shamelessly seducing my husband and getting pregnant. You're nothing but a snake and a slut!"

"Valentina! Watch your mouth!" Damien suddenly growled, his voice sharp as he stood up and stalked toward me. He grabbed my hand roughly, his icy glare sending a chill through me. "I told you to stop blaming Caelina for that mistake. If you want to blame anyone, blame yourself. You weren't being careful enough, and you fell down the stairs."

"What did you say?" I asked, my heart aching, the pain in my chest far more unbearable than his grip or the pounding in my head. "You're blaming me? She killed our child, Damien. I know she was your first love, but are you blind? Or what, do you think with your dick? You can't see the person she truly is?"

Slap!

For the second time today, I fell to the ground. But this time, it was because my husband-the man who had never laid a hand on me-slapped me without holding back.

"How dare you?!" Damien roared, his voice filled with fury. "Who gave you the right to speak to me like that? Have you forgotten your place? You blame everyone but yourself and always act like the victim, but do you ever stop to think about how I feel-how I want a child to call my own?!"

I could hear him scream despite the ringing in my ears. Every word sliced through me, but my consciousness was already fading. I clung to it, forcing myself to lift my head, staring at him in utter disbelief.

"Y-you slapped me?" I stammered, my voice trembling with astonishment. He only scoffed, his expression cold and unbothered.

"And I'll do it again if you don't shut your mouth," he sneered. "I don't want to see you anymore. Leave this house now. The divorce papers will be delivered by my lawyer. Sign them quietly and don't cause any more drama," he added icily, turning away from me to pull Caelina closer, his arms wrapping possessively around her waist.

Caelina smirked at me, and as they passed by, I finally came to my senses. I scrambled to my feet, rushing to the door to grab onto Damien.

I saw Tessa and her mother by the door, grinning at me, their mocking eyes focused on me. But I didn't care. I only looked at Damien, tears falling from my eyes.

I should tell him about my illness, that I only had a year left to live. Maybe, just maybe, it would make him reconsider.

But instead of those words, something different slipped from my lips.

"My father would never agree to this divorce, Damien. You would be making a terrible mistake if you divorce me."

I tried to sound strong, but Damien just looked at me with cold, unfeeling eyes.

"Your father agreed the moment I told him. According to him, an illegitimate child isn't worth the trouble."

Valentina's POV

I blinked as Damien flicked my hands away from him in disgust. I could hear Tessa and her mother burst out laughing, their laughter echoing through the room, piercing me like daggers. But still-still, my eyes were fixed on him.

"Y-you're lying," I muttered, the tears streaming down my face. But this time, I didn't cling to him. I just stood there, watching as he scoffed with slight amusement.

"Do you think I have time for this, Valentina? If you don't believe me, go ask your father. The moment I brought it up, he only demanded compensation for the broken marriage, like it was some transaction. And don't even get me started on your sister-she congratulated me for finally getting rid of you. Even your family doesn't love you; they treat you like dirt," Damien spat, his voice cruel, dripping with venom. "Yet I loved you all these years, and you still couldn't give me the one thing I desire."

Damien's voice was harsh as he looked at me with a cold stare that almost made me flinch. I knew he was saying all of this just to break me even further.

"No, you're lying, Damien," I whispered, my breath catching in my throat. I was never treated right in the first place and was even forced to marry Damien by my father, but he wouldn't do something like this. Father wouldn't easily abandon me.

Damien scoffed and was about to say something, but Caelina suddenly groaned, clutching her stomach.

"Are you okay? What's wrong, my love?" Damien asked, his attention instantly shifting to her as though I no longer existed. His eyes softened, and the gaze that used to be reserved for me was now directed at someone else.

"I-I'm okay. I just feel tired. I think I need to rest, Damien," Caelina murmured, her voice weak as she leaned into him for support.

"Oh, no. You have to be careful, my dear. Damien, take her to the hospital for a checkup. Nothing must happen to my grandchild," my mother-in-law said in concern. Then her gaze shifted to me, "Even if I know some people might be wishing harm upon him."

"Yes, Mother," Damien said before wrapping an arm around Caelina and leading her out of the room without sparing me so much as a glance.

I stood there, frozen, watching their backs as they disappeared from my sight. I was still trying to process everything at once. What was happening? Why was this happening to me-especially on the very day I found out I was dying?

"Look at her," Tessa scoffed, "Standing there like a pathetic, lost dog. She looks so ridiculous, staring at them as if they'll turn around and care."

"She's always been a fool," her mother sneered. "What else do you expect from someone so worthless? It's almost amusing, watching her cling to scraps like a beggar."

I closed my eyes, trembling as the tears threatened to spill-to overwhelm me-and I almost let them, but I quickly collected myself. Despite everything, a single thought crossed my mind: I needed to see Father. I needed him to speak to Damien, to fix this. I couldn't let this marriage fall apart-Damien was all I had left, and I refused to lose him.

Taking a shaky breath, I opened my eyes and took a couple of steps toward the door, but before I could leave, my mother-in-law grabbed my arm, her nails digging into my skin as she glared at me.

"Where do you think you're going? Don't tell me you're running after them," she hissed, her eyes narrowing with suspicion.

I yanked my arm free from her grip with such force I didn't know I had that made her stumble back, a shocked expression spread across her face as Tessa rushed to steady her.

"You-you dare?" she sputtered, pointing an accusatory finger at me.

"Don't touch me," I said, my voice low as I glared at her. "I'll be back, and I'm not divorcing your son. So don't even think about trying anything stupid."

"How dare you speak to my mother like that!" Tessa shrieked, her face twisted with rage. She raised her hand, ready to slap me, but I caught her wrist mid-air and, without hesitation, I threw her onto the ground, her gasp of shock filling the room. I stood over her, my eyes cold as she looked up at me in disbelief.

"I will be back, I just need to talk to my father, and he will fix this," I said through gritted teeth before walking toward the door, and this time, none of them dared to stop me.

I exited the villa and saw the driver standing by the car. When he saw me, he moved to open the backseat door, but I shook my head and demanded the car keys.

"But Madam, I can drive you wherever you want. You don't look too well. Do you want me to take you to the hospital?" he asked in concern as he noticed my state, but I took the keys from his hand without offering an explanation and climbed into the car.

"Madam, wait!" I heard Agatha call as I drove out of the villa, heading toward my father's mansion. I fought to hold back the tears that threatened to spill, focusing all my energy on the road. It was hard to breathe, my vision blurred, but after what felt like an eternity, I finally arrived at the grand mansion.

As soon as I drove into the mansion, a dozen men in black suits aimed their guns at me. But the moment I stepped out of the car, they recognized me and lowered their weapons, allowing me to pass without a word.

My heart tightened as I opened the door to the mansion. The first sight that greeted me was my stepmother and half-sister, grinning over something, but I didn't have time to stop for them.

"Oh, if it isn't the forsaken princess," my stepmother teased with a smirk, but I walked past them, my focus solely on reaching my father. I pushed open the door to his study, knowing he would be there.

The moment I entered, I was met with his cold gaze. He looked up from the papers in his hands, frowning as he removed his glasses. His eyes narrowed into a glare.

Normally, his glare would frighten me and I would cower from it, but I didn't know where I found the courage today. I stood firm, stepping further into the study.

"Father," I began, my voice trembling, even despite everything. "I need you to talk to Damien. He's going to divorce me, and I... I can't let that happen, so please talk to him and stop him. I know you can, so please convince him not to divorce me."

My voice cracked with desperate need, but he only leaned back in his chair, his gaze never leaving mine as he dropped the papers on the desk. For a moment, I wondered if he had heard me at all. His expression remained unreadable-cold and expressionless-and when he finally spoke up, all hope in me vanished in an instant.

"You are such a disappointment, Valentina. You can't even do anything right-can't keep your child, can't keep your husband-and now you've come here for help? Why should I help you?"