The Mafia Godfather's Doting Wife

Chapter 6: Own Son

Vivian looked at Leonard and said, "Lillian, the daughter of the Fortune Group's chairman."

Leonard nodded. "Leave her here. It looks like she's still not sober."

Vivian tossed Lillian aside.

Lillian's head hit the ground with a thud, and she passed out.

As a new day dawned, Lillian slowly regained consciousness. Opening her bleary eyes, she felt a throbbing pain in her forehead. Sitting up and propping herself on her arms, she realized she was still on the rooftop. Despite the morning sun, she shivered, feeling the cold lingering in her body. Remembering the events of the previous day, her face turned pale.

She had no idea what had happened afterward. Looking around, she saw the bloodstains on the rooftop, reminding her of the gruesome scene she witnessed—the adorable boy torn apart by the wolves, devoured until only bones remained.

Curling into a ball, she hugged her knees tightly, her choked sobs echoing her suppressed panic and helplessness.

"Hey."

Startled by the voice, Lillian turned her head to see Mariana sitting there. The night had taken its toll on Mariana, her once neatly arranged hair now disheveled, her expression aged overnight.

Mariana looked at Lillian, a faint smile on her lips, holding a scattered child's skeleton in her hands, bloodstains marring its surface. Beside her were two red plastic bins with lids. "You're awake?"

Lillian's tears welled up in her eyes. "Ms. Mariana."

Mariana nodded at Lillian. "Girl, go home after spending the night in the cold. Forget what you saw."

Lillian had never spoken to Mariana before, but she knew of her—a formidable woman, the director of the university's political affairs, influential both within the institution and in government circles. She was known for her decisiveness and competence, as well as her striking appearance. Her standards for men were high, and she was often criticized for being too assertive, with people saying she deserved to be unmarried in her thirties or forties. However, Lillian didn't pay much attention to such comments. In her eyes, Mariana was truly exceptional—confident, elegant, and deserving of a better match than the mediocre men who gossiped about her.

Nevertheless, regardless of public perception, Mariana had always projected an image of decisiveness and efficiency. Seeing her now, so gentle and compassionate, was entirely unexpected.

Mariana lowered her head to look at the small child's bones tightly held by Lillian. Her expression softened to the point of tears. "This is my son. Finally, I can hold him without reservation," she said, her finger gently caressing the child's skull. Her eyes glistened with tears, and a tender smile graced her lips. "I used to be so strict with him, and he was always afraid of me. I never dared to show kindness to him in front of others, fearing that someone would realize he was my child."

Crystal-clear tears streamed down Mariana's cheeks as she trembled slightly. Then, she reached out to lift the lid off the nearest bucket of water, gently placing the bones into it. She began to wash away the bloodstains, tenderly caressing the marks left by the wolves' bites. Her voice quivered softly. "Mommy is giving you a bath. Does it still hurt here?"

Lillian watched as the morning sunlight cast a golden halo around Mariana, her nose tingling with unbearable sorrow. Tears streamed down her cheeks in torrents, and she pressed her hand tightly against her mouth, afraid that any sound of sobbing might startle the mother and son lost in their tender reunion.

Mariana began to hum a sweet melody, her gentle expression akin to a mother soothing her baby to sleep.

If one were to overlook the bones in the bucket, it would have been an utterly heartwarming scene.

Unable to contain herself any longer, Lillian released her hand and burst into loud sobs.

Hearing Lillian's cries, Mariana furrowed her brow. She had considered scolding Lillian, but in the end, she held back, letting out a heavy sigh instead. A fleeting moment of sadness crossed her eyes before they regained their calm composure. Her voice, firm and commanding, cut through the air. "Lillian, go home! Forget everything you saw just now!"

Lillian suddenly lunged forward, grabbing onto Mariana's clothes and kneeling before her, crying out, "I didn't just see what's happening now, I saw everything last night! I wasn't drunk last night! Ms. Mariana, you go report that man, and I'll testify for you in court! I will testify without hesitation; I'm not afraid of the forces of evil!!"

Mariana looked into Lillian's clear, determined eyes. This young girl, only eighteen years old, had rejected countless suitors at school, leaving a trail of wounded hearts. Despite her tears clouding her vision, her eyes still shone with astonishing clarity. Mariana hesitated for a moment, then hardened her expression. "Get lost! Who do you think you are?!"

Startled by Mariana's outburst, Lillian clenched her lips and stared back at her, unwavering.

Mariana and Lillian faced off, their gazes locked in a battle of wills, neither willing to back down.

Suddenly, Lillian stood up. "You're not going to report him, are you? Then I'll do it for you!" With that, she turned and began to walk away.

But before she could take another step, Lillian felt a hand grab onto her clothes.

Mariana's voice was calm. "Don't go."

Lillian turned to look at Mariana, her eyes filled with questions. Why?

Mariana replied, "I accept my fate willingly. I betrayed our master, and I gave birth to a child I shouldn't have. I knew this day would come. If you go to the police station to report me, it would be an insult to me." There was a firm determination in her eyes as she met Lillian's gaze. How could she stand by and watch such a good child suffer because of her actions? She had served Crowley for over nine years, and in nearly a decade, no one understood how bloodthirsty that man could be better than her.

Lillian looked at Mariana in disbelief. "I can't believe you are so blindly loyal. Don't you realise that the bones in the bucket are your own son?"

Mariana replied, "I'll say it again. I accept everything willingly. There's no need for anyone else to intervene. The fact that you didn't die yesterday can only mean you're lucky."