He Thought I Was a Joke? I Hid the Heir to His Mafia Empire Chapter 10
Luca charged onto the rooftop swiftly, a dozen bodyguards swarming in and encircling Elena’sÂ
men.Â
“Luca?” Elena’s phone slipped from her grasp and clattered onto the ground. Her arrogant demeanor dissolved into sheer terror. “I thought you were inÂ
Chicago?”Â
Luca paid her no heed. He rushed toward me, snatched the knife away and hurled it far aside.Â
“Have you lost your mind, Vera?” He seized my bleeding wrist, eyes blazing red with rage, voice. shaking uncontrollably. “You would harm yourself simply because she ordered you to? What foolish. thoughts cloud your judgment?”Â
I stared blankly at him, utterly confused. I believedÂ
he had traveled to Chicago to secure the heart.Â
Why was he here instead?Â
“The heart…” I rambled frantically, gesturingÂ
toward Elena. “She held the organ hostage. I hadÂ
no choice but injure myself, otherwise EstelleÂ
cannot survive.”Â
“Foolish girl.” Luca pulled a handkerchief from hisÂ
pocket and pressed it firmly against my wound.Â
“The heart was safely transported to the operatingÂ
room long ago. I never departed for Chicago. ItÂ
was merely misleading information to distract theÂ
Castellano family.”Â
Shock washed over me: He had devised the entire.Â
scheme from the very start.Â
“Luca, please listen to my explanation…” Elena panicked and tried grabbing his sleeve.Â
“Get away from me.” Luca struck her sharplyÂ
across the cheek, sending her sprawling onto the rooftop floor.Â
The powerful blow split her lip, blood seeping immediately.Â
“Do you truly believe I remained oblivious to all your schemes?” Luca looked down at her coldly, his gaze devoid of any mercy.Â
Elena clutched her bruised cheek, tear streaks ruining her makeup. “Luca… I only acted out of deep love. I cannot bear losing you.”Â
Luca turned away in revulsion, refusing to glanceÂ
at her again.Â
“Take her away.”Â
Bodyguards dragged Elena away without mercy.Â
“Would you sever ties with the entire CastellanoÂ
clan just for this woman?” Elena’s shrill cries faded gradually until silence prevailed once more.Â
Luca’s fiery anger faded into complexÂ
contemplation as he fixed his gaze on me. “DoesÂ
your wrist hurt?”Â
I shook my head, yet tears spilled uncontrollably. “Not really.”Â
“Lies.” He sighed deeply, lifted me gently into hisÂ
arms. “Let’s get your wound treated.”Â
“Estelle is still undergoing surgery…”Â
“Rest assured. Top–tier specialists oversee the procedure. She will pull through safely.”Â
Relaxing completely within his embrace, I finallyÂ
let all suppressed emotions surface.Â
Estelle’s transplant surgery proved highlyÂ
successful. Watching her tiny heart beat steadilyÂ
once more, I felt my own soul revive alongsideÂ
hers.Â
She stayed under intensive care observation forÂ
three days before transferring to a regular ward.Â
Luca stayed by my side throughout this period,Â
quietly handling business affairs or peeling freshÂ
fruits in silence.Â
Seven years of estrangement lingered heavilyÂ
between us. I sensed he awaited my voluntaryÂ
confession.Â
On the fourth afternoon, his assistant delivered aÂ
thick sealed file folder. Luca set it aside on theÂ
nightstand unopened.Â
“What is this?” I asked nervously.Â
“An investigative report detailing the Castellano family’s illegal activities.” Luca studied me calmly. “I overheard fragments of your rooftopÂ
conversation with Elena. Now I wish to hear theÂ
full truth. I need to understand why the proud.Â
woman I knew chose to abandon me and endureÂ
public scorn.”Â
His persistent gaze broke down my emotional barriers completely.Â
“Do you recall why your startup struggledÂ
relentlessly for funding back then?” I spoke hoarsely, recounting events from seven yearsÂ
prior.Â
Luca’s newly established company boasted exceptional technology yet faced constant obstacles. Bank loans got rejected, investors withdrew commitments abruptly, and landlords broke rental contracts willingly paying heavy penalties to reclaim office spaces.Â
He exhausted himself rushing around daily, suffering stomach hemorrhages from excessive drinking, only receiving cold rejection everywhere. I grieved helplessly witnessing his hardships.Â
Everything changed when Elena’s mother arranged a meeting at an upscale café. She slid a check and legal contract across the table toward me.Â
“Three million dollars. Leave Luca permanently.”Â
“Do you wonder why misfortune constantlyÂ
plagues him? My husband issued strict warnings.Â
No local opportunities will open for him withoutÂ
our family’s approval.”Â
“You love him, yet so does my daughter. TheÂ
Castellanos can grant him boundless success.Â
What can you offer? Cheap takeout meals andÂ
cramped basement living?”Â
“Accept the money and vanish, making him growÂ
bitter and give up entirely. Our family willÂ
immediately inject massive capital, and bankÂ
loans will be approved the very next day.”Â
I stared at the check. The funds meant survival forÂ
Luca’s career yet buried our heartfelt romanceÂ
forever.Â
Staying beside him doomed his talents toÂ
perpetual suppression and stagnation. DepartureÂ
filled his heart with hatred yet paved his pathÂ
toward extraordinary achievements. I ultimatelyÂ
chose self–sacrifice.

