Page 110 of The Deal

“I just did.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my cool. “Can I ask why you didn’t even bother to ring our son to wish him a Merry Christmas?”

“My son,” she corrects, her voice sharp, which only annoys me further. She always rubs that in. “And I was busy … I forgot.”

“Busy doing what?”

She falls silent momentarily like she’s choosing her words carefully. “I’m not sure how you will feel about this, but I’ve met someone.”

“To be honest, I couldn’t care less.” Her admission lingers in my mind for a moment, and then I add, “Unless you’re planning on taking our son out of the country because I will have an issue with that.”

“My son,” she repeats, her voice colder now.

“It takes more than DNA to be a father, Sophia,” I mutter as the bitterness creeps in. “You only need to look at his absent sperm donor to see that.”

“Maybemyson’s sperm donor wouldn’t be absent if I knew who he was.”

Does she even realise or care how bad that sounds? “Hmm,” I hum, my tone full of disgust.

“I haven’t told Luigi—the guy I’ve met—about Giovanni yet. He’s mentioned he’s not fond of kids.”

This is another reason why my son will never live in Italy with her. “He sounds like a real catch,” I grumble, my voice thick with sarcasm.

“Listen,” she snaps. “I didn’t call for your attitude. Will you take him to his fitting or not?”

“I already told you I would. It’s not like you have an alternative.”

“I could ask Mimi.”

“Will you be back for his first day of school?”

“I don’t know.”

“Wow,” I say, genuinely flabbergasted not just by her flippancy, but by her complete disregard for her son.

“You’re always bitching that you don’t see him enough,” she snarls as if it’s somehow my fault. “I didn’t think you’d mind. If it’s an issue, drop him off at the house; Mimi will take care of him until I return.”

“He’s staying with me,” I reply sharply. “I never said it was an issue. I’d keep him indefinitely if you’d let me. I think you know that.”

The silence on the other end of the line is thick, but I don’t care. I’ve had enough of her excuses. “Is there anything else he needs for school just in case you’re not back for his first day?”

“Umm … yeah, a bag and stuff.”

“Stuff. Could you be more specific?”

“Mimi has a detailed list. I can’t exactly remember what was on it.”

“Okay, I’ll chase it up with her.”

“Thank you.”

“No problem.”

I hate how she treats Giovanni sometimes, but I’m grateful he gets to stay with me a little longer. He’s settled in so quickly, and for the first time in ages, he seems truly happy and more relaxed. But the thought of him leaving soon makes my stomach turn. It’s going to break his little fucking heart—and mine—and there’s nothing I can do to shield him from that.

Chloe pulls out her phone and snaps a picture of Giovanni in his school uniform as the seamstress carefully pins up the sleeves of his blazer. He looks so grown up, and it makes my heart ache.

He’s growing so fast, more of a little man now than the cherub-faced baby I fell in love with the day he was born.

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