Blurb：
Embark on an enchanting journey with Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, as he discovers his magical heritage at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Join Harry, Hermione Granger, and Ron Weasley as they unravel mysteries, face Lord Voldemort, and uncover the secrets of the Sorcerer’s Stone. A must-read for fans of fantasy, magic, and epic friendships!
Content：
I hadn’t seen my mafia husband, Luca Moretti, and our daughter Dora in three whole months.
Why? Because his mother, Fiona, said Dora should stay with her for a while.
And Luca? He was too busy with business, as always.
So when Luca finally called and said he was going to pick me up for a family reunion at the villa, I was overjoyed.
I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d finally get to hold my little girl again.
I spent the whole damn day running around the city, buying her favorite dolls, snacks, a new pink dress, anything I thought would make her smile at me again.
But when the car arrived, it wasn’t what I imagined.
Before I could even say Hi, Dora turned her head, took one look at me… and then wrapped her arms even tighter around Maria, the maid.
She buried her face in Maria’s neck like I wasn’t even there.
Like Maria was her mom.
I tried to approach her, but Dora straight-up told me she didn’t want to ride in the same car as me.
And Maria, wearing that fake, polite smile, kept trying to gently talk me into giving Dora “a little more time.”
I looked over at Luca, hoping he’d step in.
Instead, he just looked annoyed, like he couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger to help fix things between me and our daughter.
Clearly, they didn’t want me there.
So what was the point of trying to join the ride?
I stepped back from the SUV.
Then Luca just turned to me and said, “Just wait here. I won’t be long.”
What he’ll never understand is… I’m done waiting for him.
Chapter 1
I hadn’t seen my mafia husband, Luca Moretti, and our daughter Dora in three whole months.
Why? Because his mother, Fiona, said Dora should stay with her “for a while.”
And Luca? He was “too busy with business,” as always.
So when Luca finally called and said he was going to pick me up for a family reunion at the villa, I was overjoyed.
I thought maybe, just maybe, I’d finally get to hold my little girl again.
I spent the whole damn day running around the city, buying her favorite dolls, snacks, a new pink dress, anything I thought would make her smile at me again.
But when the car arrived, it wasn’t what I imagined.
Before I could even say Hi, Dora turned her head, took one look at me… and then wrapped her arms even tighter around Maria, the maid.
She buried her face in Maria’s neck like I wasn’t even there.
Like Maria was her mom.
I tried to approach her, but Dora straight-up told me she didn’t want to ride in the same car as me.
And Maria, wearing that fake, polite smile, kept trying to gently talk me into giving Dora “a little more time.”
I looked over at Luca, hoping he’d step in.
Instead, he just looked annoyed, like he couldn’t be bothered to lift a finger to help fix things between me and our daughter.
Clearly, they didn’t want me there.
So what was the point of trying to join the ride?
I stepped back from the SUV.
Then Luca just turned to me and said, “Just wait here. I won’t be long.”
What he’ll never understand is… I’m done waiting for him.
…
Honestly, the moment I saw Maria, I knew something was off.
She was dressed like she was the spotlight, tight, glittery evening dress, heels too high to walk in, cleavage out, lips cherry red.
Who dresses like that for a family reunion?
She looked more like the hostess than the maid.
And me? I was in jeans, sneakers, and a loose tee, dragging a heavy suitcase full of Dora’s favorite dolls and little pink things she used to love.
At that point, I wasn’t even sure who looked more like the maid, me or her.
I didn’t want to go anymore. Not like this.
But I pushed the thought away. I told myself this was about Dora. Only about Dora.
So when I saw Luca getting into the SUV, getting ready to leave without me, I snapped.
I rushed over and yanked the door open before he could even start the engine.
“No, I want to go with you,” I said, climbing in halfway.
Luca looked over at me, caught off guard, but before he could say a word, Dora, who was sitting on Maria’s lap in the passenger seat, burst into tears.
“No! I don’t wanna go with her!” she cried, her little arms wrapping around Maria’s neck like a lifeline.
Maria started patting her back gently, whispering something to calm her down, and then gave me this sweet, fake-ass smile.
“Mrs. Moretti,” she said softly, like she was doing me a favor, “how about this? You can ride with them, and I’ll wait here with Dora. Or if you’d rather…”
“No,” Luca cut her off, voice sharp. “Absolutely not.”
He turned to me, his face stiff, jaw tight. That little frown between his brows, that was his tell. He wasn’t just annoyed. He was pissed.
“Catrina,” he said in that low, cold voice of his, “be a good mom. I told you I won’t be long. But if you’re that impatient, you can always take the train.”
I stared at him. “Even on the fastest train, it’s five hours.”
He didn’t answer. Just turned back to the wheel like the conversation was over.
I stood there for a second, stunned.
Then, without a word, I pulled my suitcase back out of the SUV, dragging it across the gravel like it weighed a hundred pounds. Probably because it did.
I stepped to the side and watched as the car started to pull away.
Dora turned her little face away from the window so she wouldn’t see me.
And Maria? She smiled at me, actually waved, with this smug little look that made my blood boil.
Luca didn’t look at me at all. He kept his eyes on the road, his profile as cold and distant as ever.
For a moment, I just stood there, staring at my hand, the one still wearing the engagement ring he gave me all those years ago. I’d never taken it off. Not once. But right then… I wanted to rip it off and throw it across the driveway.
I didn’t.
Instead, I shook it off and walked back inside the house — empty, hot, and silent.
I flopped down on the sofa, pulled out my phone, and started scrolling through Instagram just to distract myself.
That’s when I saw it.
A story. Posted by Maria one minute ago.
Luca behind the wheel. That same sharp jawline, sunglasses on, looking like a damn magazine model.
Someone had already commented: “Maria, is this your boyfriend?”
I snorted. She better not answer that, I thought.
But a second later, she did.
A blushing emoji.
That was it.
What. The. Heck.
My chest tightened like I’d been sucker-punched. I felt like I couldn’t breathe.
This summer wasn’t supposed to be that hot, but right then, I was burning up inside.
I threw my phone on the table, marched over to the air conditioner, and pressed the button.
Nothing.
Electricity was out.
I looked around the sweltering, dead-silent house and muttered to myself, “Great. No AC. No lights. No husband. No daughter.”
And no damn clue how long I’d be stuck in this house.
Chapter 2
I paced around the living room, back and forth, like a caged animal.
What could I do to wipe that smug look off Maria’s face on Instagram?
Maybe dig up an old photo of Luca and me, something intimate, just to remind the world who he married.
But the truth?
In seven years of marriage, I could barely find a single photo of us that looked romantic.
Luca always said, “In this business, privacy keeps us alive.”
So tell me, if privacy’s so damn important, why was he letting Maria post him all over her stories?
My hands trembled as I picked up my phone.
I thought maybe she’d already deleted the last post, as that’s what Luca always told me to do.
Nope.
Instead, she’d posted again. Just minutes later.
This time, she was on the beach in a bikini, same color as her tight evening dress from earlier, draped over her arm.
She had one heel hooked lazily on her pinky finger.
Then she tossed a handful of water straight at Luca while standing in the surf.
And he was smiling at her.
Actually smiling.
I blinked. Who the heck was filming this? My daughter? Dora?
They looked like a real family. A picture-perfect one.
And me? What was I?
The woman who gave birth to Dora after a hellish pregnancy, who stayed quiet and obedient in the middle of the Moretti chaos just to protect our family name?
The woman still waiting at home for a husband who promised, ‘I won’t be long’?
Guess what, Luca? You’re not quick. You’re just gone.
I was done. I was completely, soul-crushingly done.
I locked the screen of my phone, my vision blurring with heat and rage.
My fingers brushed over the ring again.
This time, I took it off.
It didn’t mean anything anymore.
I picked up my phone and called his mother, Fiona Moretti. She answered almost instantly.
“Mother,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady, “I’m sorry, but this year… I might not be able to make it to the family reunion, because…”
“That’s unacceptable, Catrina,” she snapped, cutting me off. “Luca’s brother managed to fly in from Italy with business on his plate. There’s no excuse.”
Then she hung up.
Just like that. Cold. Dismissive. Exactly like her son.
I stared at my phone for a moment, then shoved the ring, worth a cool million dollars, into my pocket.
I was done being ruined in silence.
If I was leaving, I was taking something with me. I wanted to leave with my daughter.
Maybe it was my fault for letting Maria stay so close to Dora.
I had no idea what she whispered to her, what lies she told to make my baby turn on me.
But I believed, and I had to believe, that if I could just spend time with Dora, she’d remember who I really was.
I changed out of my casual clothes and into a tailored LV suit.
Neat. Sharp. Elegant. I looked like someone worth taking seriously.
The house was still hot, still dark, the electricity still out.
I didn’t care anymore.
I left and set the beach as my destination. They had to be there. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
But nothing’s ever smooth in my life.
The first driver canceled, said it was too far.
I waited another twenty minutes before finally getting a ride.
By the time I reached the beach, the sun was already setting.
They were gone.
I checked Maria’s Instagram again.
Luckily, ten minutes ago, she posted a new story, this time at a nearby restaurant.
I rushed there.
And what did I see the second I walked in?
Maria was feeding Luca soup. Same spoon. Smiling. Like she belonged there.
And Dora? She sat beside them, quietly playing a game on her phone like it was normal.
I couldn’t take it.
I stormed over, picked Dora up into my arms.
She gasped, clearly shocked, staring at me like I was a stranger.
Then she pushed me away.
“Don’t touch me, Catrina!”
Catrina. Not Mom. Not even Mama.
Maria stood up, rushing over with her usual fake concern, Dora, it’s okay…”
But I stepped between them.
“She’s my daughter,” I said sharply. “You better remember that. Which means, you have no right to interfere. You’re just the maid.”
Dora pulled away from me, running straight to Maria.
She clutched her hand like she was clinging to life.
“You’re the one who doesn’t have the right,” she snapped at me. “Maria can do whatever she wants!”
I couldn’t even speak. My heart felt like it cracked in half.
My voice came out weak. “Dora, sweetheart… what did I do wrong? Why are you pushing me away? Why are you defending a maid?”
Dora crossed her arms. “You look down on Maria. But to me, Maria’s not just a maid.”
“Then what is she to you?” My voice shook. I was barely holding it together.
Before she could answer, Luca stood up, his tone as icy as ever. “That’s enough, Catrina. I told you to wait. What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here?” I laughed bitterly. “Luca, I wasn’t going to wait until tomorrow like a fool!”
Maria stepped in again, with her fake concern turned all the way up. “I’m sorry, Catrina. I didn’t mean to upset you. We just wanted Dora to feel safe. Maybe we should leave now. There are people watching, and it could put Luca at risk.”
Luca looked around, scanning the crowd.
“She’s right,” he muttered. “Catrina, stop with the drama. Sit down and eat something. Or go wait in the car.”
Drama.
Now I was drama.
I looked at Dora one last time. She stared at me like she didn’t recognize me at all.
I turned to Luca, lowering my voice. “Can we talk outside? Just a minute.”
He sighed, annoyed, but nodded.
Outside, the night had fully fallen. Streetlights buzzed overhead.
I looked at the man I used to love.
“Luca, can you ask Maria to leave us for a while? Just let me talk to Dora without her around. I think she’d open up if Maria wasn’t always between us.”
He shook his head. “Catrina, this isn’t about Maria. This is about you. You need to face that. We don’t have time for this. I’ve still got a three-hour drive ahead.”
“Oh, so you had time to splash around at the beach, but now you’re suddenly in a hurry?”
He frowned. “You’re tracking us now?”
“You left me no choice.”
“You’ve changed, Catrina.”
“So have you,” I said quietly.
He didn’t respond. Just turned and walked back into the restaurant.
As he did, I noticed Maria staring at us through the window.
He told me to wait again. But I wasn’t that woman anymore.
I walked away from the restaurant, hailed a cab, and as soon as I got in, I pulled out my phone and typed the words I never thought I’d send:
“Let’s divorce. I’m not going to the family reunion.”
I hit send. Then I shut my phone off.
Chapter 3
After sending the text, I found a quiet little pawn shop outside the city, walked in without a word, and sold the ring.
I still got tens of thousands for it, but I didn’t feel the joy I used to when money hit my account.
This wasn’t a war. This was my life. And in this life, there were no winners.
Then I booked a small hotel right along the route to the Moretti estate.
I didn’t have a real plan… just a hope.
Maybe I could still get one last chance to see Dora.
Maybe I could intercept them, talk to her without Maria around, just once.
That night, I couldn’t sleep.
I sat by the window, watching SUVs pass by on the highway.
Every time one went by, I wondered, was that them?
Had they already gotten there?
Were they wondering where I was?
Probably not.
I don’t even remember how many hours I sat like that.
At some point, my body gave up, and I fell asleep right there, still sitting by the window with my eyes half open.
…
The next night, around the time I figured the reunion party would be in full swing, I couldn’t help myself.
I turned my phone back on.
The second it lit up, it started vibrating like crazy nonstop.
Dozens of missed calls.
Luca. Maria. A bunch of numbers I didn’t even recognize.
I thought I’d feel calm.
I thought I was done with this.
But seeing all those missed calls? I felt something crack in my chest.
I thought I was ready to walk away. I wasn’t.
And then Luca’s name lit up again.
A voicemail came through.
His voice, low and pissed:
“Catrina, you’ve disappointed me. You want a divorce? It’s not gonna be that easy.”
I stared at my screen in a daze. Same old Luca. Still acting like I was some naive little thing who’d obey just because he snapped his fingers.
Seven years ago, he said something almost exactly like that.
Back then, he left me a message after I’d tried to distance myself from him, once I found out he was Mafia. He said:
“We’re meant to be together. You think you can avoid me? It’s not that easy.”
Back then, I was touched by how sure he was. I gave in. I said yes.
And then I entered his world, the Moretti family.
That was the first time I saw Maria.
I remember staring at her in confusion.
She was wearing an elegant cream dress and diamond earrings, standing in the foyer like she owned it.
I leaned close to Luca and asked, “You never told me you had a sister.”
He gave Maria this warm smile, then looked at me and said, “She’s not my sister. She’s our maid… or, more like, the maid’s daughter. Maria.”
That made no sense to me.
She looked like royalty. How the heck was that the maid?
From the first second I saw her, I envied her.
She was at ease in the house, knew every room, every person.
The family liked her. Trusted her.
Even Fiona, Luca’s mom, used to whisper her phone passcode to Maria in front of me, like it was nothing.
But the way she treated me?
Cold. Suspicious.
Always asking too many questions about my background, my parents, my education.
Every word had a layer of judgment underneath.
Even after I married Luca, Fiona never stopped comparing me to Maria.
Maria this, Maria that.
And Luca, he was the only one who ‘never’ brought Maria up.
Until now.
Because now? He was choosing her too.
The one person who once picked me was already gone.
The phone rang again.
Luca.
I let it ring twice… then answered.
Silence.
I guess he wasn’t expecting me to pick up.
Then, finally, he spoke, quieter than before.
“Let’s talk. Face to face. Will you, Catrina?”
I didn’t say anything, but tears rolled down my cheeks.
He must’ve heard it in my breath, because his voice softened.
“Don’t make any rash decisions. Please. Just come down to the garage. I know where you are. I’m already here.”
He wasn’t at the party?
That caught me off guard.
I hesitated for a moment… then grabbed my coat and went down.
The garage was quiet, dimly lit. His SUV was there.
I climbed into the passenger seat.
I wanted to yell, to accuse him, to ask every question that had been eating me alive.
But when I saw his face, messy hair, stubble, eyes full of something raw, I broke.
I cried.
He reached out and pulled me into a tight hug.
“I can’t stand the thought of divorcing you,” he said into my shoulder. “Even thinking about it hurts like hell.”
I stayed there for a moment.
Then I caught it, Maria’s perfume.
It was faint but unmistakable.
On the seat. On the fabric. On him.
I pulled away. My voice came out low and steady.
“Do you even know why I want a divorce, Luca?”
He didn’t answer.
I looked him straight in the eyes.
“It’s Maria. You keep saying I’m the problem. But I’ve hated her from the start. She’s taken everything from me, my place in this family, my daughter, even you. And now you defend her like she’s untouchable.”
I choked, the tears coming faster. “I gave up everything for you. And I ended up with nothing.”
Luca’s face changed. He reached for my hand.
“I’m sorry, Catrina. I’m really sorry. I never meant to say those things to you…”
He looked like he wanted to say more, but then his phone rang.
Not the default ringtone—no, this one was special. Sweet. Personal.
I guessed. Or rather, I knew. There was only one possible answer: Maria was calling.
Luca immediately held up a hand, signaling to pause the conversation.
“Sorry, I have to take this. It’s important. Can I step out for a moment? Let’s talk more in a bit.”
What could I say?
I just nodded, keeping my voice steady. “Sure. Go ahead.”
Before I’d come down, I was planning to ask why he took Maria to the beach, why he let her feed him in a public restaurant, why Dora now worships her like a second mother.
But now? I didn’t need the answers anymore. Because I already had them.
We’d both changed.
And I didn’t know if there was anything left to save.
Chapter 4
I really thought I could get away from him.
But I underestimated just how deep the Moretti name ran.
Every time I tried to find a lawyer to help me file for divorce, they’d go quiet the second I said Luca’s name.
Some got jittery.
Others just straight up told me they “weren’t taking new clients.”
But we both knew what it was. No one wanted to go against the Morettis.
And just when I was running out of ideas, Luca called me.
“Tomorrow’s Dora’s birthday,” he said, like he was talking about the weather. “She wants to see her mom.”
My chest tightened. “Dora wants to see me?” I tried to stay cool, but my voice cracked a little. “Are you serious?”
“You think I’d lie about that?” Then I heard Dora’s voice in the background.
“I want to see my mom.”
That tiny voice hit me like a punch to the gut.
I blinked fast, trying not to cry. I smiled for the first time in weeks.
“I’ll see you tomorrow, sweetheart,” I said quickly, before she could change her mind.
I asked Luca, “Where we meeting?”
“The Villa Rosetta. Via Bellagio 1925.”
Villa Rosetta. Of course. One of the Moretti estates. Where his parents stayed most of the time. That part made me nervous.
“Wait,” I asked, “is it gonna be just the three of us? You, me, Dora?”
But the line was already dead.
I had a bad feeling.
***
Still, I showed up the next day. I wore my nicest dress.
I told myself this might be the last time I ever saw Luca, or any of them, because once I had Dora with me, I was gone.
I’d saved for years, stashed cash no one knew about.
Maybe I couldn’t legally divorce him, but I could start a new life.
A quiet one. Just me and my daughter.
When I arrived, the smell of homemade food hit me right away.
Fiona was actually cooking in the kitchen, and the maid, Maria’s mother, was hanging up streamers and flowers.
The place looked… warm.
Luca was in the foyer, and when he saw me, he just stared like he hadn’t seen me in years.
Even his father showed up, flanked by two of his assistants in dark suits.
I kept my cool, smiled, nodded. “Father. Mother. Hope you’re both doing well.”
Fiona smiled back, genuinely, weirdly enough.
And Luca’s father gave me his usual nod, that half-second acknowledgment he gave the waitstaff too.
I turned to Luca. “Where’s Dora?”
“She’s getting dressed,” he said, avoiding my eyes.
“She’s alone? I’ll go help…”
“No, she’s got help,” he cut in fast.
My stomach sank. Help? From who?
I didn’t have to ask.
A few minutes later, Maria walked in, holding Dora’s hand.
Just like that, every hope I had for the day crumbled.
Dora looked at me, just a second, and then looked away like she didn’t want to deal with me. Same as always. Cold. Distant. Like I was a stranger.
Fiona rushed over with a big grin.
She handed Dora a tiny velvet box.
A diamond bracelet that probably cost more than my apartment.
Then she turned to Maria, clasped a matching necklace around her neck like she was her own daughter.
“Happy birthday, my two little goddesses!” she beamed.
I froze.
My eyes shot to the wall.
There it was, big shiny letters: “Happy Birthday, Dora & Maria.”
Their birthdays were on the same damn day.
I felt dizzy.
I slipped the small gift I’d brought for Dora back into my purse.
No way I was giving it to her now.
Not when she barely looked at me.
Everyone smiled like this was the happiest day of the year.
I stood in the corner, clutching my purse like it could keep me grounded.
Luca kept glancing at me like he was sorry.
But that didn’t help.
When it was time for dinner, he came over and took my hand.
“Come on,” he said, gently. “Sit with us.”
Maria’s eyes followed us to the table.
She didn’t say a word, but her frown spoke volumes.
At dinner, she leaned toward Dora and said sweetly, “Look who’s here to celebrate with you; your mom!”
Dora didn’t even glance my way. Just kept looking at Maria.
“Say something to your mom, Dora,” Luca said, clearly pissed off.
Dora turned slowly to me. Her little voice trembled. “Mom… please don’t hurt Maria.”
I blinked. “What?”
I couldn’t believe what I just heard. “Why would you say that?”
Luca jumped in, his voice calm. “Dora, your mom’s not gonna hurt anyone. She’s here for you, okay?”
I turned to Dora. “Did you ask to see me, sweetheart? Did you really want me here?”
Fiona stepped in fast. “No need to talk about that now. It’s a party. Come on, cheers!”
After dinner, Fiona pulled me aside.
She handed me a small box; inside was a necklace, just like the one she gave Maria.
Only she didn’t put it on me.
She smiled and said, “Catrina… I know things haven’t been easy for you. Being part of this family… it’s not for everyone. But thank you. For bringing Dora into our lives.”
Then she walked away like nothing happened.
Like she hadn’t spent years making things difficult for me.
Later, Maria and her mother went out. Finally, Dora was alone with me.
I sat beside her on the couch. She tensed up, but not like before. At least she didn’t flinch away.
I whispered, “Happy birthday, Dora.”
She turned to look at me, and honestly, that alone almost made my heart melt.
I reached into my pocket for the little gift I’d been carrying around just for her… but then she spoke.
Her voice was cold. Way too cold for a six-year-old.
“Did you hide Maria from me?”
I froze.
“What? No, of course not—”
“You’re bothering me,” she snapped. “I’m watching TV.”
That hit harder than I thought it would.
I gave everything to bring her into this world, nearly died doing it.
And now she’s calling me a bother?
I knew then this wasn’t the moment to patch things up. Maybe one day I’d fix whatever lies they’ve fed her. But not today.
I looked at her little face in profile, still glued to the screen, and said quietly, “Alright, Dora. See you around. Maybe next time you’ll remember who your real mom is.”
She didn’t even blink.
I slipped the gift behind the couch cushion, didn’t want to leave empty-handed, but I couldn’t bear taking it with me either, and walked straight to the door.
This time, nothing was gonna stop me.
I’ll admit it—I lied to Dora.
The truth is, I didn’t care anymore whether she saw me as her real mom or not.
I’d taken care of everything. Paperwork, tickets, the car was already waiting.
If Maria was the one they all truly wanted…
Then fine. I’d disappear from their world.
I was done with the Morettis.
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