The Ruthless Don Thought She Was a Fraud—Until the DNA Tampering Was Exposed and His Secret Princess Took Over the Dynasty!

The air turned arctic. Vanessa gasped as Luca tightened his grip, forcing her hand away from the child. The sound of her diamond bracelets clattering together was deafening in the silence of the terrace.

""If you ever raise a hand against this child again, Vanessa,"" Luca said, his voice dropping to a terrifying, quiet register, ""I will ensure you leave this family with nothing but the clothes on your back. Am I clear?""

""Luca, let go of my wife!"" Marco shouted, rushing up the corridor with two of his personal bodyguards following closely behind.

Luca released Vanessa with disdain, turning to face his brother. The two bodyguards reached instinctively for their holsters, but before their fingers could touch leather, half a dozen of Luca’s elite enforcers stepped from the alcoves, their submachine guns raised and aimed directly at Marco’s men.

""Stand down,"" Marco hissed through gritted teeth, realizing he was outmatched in the open hall. ""Luca, you are losing your mind over an illegitimate street child. The family council will not tolerate you threatening my wife over a kid whose DNA test failed!""

""The council answers to me,"" Luca replied cold and level. ""And the family will know the truth when I decide it is time.""

Mia stepped forward, casually tugging on Luca’s sleeve. ""Daddy, my stomach is making a roaring sound. Can I have more of that warm bread?""

The courtyard seemed to stop spinning. For the first time, Luca looked down, the harsh lines of his face softening ever so slightly. ""Come. Collins made pancakes with strawberries.""

Luca scooped Mia up, resting her comfortably on his forearm. For the rest of the morning, the estate witnessed a sight none of the veteran guards could have ever anticipated: the undisputed mafia kingpin of the city sitting at the head of the banquet table, cutting pancakes into tiny squares and patiently wiping maple syrup off a toddler’s chin.

Across the table, Julian watched them quietly, a thoughtful expression on his face. When Luca looked up, Julian gave a slight, subtle nod. The youngest brother was sharp; he had already recognized the unmistakable resemblance between Mia’s sharp jawline and the portrait of their great-grandmother hanging in the foyer.

After breakfast, Julian lingered behind. ""Luca. Dr. Vance disappeared twenty minutes ago. His locker was cleaned out.""