She had barely stepped past the iron gates when a message from Carmela came through.
"Tomorrow is the old Don's feast day. I'm hoping you'll come one last time. I'd also like to put the papers severing the alliance in your hands myself."
Adriana stared at the screen for a long time before typing back a single word: "Okay."
The next morning, she arrived at the Moretti estate early, planning to pay her respects and leave.
She never expected Lorenzo to walk in with Vanessa on his arm.
The courtyard, hung with white linens and the scent of garlic from the kitchens, fell into a sudden hush, then erupted. Made men and their wives turned to one another, murmuring in disbelief. Somewhere a chair scraped stone.
Carmela's face drained of color.
"Who told you to bring her here? Carlo, the men, get this woman out of my house."
"I dare anyone to try."
Lorenzo stepped forward, shielding Vanessa behind him. His gaze swept the gathering, and every word came out razor-sharp.
"Vanessa is carrying my child. A Moretti heir. I brought her here today so every man under this roof acknowledges that."
The teacup slipped from Adriana's fingers. It shattered against the marble, hot tea splashing across her legs. She didn't feel it.
Lorenzo's expression was hard as stone as he drew a folded document from inside his jacket.
"Adriana cannot bear children. The child Vanessa carries is the only heir this bloodline will get."
Carmela stumbled back a step. She snatched the report with trembling hands, her face white with shock. The relatives broke into chaos, voices overlapping, gasps rippling down the long table where Sunday wine still sat untouched.
Adriana steadied herself. She stepped forward, her gaze locked on Lorenzo like a blade.
"Where did you get this report?"
Lorenzo's voice shook.
"If Vanessa hadn't found out, were you going to hide this from the famiglia forever? Let the bloodline die out?"
Adriana let out a bitter laugh. No words came. Beneath the table's edge, her thumb found the slim band she had designed herself and turned it, slow, a quarter-rotation.
Vanessa turned to her, eyes glistening with tears.
"I know my blood isn't good enough. I know I'm not worthy of Lorenzo. But this baby is innocent. All I want is to keep it." Her answer came a beat too quick, her trembling smile stretching a fraction too wide.
"This family does not recognize that child, and it certainly does not recognize you."
Carmela's voice cut through the room like a whip. She crossed to Adriana's side and stood there like a wall built of forty years of being a Don's wife.
"Anyone who tries to set foot in this house with that woman answers to me first."
Lorenzo raised his voice.
"Mamma. Vanessa carries a son."
The room went still. Even the soldiers along the wall stopped breathing.
"I'll see Vanessa deliver this child safely. He's my only heir. As for you, Adriana, you'll always be the Don's wife. Once the boy is born, he'll be handed to you to raise. That should be enough."
Let Vanessa bear the child to carry the bloodline. Keep Adriana as the legitimate wife to preserve the Family's honor and its clean face to the world.
Adriana laughed. A cold, hollow sound.
Enough?
"What a tidy little arrangement, Don Moretti. You really do mean to have it all."
Across the room, old Vittorio Moretti heard every word. His whole body trembled. He clutched his chest and sank into his chair, one hand white-knuckled on the head of his cane.
Adriana looked at the grotesque farce unfolding before her. She drew a long breath, forcing the storm inside her down, and turned to face Salvatore Moretti, Carmela, and Vittorio. She bowed deeply, the way one bows to a bloodline one is leaving forever.
"The affairs of this Family are no longer my concern."
She turned and walked away.
"Wait. Please, wait."
Vanessa rushed after her, catching her by the arm. Tears streamed down her face, the picture of fragile, rain-soaked beauty.
"Please, I'm begging you. Let me have this baby. I'm begging you."
"Let go of me."
Adriana wrenched her arm, trying to break free.
Vanessa only gripped tighter. She leaned in close, her voice dropping to a whisper meant for Adriana's ears alone.
"Adriana Falcone. I never thought he'd still insist on keeping you as the Don's wife."
The words landed. In the same instant, the grip on Adriana's arm vanished.
Vanessa's body pitched backward. She hit the stone steps with a sickening thud, and a piercing scream tore through the courtyard.
"Ahhh!"
"Vanessa!"
Lorenzo burst through the doors to find Vanessa crumpled on the steps, both hands clutching her stomach, her face chalk-white.
"Lorenzo, she pushed me. My stomach, it hurts so much, the baby, my baby."
