Bianca's POV
I was stuck in a hospital bed, still weak and lightheaded. My arms ached from the blood loss, and it was hard to even sit up without getting dizzy. But none of that hurt as much as what I was keeping inside. I was grieving the loss of my baby.
In my confinement, I received news of him and Serafina from everywhere else. A mutual associate sent a video. Dominic was laughing at some charity gala held at the family's waterfront casino, his hand firmly on her waist. Another video came in: Dominic feeding Serafina a slice of cake at a private dinner, leaning in close to whisper something that made her giggle.
He looked happy and free.
When I was finally discharged, I walked out by myself. No one was there to pick me up. Not Dominic, not a bodyguard, not even one of the lowest-ranking soldiers in the Valente Family. Just me, carrying a hospital bag and the awful truth that I didn't matter to them anymore.
I really didn't want to return to the estate. Just thinking about it made my skin crawl. But all my things had been sent back there, so I didn't have a choice.
Then, just my luck, I saw them right outside the maternity wing. Serafina looked proud and happy, like she was already celebrating. Dominic stood next to her, his hand on her back like he was showing her off.
A nurse passed by. Her head turned to them, and she chirped, "Mr. Valente, your wife is glowing today!"
My stomach twisted, but I didn't correct her. I didn't have the strength anyway.
Instead, I turned. I started to walk away.
"Bianca." Dominic's voice cut through the hallway, and I froze for a second. My spine stiffened, but I didn't turn around right away. Of course he saw me. Of course he had to call me now, when I was trying to vanish quietly into the background.
I finally turned, meeting his eyes from across the polished floor of the maternity wing. "I didn't follow you. Just so you know, I was just discharged. I didn't know you'd be here."
He narrowed his eyes, but before he could say anything, Serafina clung to his arm.
"Babe, please let her come with us," she said sweetly, her tone so fake it made my skin crawl. "I feel bad for her. She gave me blood, remember? It's the least we can do."
I almost laughed.
Dominic touched her nose affectionately. "You're too kind. Alright."
So I got in the car. Not because I wanted to, but because I had nowhere else to go just yet. My important documents were still at the estate.
In the backseat, I sat in silence. A pair of underwear stained with white liquid lay on the seat beside me, and it stung my heart.
Serafina twisted in her seat, tossing me a smirk over her shoulder. "Oh my god, I just realized, my panties are still here. Can you believe that, babe? After everything we did in the backseat last week?"
She giggled shamelessly, like we were old friends reminiscing, not the two women tied to the same man.
Dominic chuckled, completely unbothered. "You nearly tore the seat stitching."
"Mmm," Serafina purred. "You weren't complaining when I was grinding on your lap while you were parked outside the estate gates. Or that time I unzipped you during that long drive out to the docks and kept you nice and distracted."
Dominic smirked, eyes on the road like none of this was out of place. "That's because you make traffic worth it."
"And remember the time you had to pull over because I wouldn't stop using my mouth? God, you nearly lost it."
My stomach churned. I stared out the window, jaw locked so tight it ached. My fingers clenched in my lap, nails digging half-moons into my palms.
While they flirted like I wasn't even there, I quietly fished my phone from my bag and opened the latest encrypted message from Marco, my cousin. My heart gave a tiny, traitorous flutter as I read about my confirmed flight. The one I'd been waiting on for days.
Below the itinerary, he'd written a short message:
[Here's another flight schedule, Bianca. Hope you catch this one. The flight is scheduled for tonight at 9 PM.]
I smiled to myself. Just a little.
I typed a quick reply:
[Thank you so much, Marco. I'm sorry for missing the last one.]
Almost instantly, the reply appeared:
[What really happened that day? You can tell me.]
My fingers hovered above the screen. I didn't want to lie to him. Marco had always looked out for me. But if I told him the truth, he'd start a war between the families, and I didn't want blood spilled because of me.
So instead, I typed:
[I'll explain soon. I just need to get out first.]
Because to leave this place was what I wanted the most.
Dominic laughed softly, whispering an apology to Serafina for forgetting something, even taking the blame. Regardless, all the while, he watched me out of the corner of his eye, clearly hoping for a reaction.
But I gave him nothing. Not even a flicker of emotion.
That same strange frustration I saw in him back at the hospital stirred again. He couldn't stand it when I went quiet.
"Bianca, you've been glued to your phone ever since we got in the car," he snapped. "Who are you talking to? Someone I don't know?"
"Just reading the news." I didn't even glance at him and just gazed down at my electronic plane ticket.
It seemed that he didn't believe me as his face tightened, and I was shocked when, without a word, he suddenly snatched the phone from my hands. My heart jumped in my chest, not from fear, but from the sharp sting of anger.
I clenched my jaw, trying not to let the heat show on my face, but my fists curled on instinct. So much for respect.
"What's the passcode?"
"It's the date we met, Dominic. You know, that magical day where I made the worst decision of my life and fell for you? It should be easy to remember, as you were charming for five whole minutes before turning into a full-time nightmare." I didn't bother hiding the venom in my voice. Let it burn.
Dominic sighed in irritation, already regretting the guessing game he'd started. He tapped at the screen once. Twice. A third time.
The phone buzzed and flashed red. Locked.
Beside him, Serafina rolled her eyes and leaned in with a mockingly sweet voice. "Just let it go, babe. So what if she's on her phone? It's not like she has any friends left. Or dignity. I mean, what else can she do now besides text someone who pities her enough to reply?"
She winked at me with a smirk.
