“You’ll never be good enough for them,” Carmela’s voice was low and venomous, her fingers grazing the pendant at her throat as if to reassure herself it was still there. “Not for Matteo. Not for Salvatore. They’ve always been mine.”
My cheek burned, but before I could react, Carmela suddenly grabbed my arm and threw herself to the ground.
She curled up on the cold marble of the restoration room, tears welling in her eyes as she bit her lip, and her smile widened a fraction too late before it dissolved into something wounded and small.
“I wasn’t saying your photos were bad. I just want to suggest you to try a different angle,” her voice wobbled as her gaze flicked toward the door. “But why you… never mind.”
The door burst open.
Salvatore stormed in, a bottle of water striking the floor and rolling to a stop against the base of the steel table. The two soldiers flanking the doorway went rigid, eyes down. His gaze flared with rage as he crossed the room to Carmela’s side.
“I’m okay, Vince,” she murmured, voice trembling. “Please, don’t blame Adriana. I... I just trip.”
“You don’t need to cover for her, Carmela. I saw everything,” Salvatore said darkly. He helped Carmela to her feet like she was made of glass, his touch tender and careful. Then his gaze sharpened, cutting into me with icy fury.
“Apologize, Adriana!” The word cracked through the room, and even the men at the door seemed to hold their breath. “Have I been too soft on you, letting you think you can get away with hurting your own partner? Do you have any idea what’ll happen to the Family if she gets hurt?”
I returned his gaze with the same coldness.
“She should be the one apologizing,” I said calmly. My thumb found the thin gold band on my finger and turned it, once. “She insulted my father. And didn’t you promise you’d always stand by me, husband?”
A flicker of panic flashed in his eyes.
“Why bring it up now? I did promise your father I’d protect you,” he said. “But not when you hurt Carmela.”
A bitter laugh escaped my lips. Finally, I saw him for what he truly was.
Then, a wave of dizziness struck me. My legs gave out beneath me and everything faded to black.
I woke up to the sterile scent of disinfectant stinging my nose. The Family’s own doctor stood beside the bed, packing away her instruments, the door guarded from the hall the way every room on the estate was guarded.
“Congratulations,” she said brightly. “You're pregnant. You're in good health, but you’ll need to take care of yourself and avoid stress.”
My hand drifted to my stomach.
For five years, I had dreamed of having a child with Salvatore. I just never thought it would happen now, of all times.
My private phone vibrated. It was a message from Salvatore:
[The doctor said you just need to rest.]
[Once you apologize to Carmela, I’ll send someone to pick you up.]
I smiled bitterly and powered off my phone.
“Madam, the Don has arranged for another check-up. Please come with me.”
As I followed the doctor toward a side room, I felt a strange sense of unease settle over me, the way the air changes when a room has been emptied on purpose.
Carmela’s voice suddenly echoed from behind me. “I heard you’re pregnant? Looks like I underestimated you.” Her tone was laced with venom. “Do you know why you haven’t been able to get pregnant these past five years?”
I turned around and met her smug gaze.
“It’s because I told Vince that a child of yours would threaten his place at the head of this Family.”
“Those calcium supplements he’s been giving you every day?” Carmela leaned in closer, her voice dripping with malice, her fingers drifting again to the pendant at her throat. “They were birth control pills.”
She watched me carefully, waiting for me to break. But I didn’t give her the satisfaction.
With a void expression in my face, I said, “Whatever.”
I turned to leave, but suddenly, a powerful force struck me from behind. I tumbled down the marble steps, completely unprepared for the impact.
Pain exploded through my body as blood pooled beneath me, staining the expensive carpet. I lost our baby.
After the surgery, I left the papers dissolving the bloodline union on the nightstand. Without looking back, I walked out of the Family’s private hospital and headed straight for the airport.
Just before the plane took off, Salvatore’s last text came through:
[I didn’t think you’d have the nerve to offend Carmela. You’re completely lacking the grace of a Don’s wife.]
[Swallow your pride and apologize!]
I slid the thin gold band from my finger, and this time I did not turn it. Then I crushed my SIM card and tossed it into the airport trash can.
