Dante's expression changed almost instantly, the softness gone. His face hardened as he looked at me. "So, you finally decided to come home?"
I ignored the accusation hidden in his words and instead asked calmly, "Viviana… is eating nuts?"
The memory surfaced clearly in my mind. When Viviana first got pregnant, I had carefully prepared a meal for her, trying to be considerate. I had sprinkled a few nuts on top without thinking.
She had gone into a severe allergic reaction. And Dante had completely lost his temper at me because of it.
Dante frowned, clearly confused by my question. "What are you talking about?"
It was obvious he didn't remember any of it. Or maybe he never cared enough to remember.
I looked at him for a second, then shook my head slightly. "Never mind."
He didn't press further. Instead, he looked me up and down, as if evaluating something.
"Anyway, go freshen up," he said casually. "It's Viv's birthday today. I've already booked a private room at the supper club on Mulberry."
Then he added, almost as an afterthought, "Just don't go too heavy on the makeup. You don't want to outshine the birthday girl."
His words made me respond instinctively. "I'm busy. You two go ahead."
Dante's brows furrowed immediately, irritation flashing across his face.
"Viv already told her friends we're throwing her a birthday party," he said sharply. "If you don't show up, it'll embarrass her."
He paused before continuing, his tone turning colder. "Look, I know you're feeling jealous because she's young and can carry an heir."
"But it's not Viv's fault that you can't get pregnant. Why do you keep competing with her?"
Then, as if offering me a compromise, he said, "Here's the deal. You celebrate her birthday tonight, and I'll grant you one wish afterward."
"You can pick anywhere you want to travel," he added, as if that would make everything better.
I hesitated for a brief moment. Then, unexpectedly, I smiled. "Okay," I said simply.
That evening, I took my time getting ready. I carefully applied my makeup, choosing the best look I could manage. When I arrived at the supper club's private back room, I was right on time.
The moment Dante saw me, he seemed stunned. For a second, he didn't say anything at all.
Then he walked over, taking my hand as he looked at me, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Viviana's expression shifted slightly when she noticed his reaction. But she quickly regained her composure, her smile returning as she turned to introduce me to her friends.
She moved gracefully through the room, her demeanor elegant and confident, as if she were the center of everything.
In the corner, her boyfriend Rocco lounged lazily on the leather banquette, blowing smoke rings into the air like he owned the place, completely at ease. One of the soldiers stationed near the door glanced at him and then looked away, the contempt barely concealed.
A waiter soon wheeled in a three-tier cake that Dante had specially ordered for her. The room buzzed with excitement as everyone gathered around.
When it was time to make a wish, Viviana clasped her hands together, her face glowing with a soft, radiant smile, like a princess in a fairy tale.
"I have three wishes!" she announced sweetly.
"First, Dante can't call me a little troublemaker anymore!" she said playfully.
"Second, Dante can't ignore Serena because of me!" she added, glancing at me with feigned sincerity.
"Third…" she paused, her smile widening. "I wish I could pass my easy-pregnancy genes to Serena, so she can have an heir for my brother soon!"
The room went quiet for half a beat. Not the comfortable kind of quiet. The kind where people glance at the Don's wife to see if she'll break.
My fingers found the fine chain at my throat.
Her words had barely settled in the air when my bag suddenly slipped from my hand.
A piece of paper slid out and fell onto the floor.
Dante bent down and picked it up.
The moment his eyes landed on the bold printed words, Post-Abortion Care Instructions, his face turned pale.
He looked up at me, his expression shaken. "Serena… what is this?"
