To Bloom from the Ashes

Ten days before my due date, my husband, Victor Russo, brought Sophia Bianchi, the girl he grew up with, back to our home.

He brought her before me, his tone leaving no room for argument.

"Sophia is struggling with depression and can't handle any stress. She's always been in love with me, and her family was afraid of what she might do, so they never told her we were married."

"You're my wife. It's your duty to accommodate her. Move into the servants' quarters for now, and to everyone else, you'll just be a servant in the house."

I remained silent and accepted his command. But on my way to the servants' quarters, I ran into Sophia Bianchi.

The moment she saw my swollen belly, she lost control. She shoved me to the ground, screaming.

"Victor! How could you have a child with another woman!"

"If this is how it is, what's the point of me even living!"

With that, she sprinted wildly toward the estate's lake in a desperate suicide attempt.

Aching for her, Victor dragged her from the lake and clutched her tightly, whispering reassurances without a single glance in my direction.

That evening, he brought me a glass of wine as a supposed apology.

"Isabella, we can have another child, but Sophia only has one life."

I packed my things once more.

But this time, I wasn't heading to the servants' quarters.

I was walking toward a hearse waiting outside the gates…

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1

Victor Russo came to my bedside, carrying a glass of wine.

"Isabella, give your luxury fashion studio to Sophia. She's wanted to be a designer since she was a little girl."

But that was ten years of my life's work.

My fingers clenched the sheets as I met his deceptively gentle eyes.

"Besides, you'll be at home recovering for a long time anyway."

"Her emotional state is fragile right now. Keeping busy will do her good. Just let her have this, alright?"

As he spoke, his guilty gaze flickered to the glass of wine.

In that instant, it all clicked into place.

"What about our child?"

Victor didn't dare to look at me.

"Isabella, we can have another child, but Sophia only has one life…"

I lowered my head, a bitter smile touching my lips.

Of course.

He would always choose Sophia Bianchi without hesitation.

Just like before.

Just because Sophia didn't like the sound of my cat's meow, he snapped its neck.

Then he tossed it at her feet and told her, "It's quiet now."

I looked at the man before me and, for the first time, I questioned him.

"And if I say no?"

The man's eyes turned cold in an instant.

"Isabella Summers, get this straight. I'm not negotiating with you."

"If you refuse, I can simply acquire your studio and gift it to Sophia."

He didn't say any more.

But in his icy gaze, I read the unspoken words.

Isabella.

Don't test me.

"Fine, we'll do it your way."

I lowered my gaze, a bitter taste in my mouth, and took the glass from his hand.

Ever since I married Victor Russo, obedience had become my fate.

Whatever he decided, I had no room to resist.

Even this child…

The warm glass seared my palm.

Clinging to a final sliver of hope, I looked up at him.

"I've already agreed about the studio, so this child…"

A look of disgust crossed Victor Russo's face.

"Isabella, you can't be so selfish. Sophia is a living, breathing person."

But so is this child…

In just ten more days, he would see this world.

He was the only bond in our ten-year marriage.

"As long as this child isn't born, he isn't a real person!"

"How can an embryo that doesn't even count as a person compare to Sophia?"

"If you don't drink this, Isabella, don't blame me for tearing that thing out of you with my own two hands."

He looked down on me, his tone chilling.

"Isabella Summers, I can make you my wife, and I can make you a nobody."