Chapter 3 - The Cold Poison
To understand the absolute, volcanic terror paralyzing Dante in the foyer, you had to understand the silent agony I had endured for the last three weeks.
We had been trying to have a baby for five years. Five years of negative tests, false hopes, and crushing disappointment. Dante had slowly grown distant, burying himself deeper into the violent operations of his syndicate. He convinced himself our bloodline was cursed.
Then, Bianca arrived. She was the daughter of a rival family, brought in to negotiate a massive port territory merger. She was aggressive, ambitious, and she wanted the crown. She wanted Dante.
Three weeks ago, I finally got the positive test. I was pregnant. With twins.
I was so overwhelmed with pure joy that I planned an elaborate, private dinner to tell him the news. I wore my best dress. I cooked his favorite meal. I waited in the dining room until midnight.
He never came home.
Instead, Bianca walked through the penthouse doors uninvited, holding a silver keycard.
"He's not coming, Elena," Bianca had sneered, tossing the keycard onto the marble table. "He gave me access to his private accounts today. The merger requires absolute loyalty. And a barren wife doesn't secure a mafia empire."
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The words had hit me like a physical blow. But the true betrayal wasn't her arrogance. The true betrayal was the fact that Dante had given her the key to my sanctuary. He had chosen the syndicate over our marriage.
👉 I had kept my pregnancy a complete secret, but the horrific accident two nights ago forced me to pack my bags.
