Chapter 5: Break in the Pattern

Luciano's POV 

I paced around impatiently, waiting for the doctor to come with news that would either make or break my life. Minutes passed, and when the doctor finally came out of the room, I grabbed his collar before he could waste any more of my time.

“Results?” I questioned, and his face twisted with fear as he gulped nervously and took out the pregnancy strip test in his pocket.

“T-two lines, Sir. She's truly pregnant.” He stuttered, and I let go of him at once, my mind spinning with different thoughts. That vague night that I could barely remember because she had drugged me on purpose had brought forth a child.

A child.

I clenched my fists, my chest tightening. Exactly what I needed now? 

No. This wasn’t an accident. This was calculated. 

The memory of that hazy night burned in my head—how out of control I’d felt. She must have planned everything, step by step.  

She stepped out of the room, pale and unsteady, as if the weight of the world rested on her shoulders.

“I told you. I’m pregnant with your child,” she murmured, her eyes glossy, as though she hadn’t brought this upon herself. “I’ve committed an abomination before the Lord,” she whispered, more to herself than anyone else.

I lifted a brow, a humorless breath leaving me. Innocent. That was the act she was playing now.

“An abomination you created with your own hands,” I said coldly. “Don’t dress it up as faith or fate. If you hadn’t drugged me, none of this would exist.”

She stared at me as if I’d struck her, her face draining of what little color remained.

“I drugged you? Who puts Viagra pills in a first aid box? How was I supposed to know? You made me take it too. If I had known what it was, would you think I would have taken it as well? Don't try to pin this on me!” She retorted instantly, a tear rolling down her cheek, and she immediately wiped it off.

I turned to Dante, who stared at me with a stoic expression, and waved my hand at him. He understood the order immediately and walked up to Mariella, who backed away in fear. He suddenly grabbed her by the arm, and she screamed as he threw her over his shoulder, kicking and hitting his back in a panic

“Let me down! Let go! Don't do this—” 

Her voice was cut off when Dante threw her on the bed and slammed the door shut behind him before twisting the lock. Dante returned to my side while the doctor shivered, his eyes trained on the floor as he moved from one foot to the other.

“Leave,” I muttered, and he scurried out with a whimper, rushing out of my sight like I would kill him anytime soon. I let out a sigh, pacing in front of the room with a frown on my face as I rubbed the space between my brows.

My head was killing me terribly.

“What are you going to do with her?” Dante asked, leaning against the wall with a relaxed expression on his face, and I stopped pacing around.

“What do you think?”

“I think… getting rid of her would be the simplest solution, Sir,” he said, hesitating.

My head snapped up. He immediately lowered his gaze, and I crossed my arms, waiting for an explanation.

“Hear me out,” he continued carefully. “She’s just a maid. Your father wouldn’t be pleased knowing you impregnated someone outside the underworld. You already have a bride arranged for you—”

“I don't want to marry Sophie. You don't see what marrying her would cause?” I asked, and he stared at me blankly. “War. Conflict. The two families would fight and kill each other in order for one to be on top. Marrying Sophie would ruin me. Ruin us, ruin the whole plan.”

“So you're actually going to accept her? The maid? She prays like she's the daughter of an angel. She claims the insane holiness that irks me to my bones. I think she's pretentious. A spy, even. Because why else would she mistake viagra for pain relief pills?” He questioned, and somehow I realized he was somewhat right. 

But there was no going back now.

“I can't make her abort the child, Dante. Spy or not, she's my key to freedom. And it's not like I'm actually going to marry her. I have a plan, Dante, but we'll have to keep it between ourselves.” I said with a confident smirk on my face, and he finally nodded in defeat, waiting to hear my plan.

I finally pushed the door open, watching as Dante walked away from the door. He had no choice but to agree to my plan anyway; he was my bodyguard for a reason.

Mariella sat on the bed, and when the door opened, she turned toward me, her face streaked with tears. Something sharp pulsed in my chest.

She looked innocent. Painfully so.

And it irritated me. The way she sat there, small and shaken, as though she hadn’t dragged me into this mess. Whether it was an act or something she didn’t even realize she possessed, that fragile innocence made my jaw tighten.

“What are you going to do to me?” she asked as I stepped closer, scrambling back on the bed as if she expected me to strike. “What are you going to do to me, you monster?” she screamed.

I stiffened.

Monster.

The word echoed in my head longer than it should have. Maybe she was right. Maybe that was all I had ever been.

And yet—damn her—even when she glared at me like she hated me, she was beautiful. Those wide eyes, filled with fear and accusation, still looked painfully pure. Her skin was fair without blemish, and her face held no trace of calculation or deceit.

She didn’t look like someone capable of planning something like this. And that only made it worse.

“Well, too bad for you, Mariella. This monster decides what happens to you now.” I spat as I grabbed her hand, and she started to struggle, hitting against my chest.

“Let me go! I won't let you touch my child! Leave me alone!” She yelled, struggling even more, but her voice was beginning to fade away. I wasn't losing consciousness, no.

I glanced at the spot where my hand touched her wrist, and I realized that the insane migraine that threatened to kill me 2 seconds ago was gone. 

It stopped when I touched her hand. I quickly let go, wanting to be sure I wasn't hallucinating. The migraine returned in full force, and I winced in panic. She looked scared when I grabbed her hand again, and just like magic…

It disappeared.