Chapter 1

Thud!

My canvas backpack fell to the ground.

When I bent down to pick it up, a doctor's appointment sheet landed right next to my feet. I took a glimpse.

The time of conception was three months ago.

At that time, Ian Gambino, my boyfriend, told me that he was out on a mission. He would often only reply to my messages once every few days. There was one time when we were on a video call that I saw scratches on his back when he turned around to change his top.

"I accidentally hurt myself while protecting the Don," he replied.

I saw a hint of panic in his gaze as he added, "Vivian, you've been with me for so many years. Have you ever seen me with anyone else?"

I trusted him. I even apologized to him, saying that I was just too sensitive.

I no longer needed to guess how he got those scratches anymore.

The woman accepted the appointment slip from me and thanked me.

Seeing me standing there, she asked, "Are you here to look for Ian as well?"

I nodded, feeling my throat close up. I could not find a single word.

"Let's head to the VIP lounge together. My husband's a workaholic. He takes a long time to finish up sometimes."

The word 'husband' was like a knife cutting my heart open.

In the lounge, she introduced herself to me.

She was Jeanine Santoro, the heiress of the Santoro family, and also officially the Donna of the Gambino family.

"My husband might have a sharp tongue, but he's got a soft heart. He always says that he's busy with the family business, but he would prefer to oversee all doctor's appointments with me."

Jeanine smiled and added, "He said he wanted to give me and the child the best."

I hugged my backpack tightly. My knuckles turned white.

I had been with Ian for five years. He said that he was a bodyguard, on call 24 hours a day. With the only remaining time we had left, we lived in a tiny rented place, eating cheap and fast food. He said that he was never really 'off-the-clock', so he could not give me the stability that I needed.

I trusted him.

I trusted all his troubles. I felt sorry for his situation. I had been keeping the relationship warm. I had waited for five years.

The sound of footsteps came through the door. A few men in black surrounding Ian entered together with him.

He had a satin box in his hands. I had never seen him with such regality.

One of his soldati lowered his head and said, "Donna Jeanine, Don Ian put in a bid for this sapphire necklace. He said that he wanted to give it to you."

Jeanine flung herself into Ian's arms. "Honey, I've been waiting a long time."

Ian hugged her around the waist and handed her the box. When he lowered his head, he accidentally noticed me.

His face stiffened, but it was only for a second before he immediately went back to normal. He said with an indifferent tone as if he were talking to a stranger, "Why are you here?"

Jeanine turned to look at him and asked, "Honey, who is she?"

His soldati immediately chimed in, "An old acquaintance."

Ian took a step forward, blocking me from her sight. "Just someone I got to know a long time ago. It's nothing important."

Then, he instructed his soldati, "Please escort this lady out."

I froze on the spot, watching the man in front of me pretending not to know me. The ache in my heart spread all over my body.

He said that once he found his footing, he was going to marry me. He told me to wait a while longer. He said that he only wanted me.

It turned out that it was not that he could not give me what I wanted. He just did not want to.

A soldato came forward to invite me to leave.

Ian did not look at me after that. With an arm around Jeanine's waist, he said, "Darling, let's go. The necklace suits your gown today."

When they walked past me, Jeanine turned back to look at me before saying, "Honey, I don't think it's nice to leave your friend here."

He kept his gaze away from me. "She's just an acquaintance I barely knew."

My tears instantly fell.

We were together for five years. Five years of long-distance relationship. I quit my job and travelled thousands of kilometers only for him to call me an acquaintance that he barely knew.

In my phone, I still had the message he sent to me three days ago.

[Vivian, wait for me just a little longer. Once I'm done, I'll take you away. I'll give you a home.]

I had given up everything based on his promise. I never expected that, right from the beginning, I was just the idiot in his entire scheme.