Chapter 3

"Enough!" Jesse snapped, and dragged Lina out with him.

I thought he'd finally understood and given up. I carried the child into the bedroom.

A while later, the doorbell rang.

I frowned, puzzled.

I figured my husband had lost his keys, so I went to open the door.

But it was Jesse standing there.

"Why are you back?" My voice was pure irritation. I pushed the door to shut it.

He forced it open and walked in, pacing around the apartment as he talked.

"I didn't know Lina put a tracker on my phone. She followed me here."

"Don't worry. I won't let her have the chance to bother you again."

"That's your business. I don't care. Now get out!" I pointed at the door, annoyed and exhausted.

"You don't care?" Jesse let out a soft laugh. "Then why do you still keep our photo?"

He turned, holding up a picture frame.

In the photo, he was on one knee proposing. I was laughing, tears of surprise and joy all over my face.

Back then, after the divorce, I was heartbroken for a long time. I used to hold onto anything related to him and cry.

But after my father died, I left this place with my current husband. I never had the chance to pack up what was inside.

I walked over, took the photo, and tossed it straight into the trash.

"Just old stuff. Forgot to throw it out."

Jesse let out a helpless sigh. "Isabella, I thought you'd changed. But you're the same as ever. You see Lina and you get jealous, you throw fits, and you still love me."

I let out a cold laugh. "I'll say it one last time. I. Don't. Love you."

Jesse suddenly closed the distance, staring straight into my eyes. "If you don't love me, then why did you have our child?"

I stepped back. He stepped forward.

"My favorite ties. An apartment near my estate. A photo you kept for five years. You say you don't love me. Who would believe that?"

"Just coincidence."

I reached out to push him away, but he grabbed my hand.

"Be good, Isabella. Stop fighting me. Bring the child and come home with me."

"Three months from now, once I've fully secured the Don's seat, I'll divorce Lina and remarry you. I'll send Lina's child away. Our child will be the only heir."

I shoved him off and lowered my voice.

"I already told you. I'm married. This child is mine and my husband's."

"Enough!" Jesse cut me off with a sharp yell. "Don't try to use another man to get my attention. I won't fall for it."

Unfortunately for him…

"I'm not lying." I looked at him, my eyes dead serious.

Jesse staggered back a few steps like my gaze had burned him. He was furious.

"You're going this far to spite me? You'd even find a man and fake a marriage just to piss me off?"

I laughed in pure anger. "Jesse, you've lost your mind!"

"Who do you think you are? What makes you think that after five years I'd still love you, still wait for you, and go find a man to marry just to make you jealous?"

He froze.

After a moment, Jesse shook his head in frustration.

"Even if it's real, you sure you want to spend your life with some broke loser?"

"The place you live, the clothes you wear, the things you use. All cheap. When you were with me, I bought you the best of everything. Can this man give you that?"

"I know you still love me, Isabella. Come home."

He grabbed my hand and started dragging me toward the door.

"Jesse! You psycho! I don't love you! Let go of me!" I struggled with everything I had, but he held on tight.

He smoothed my messy hair, his voice bordering on obsessive.

"You came back on your own. Now that you're here, you can't run."

"Bastard!" I cursed and kicked him hard, then turned to run.

One step and he caught me, pinning me against his chest. His voice dropped, sending chills down my spine.

"Isabella, why can't you just behave?"

He pulled the tie from his neck and bound my wrists with it, his lips brushing my ear.

"Remember this tie? You bought it for me the first year we were married."

"That was the past. I have a husband and a child now. I will never go back with you! Let me go! Bastard!" I couldn't break free, so I just glared at him with pure hatred.

His movements froze for a second. Then he scooped me up off my feet.

"I don't mind that you had a child with him. From now on, I'll take care of you."

He carried me toward the door.

"Jesse! You bastard! You psycho! Put me down!" My hands were bound, so I kicked and screamed, trying to wake the child, trying to get him to call for help.

But Jesse saw right through me. He looked down and spoke calmly.

"Scream again, and I'll go kill that child right now."

I went still. I knew he was crazy enough to do it.

He carried me step by step toward the door. I closed my eyes in despair, tears sliding down my face.

This was Jesse's territory. If I got taken, could my husband even save me?

Then, the sound of the lock turning.

The next second, my husband appeared in the doorway.

He crossed the room in one stride, subdued Jesse, and pulled me tight into his arms. His voice was low and dark.

"Don Henry wants to keep my Donna and kill my heir?"

Jesse stared at the man in front of him, frozen.