Chapter 1

Susanna's POV

After overhearing Lorenzo Gallo's conversation with his best friend, I stepped out into the courtyard and called Antonio Rossi, a trustee of Howardson University.

"I'm willing to accept Howardson University's invitation, but I have one request…" I tried to keep my voice steady, fighting back the sobs threatening to break through. "I need you to prepare a new identity for me so that no one can find me."

Antonio's soft laughter drifted through the phone.

"I'm absolutely delighted that you're willing to accept our invitation, Ms. Conti. I'll arrange for you to be safely escorted away in three days!"

Putting my phone away, I returned to the villa, where Elena Marino's fragile, delicate sobs sounded from the living room.

"Lorenzo, I know there's a place in your heart reserved for Susanna…" She choked on a sob, tears streaming down her cheeks even before she finished speaking. "But this is a special situation, and I really need your help… My chest hurts, and the baby is doing cartwheels in my belly."

She threw herself into Lorenzo's arms and began weeping softly.

"The doctor said that regular sex will help stabilize my hormones and is beneficial for the baby too. Lorenzo, just this once, please help the baby turn around inside me? As long as neither of us speak of this matter, Susanna will never know…"

The arm Lorenzo had wrapped around her waist tightened as his other hand slipped under her dress and snaked up the fair skin of her thighs. Then, he slowly lowered his head and pressed his lips to one of her breasts.

I watched it all happen, feeling as though I had plunged into icy waters. My whole body trembled so violently that I couldn't even muster the energy to move away.

Time seemed to slow to a crawl, with every one of their movements stabbing deep into my eyes and soul like daggers.

I deliberately stomped my feet as I entered the living room, loudly announcing my presence. Hence, when I saw them again, they had already sprung apart from each other and were acting as though nothing had happened.

Lorenzo acted all affectionate and intimate as he pulled me into a hug, not at all noticing my unusual resistance.

"Susanna, from now on, Elena will stay here with us, and you'll look after her, okay? Once she's given birth to the heir, we'll get married right away. This, I promise you."

I closed my eyes in despair, thinking, "Lorenzo Gallo, you liar! You're clearly only with me because of Elena, so why are you still trying to deceive me?"

Elena haughtily raised a hand to smooth her hair. The gleam of the gemstone ring on her left hand immediately caught my attention.

My eyes widened as I grabbed her wrist and yanked it closer to me.

"Where did you get that ring!"

"Elena likes vintage jewelry, so I gifted it to her." Lorenzo pried my fingers loose, his tone matter-of-fact, as though it was the most natural thing in the world. "Just think of it as a welcoming gift for Elena moving in with us. It's just an old ring anyway."

"That's the only thing my mother left for me!" I shouted, my voice trembling as I stared at him in disbelief. "You clearly know how important it is to me! How could you just give it to someone else like that?"

Elena laughed lightly before stepping in front of Lorenzo. "Since you need it that badly, I guess I'll just return it to you."

She slid the ring from her finger and offered it to me, hand held high in the air. However, just as I reached out to take it, she let go.

The ring hit the floor with a sharp crack, and the gemstone on it instantly shattered into countless pieces.

I instinctively lunged toward the ring, but even though I hadn't touched Elena, she let out a scream and fell to the floor.

Clutching at her stomach, she wailed, "Susanna, why did you push me? My baby! Oh, my stomach hurts! Lorenzo, please! Save my baby!"

Lorenzo shoved me aside, and when he turned to look at me, I saw an absolutely chilling gleam in his eyes.

"Susanna! Elena is carrying the future heir! Was your gentle demeanor an act for me all this time?"

The force of his shove sent me crashing against the bookshelf behind me, the back of my head slamming against the wood with a loud thud. Warm blood instantly gushed from the wound and slid down my neck.

Nonetheless, Lorenzo didn't even spare me a glance. He was too busy anxiously scooping Elena into his arms and running out of the villa.

"Lorenzo, the baby will be fine. I don't want you to be punished…" Elena murmured, one arm looped around his neck as she gently caressed his face.

Lorenzo gazed down at her and comforted her with a gentleness that even I had never experienced before.

"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you and the baby."

Watching their departing figures, I felt as though my heart was breaking into a million pieces.

As it turned out, Lorenzo truly didn't love me.