Chapter 2

Flora’s POV

If Annie was my blood, then the child she carried was my blood too. And suddenly, Luca’s plan had no easy way out for me.

Annie had really thought this through.

“Flora,” Luca said quickly, relief flashing across his face, “See? This is fate. The universe is giving us everything we need. We can raise this baby together, and you won’t feel like it’s a stranger. It’s your blood too.”

“Yes, sis, it’s all fate,” Annie’s expression flickered. “I’m Kane blood too… maybe the universe saw you couldn’t have a child, so it gave me one.”

She blinked up at Luca, all innocence again.

“Just quit the act already.” I cut Annie off.

Luca’s tone sharpened. “That’s enough, Flora. She’s pregnant. Don’t raise your voice at her. If you need to be upset, take it out on me. Annie didn’t do anything wrong.”

Didn’t do anything wrong.

“Flora, I…” Annie’s voice trembled now, delicate and careful. “I know the timing is terrible. I even told Luca we shouldn’t tell you yet… maybe wait until after the baby is born. But with your mother gone, and everything happening with Luca becoming Don, I just thought…”

This betrayal wasn’t impulsive—it was calculated.

Annie didn’t come forward now by accident. Carrying Luca’s child gave her leverage—something neither I nor anyone else could ignore. That child secured her a legitimate claim to the Ricci family… and by revealing herself as my father’s daughter, she gained a path through me to the Kane inheritance as well.

She said she’d let me raise the baby—but that promise meant nothing. Once the child was born, Luca would side with its mother. Blood over everything.

If her plan worked, Annie wouldn’t just have the child—she’d have the money, the name, and the position that used to be mine.

I had underestimated Annie. And looking at Luca now—still unaware he’d been reduced to a pawn in someone else’s game, still believing this was some twisted gift from fate, that after years of trying for a child he got one in a single night—I realized I had overestimated him.

Annie shifted closer to Luca, her voice soft. “Maybe I should go… Flora doesn’t look well. I don’t want you two fighting because of me…”

“Just shut up, stop acting already!” I snapped.

Luca immediately pulled her behind him, shielding her like a lover. “I told you not to raise your voice at a pregnant woman! Flora, for God’s sake, can you try to be more understanding? Maybe this is why you’re barren—why we never had a child. You’re so childish, so cruel… not kind enough.”

I stared at him, really stared. I couldn’t believe those words had come out of Luca’s mouth.

The room fell into a heavy silence.

A few seconds later, Luca reached for my hand. “Flora, I… I didn’t mean that. You know how much I love you. What’s done is done—I’m just trying to fix things. Annie is pregnant. It was one night. No one expected this, but now I have to take responsibility.”

“So what about us?” I asked quietly.

Even as the words left my lips, I already knew the answer.

There was no “us” anymore. No matter how many times he said he loved me, it wouldn’t undo what he’d done.

“I want a divorce,” I said, my voice calm.

“You’re being ridiculous!” Luca snapped. “You are my Donna. Think about our families—everything tied to this marriage. We’ve been together for years. You can’t throw it all away over one mistake!”

I looked at him, then at Annie hiding behind his back, playing fragile and small.

“This is not a small mistake.”

Whether Luca could see through her or not, I was done with both of them.

I turned and headed upstairs—but a strong grip caught my arm. “Where do you think you’re going?”

I tried to pull free, but Luca wouldn’t let go. “Flora, clear your head. Your mother is gone. The Kane needs me. The casino is growing. Annie is pregnant. Please—just be more understanding and start thinking about how to take care of this family.”

“I will not.” I wrenched my arm free with all the strength I had.

Luca stumbled back, and Annie rushed to steady him.

The softness vanished from his face. What remained was the Don—the man the world feared.

“Flora Kane,” he said coldly, “the day you married me was the day you pledged your life to the Ricci family. Don’t even think about leaving this house because of some childish idea like divorce. Stay here or I make you.”

Luca was using the very title I helped him earn to trap me—threatening to strip me of even the right to walk away.

And the worst part? He could. He was the Don of the Ricci family, no less.

So if I wanted a way out, I couldn’t afford to provoke him. I straightened, forcing my breathing to steady. “I overreacted. Just… give me some time to accept it.”

Relief softened Luca’s expression.

“That’s my Flora.” He stepped closer, his hands settling at my waist. “Now go freshen up. I’ll help Annie settle in.”

He leaned down and kissed my forehead.

I bit back every instinct screaming at me to shove him away.

…

I didn’t fall apart until the bedroom door clicked shut behind me.

My legs gave out, and I slid to the floor, the strength draining from my body.

Everything had shattered in a single day. The life I thought I had… nothing but a lie.

“Mama… I need you. How am I supposed to…” My voice broke into quiet sobs, muffled against my hand.

No matter how many times I told myself not to waste another tear on Luca or this marriage, they came anyway.

I cried until there was nothing left but exhaustion. Then slowly, piece by piece, I pulled myself back together.

Leaving this place—that was only step one.

Luca would pay for what he did. And so would Annie. The question was how.

Luca was the Don now—no one could simply take that seat from him…Unless it was someone who held just as much right to that throne as Luca did.

Stefan Ricci. Luca’s uncle.

I grabbed my phone and pressed call.

Stefan picked up quickly. “Flora?” His voice was exactly as I remembered—calm, measured.

“Stefan,” I said, forcing steadiness into my tone, “I was wondering if you’d be interested in making a deal with me.”

“What kind of deal?” There was a hint of interest now.

“I know you want the position of Don. I can help you get it.” I paused, then added, “But in return, Luca has to be removed from the family.”

Silence stretched on the other end.

“Did something happen?” he finally asked.

I kept it brief. Just enough—Luca’s betrayal, and my intention to take back everything I had given.

“Alright,” Stefan said, almost too easily. “I am in.”

Relief barely had time to settle before he continued.

“But I have one condition.”

My grip tightened around the phone. “What is it?”

“Marry me.”