Chapter 2

Maxim took a step and grabbed my wrist.

His fingers tightened, hard enough to crush the bone.

“You know how sick she is, and you pull this? Are you trying to kill her?” he hissed, his voice a low warning.

I stared at his face.

Those eyes used to hold only me.

Now they were filled with suspicion. Distrust.

I didn’t apologize like I always had.

I met his gaze and slowly pulled my hand free.

“If I could, I’d kill her without a second thought,” I said. My voice trembled, but it was crystal clear.

Maxim looked stunned. For three years, he only knew my submission.

“It’s not her fault, Maxim,” Isla whispered against his chest. “I lost my balance. She’s just heartbroken about the baby. Don’t blame her.”

Maxim turned back to Isla, stroking her hair like she was made of glass. “You’re too kind, Isla. She’ll only hurt you.”

He looked at me again.

His eyes swept over the blood pooling around me. A flash of pain crossed his face, but he crushed it. He clenched his fist, fighting the instinct to help me up.

“Seraphina, Isla doesn’t have much time left. Can’t you just put up with it a little longer?” His words were cruel, entitled. “We can have more children. But Isla saved my life! Our son paying that debt is an honor to the Volkov bloodline.”

The words were a rusty blade, sawing through my heart. My legs gave out. I collapsed into the blood.

Footsteps echoed down the hall.

My adoptive parents arrived.

My mother rushed past me, hugging Isla. “Oh, my darling, did she hurt you again?”

My father stopped in front of me, looking down. “Seraphina, what is wrong with you?”

I looked up at him. “You all knew.” A broken smile twisted my lips. “You knew they were going to cut my son open. Steal his organs. You all lied to me for months.”

My mother frowned. “Keep your voice down. This is a hospital.”

My father sighed. “You should be ashamed. Attacking Isla when she’s so ill.”

“She’s not sick! She’s a liar!” I screamed with all my might.

A passing nurse stopped, staring at me like I was insane.

Maxim’s face went dark.

“Enough,” he said coldly. “You’ve clearly lost your mind.”

He turned to my adoptive parents. “I think she needs a psychiatric evaluation. Postpartum depression is making her delusional, hysterical. She’s even making up lies about Isla’s health. Transfer her to the north-side sanatorium. Keep her under house arrest before she hurts someone else.”

My mother nodded immediately. “Yes, that’s for the best.”

I sat on the cold floor, watching them.

Maxim, toying with his family signet ring.

My parents, nodding in agreement.

Isla, hiding in Maxim’s arms, a triumphant smirk on her face.

Suddenly, the tears stopped.

The grief evaporated. In its place, a chilling clarity.

They took my child. They thought I was alone. That they could carve me up as they pleased.

They thought I was just a powerless orphan. They were wrong. Being underestimated was my greatest weapon.

I used the wall to pull myself to my feet.

Blood dripped from my gown onto the floor. A quiet, steady beat.

“You all deserve each other,” I said, my eyes sweeping over them. My voice was calm. “And I will make you regret this.”

I didn’t look back. I dragged my bleeding body back to my room.

I shut the door, sealing their world out.

I stopped in front of the mirror.

My finger touched the pale white line on my ring finger. The ghost of a wedding band.

I looked away.

I picked up my phone and dialed the secret number.

He answered instantly.

“Brother,” I said. “I’m ready to come home.”

Six months ago, the true kings of the Chicago underworld found me. The Ricci family. My own blood.

The head of the Ricci family, Alessio Ricci, told me I was the long-lost heir to their empire.

He wanted me to come home. To take it all.

The only condition was an old marriage pact with an allied family.

I was in love with Maxim then. I refused.

I was so wrong.

“Are you sure, Seraphina?” Alessio’s voice was tight with excitement. “Last time we spoke, you said you’d never leave the Volkov family.”

“I was wrong,” I said, looking at my pale, cold reflection. “I will return and inherit everything.”

“Excellent. When should I send men for you?”

“Give me a few days. I have things to clean up here.” I paused. “And inform Dante Romano I accept the marriage proposal. Tell him to arrange the wedding. Soon.”

“What wedding?”

A low voice came from behind me.

I turned.

Maxim was standing in the doorway, his eyes narrowed in suspicion.