Chapter 1

Warm liquid trickled down my thigh—amniotic fluid mixed with blood.

Shaking, I pulled out my phone, trying to call the family doctor.

"Don't let her make that call!"

Rosa screamed, rushing over and slapping the phone out of my hand.

"You vicious bitch, are you trying to record a video for the cops? Do you want to ruin Bella’s reputation?"

"We raised you just to have you steal a life that wasn't yours, and now you want to destroy my biological daughter?"

She and Frank each grabbed one of my arms, dragging me toward the dark basement. That was where the family kept traitors.

"Reflect on your sins in the holding cell! You're staying there until Marco and Bella’s wedding is over! I won't have your bad juju cursing the church!"

I clawed desperately at the iron door, breaking my fingernails until they bled.

"I’ll cancel the engagement... I won't ruin the wedding! Just get me to a hospital... my stomach hurts..."

Blood dripped onto Rosa’s expensive crocodile skin heels.

She looked down, her face turning pale.

"Damn it... are you... are you pregnant?"

"Get me to a hospital... please..."

Before I could finish, Bella suddenly pulled Rosa away. She frowned, looking the picture of innocence:

"Sister, you're so careless. You got period blood on Mom’s shoes and stained the carpet in Marco’s bridal suite."

"Besides, it's just cramps. Can't you just hold it in? Why make a scene about going to the hospital?"

Tears welled up in her eyes as she looked pitifully at Marco.

"When I was in foster care, my foster dad broke my ribs just because I stole a crust of bread. I gritted my teeth and never made a sound. Sister, you’re just too spoiled."

She covered her mouth as if realizing something.

"I get it. You want Mom and Dad to feel sorry for you so they forget you tried to secretly film my intimate video with Marco, right?"

Her words were like poison pouring into everyone's ears. The shock in Marco and Rosa’s eyes instantly turned to disgust.

"Elena! How can you be so manipulative!"

Rosa kicked me in a rage.

"Bella suffered so much out there without complaining, but you, you fake, you have to put on a show just for period cramps?"

Marco didn't hold back either. He shoved me hard toward the stairs.

"You'll have plenty to suffer once you're kicked out of the family. Start learning to endure it now!"

Looking at their cold faces, I knew staying here meant death.

I gritted my teeth, used the last of my strength to slam into Rosa, and made a run for the main door.

I burst into the apartment hallway, grabbed a passing cleaner, and screamed:

"Call the police! The D'Angelo family is trying to murder a pregnant woman!"

"Family murder" was a taboo in this district. The cleaner screamed in terror, and neighbors started poking their heads out. Even though this was mob territory, publicly murdering a pregnant woman would bring unnecessary trouble—especially heat from the cops and rival families.

Marco chased after me, his face livid, but with so many eyes watching, he didn't dare make a move.

My vision went black, and I lost consciousness completely.

......

When I woke up, I was staring at the stark white ceiling of a private hospital.

I found out I was a "fake" two years ago. During an internal purge of the D'Angelo family, a rival gang tried to kidnap Frank and Rosa.

In the heat of the moment, I pushed them aside and took a knife for them.

During the blood transfusion, the doctor told them my blood type didn't match theirs at all.

The moment the DNA test came back, I went from the family Princess to a so-called "bastard."

I immediately said I would move out and return everything to their real daughter.

Back then, Frank and Rosa held me and cried, saying I was their most precious treasure and would always be a D'Angelo.

I told Marco, my childhood sweetheart, the same thing. I said when his fiancée returned, I would end the engagement.

That night, Marco was dead drunk. He begged me in the pouring rain.

"Elena, I agreed to this alliance because I love you. How can you just give me away?"

That night, we made love frantically in the apartment. He made me swear I’d never leave him.

I thought love could transcend bloodlines.

Until... Bella was found.

I thought of the baby in my belly, a wave of bitterness and tenderness washing over me.

"Piccolo (Little one), you have to be strong. Daddy will protect us..."

With a whoosh, the ward door slid open.