Chapter 3

I jolted awake as ice-cold water drenched me.

Vincent loomed over me, face twisted in disgust.

"Cut the act. You knew I'm announcing Lucy and the heir tomorrow, and you still tried running off to another city? What, hoping people would think Lucy bullied you?"

Lucy hovered behind him, baby in her arms, tears streaking her face. "Avila, I know you hate me. But if you want revenge, take it out on me. Why drag Madam Maria into it—why try to steal my baby?

"The assistant wouldn't shut up before they dragged her off, saying Madam Maria went back to change the paperwork, to adopt my child for you. Saying I'm not fit to be the heir's mother..."

I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.

Shaking, I forced the words through trembling lips. "I... didn't... take me to the hospital... my babies... they're dying..."

"Another lie." Vincent's scowl cut through me. "My mother ran out of the hospital in a frenzy, dragged in lawyers, worked all night—because you pushed her.

"You think stealing Lucy's kid will lock in your place as the heir's mother?

"Didn't you already give birth yesterday? Still faking labor to get pity? Keep dreaming."

Pain ripped through me. The blood had dried on my skin and clothes, reeking of rot.

Lucy gagged, covering her mouth. "Avila, you know I can't stand blood after giving birth. You still won't clean yourself? You're doing this on purpose to disgust me, to make me faint, aren't you?"

She shook in Vincent's arms, pale, pitiful.

"Look at you!" Vincent snapped. "Pathetic. Filthy. You've disgraced the Corleone name!"

He flicked his hand at the guards. "Keep dumping water till she shuts up."

Buckets crashed over me, ice soaking my skin, my lips turning blue, my body shaking uncontrollably. Only then did he raise his hand to stop.

Lucy sobbed against him. "Avila, please... don't take my baby. If you try, I'll throw myself out that window right now!"

She lurched toward the glass, and Vincent caught her instantly.

His rage snapped. He kicked my hand away, crouched down, voice hissing with fury. "You think hiding behind my mother will make you the heir's mother again?

"The estate's already locked down. Whatever you're plotting, it's over. And you—how many times have I warned you? Don't touch Lucy. Don't touch her kid. You never listen.

"So now, I'll handle it my way."

He spun on the guards. "She pushed Lucy to suicide. She pays. Cut Georginio's ventilator—then toss him off the balcony."

"Vincent!" I screamed. "You're insane! That's my father! He saved your life!"

"So what?" His sneer cut like a blade. "He saved me just to chain me to you, to force your kid into the Corleone Family.

"Well, I married you. I knocked you up. But you didn't deliver my first child—that's on you. My debt's paid. I owe you nothing."

"Do it!" he barked.

I lunged at the guards, but one boot caught me hard. I slammed to the ground.

Blood that had dried suddenly gushed again, pooling thick and red beneath me.

I screamed, curling in agony as my body ripped apart.

Vincent started toward me—then froze.

His eyes locked on my belly, still swollen, bared from the kick. His face drained when he saw the spreading blood.

He dropped to his knees, grabbing me with shaking hands.

Then he whipped toward Lucy, voice cracking. "What the hell is this?! You swore you oversaw Avila's delivery. You told me she gave birth yesterday—that the babies were in the nursery! Then why is her belly still huge? Why the hell is she still bleeding?!"