Everything After Survival

Before dinner, I went to his office to find him. Dante had left his car unlocked in the private garage, and when I opened the passenger door, a cream-colored folder slid out from the glove compartment.

At first, I thought it was mine.

Then I saw the name on the first page.

Serena De Luca.

Pregnancy confirmation. Twelve weeks.

My fingers tightened around the paper until the edges bent.

By the time I reached the top floor, Dante’s office doors were half open. Inside, Serena stood before a full-length mirror while a stylist pinned a veil into her dark hair. Dante stood behind her, adjusting the diamond clasp at the back of her neck with a carefulness I knew too well.

Serena saw me first.

Her eyes widened for half a second, then softened into something almost pitiful.

“Aria.”

Dante turned sharply. His gaze dropped to the pregnancy report in my hand, and the color drained from his face. He crossed the room at once and caught my wrist.

“Listen to me first.”

I looked down at his hand.

“Let go.”

His fingers loosened, but he did not step away.

“Serena’s child isn’t mine. It won’t change how I feel about you.”

How could it not change anything?

I had imagined many explanations on the elevator ride up. That one still hit harder than I expected.

Serena lowered her head, one hand resting over her stomach.

“Dante, you promised no one would know. You promised you would protect me.”

Dante’s jaw tightened.

“Aria deserves the truth.”

“Then tell her all of it,” Serena said softly. “Tell her why you have to stand beside me at the altar, and why my child needs your name.”

For a moment, the room seemed to tilt.

I looked at Dante.

“What does she mean?”

Dante closed his eyes briefly.

“Serena is Don De Luca’s daughter. Her father helped me secure the Russo family when half the old captains wanted me gone. If the Commission learns she’s pregnant before marriage, the De Lucas will be humiliated. Their enemies will use it against them.”

“So you’ll marry her.”

“It’s a fake wedding.”

“And claim her child.”

“Only in name.”

My laugh came out thin.

“And mine?”

He froze.

I took the pregnancy report from my purse and placed it on his desk.

“Yes, Dante. I’m pregnant too.”

His gaze dropped to the report, and real panic crossed his face.

“Aria...”

“Are you asking me to hide your own child so another woman can keep her reputation?”

“It won’t be forever.” He stepped closer, voice low and urgent. “I’ll stand with Serena for the ceremony, calm the De Lucas, and settle the child’s registration. Once this passes, I’ll marry you properly. You know I love you.”

Serena gave a small, wounded smile.

“Aria, Dante spent ten years saving you. Is helping him once really so much to ask?”

The room fell quiet.

That was her skill. She never needed to raise her voice; she only had to place the blade where it hurt.

I waited for Dante to stop her.

He did not.

Instead, he said, “I know this is unfair, but I need you to endure it for a little while.”

Endure.

For ten years, I had endured treatment after treatment, the smell of disinfectant, and pain that made sleep impossible. I had endured because Dante held my hand and told me there would be a life after all of it.

Now that life had finally come, he wanted me to hide it.

“If you truly love me,” I said, “why is my child the one who has to disappear?”

Dante’s expression darkened.

“Don’t make it sound like that.”

“But that is what you’re doing.”

A few guards and staff members had started looking toward the office. Dante noticed and lowered his voice.

“We’ll talk at home.”

He guided me out through the private elevator. Serena followed us without being asked.

When we reached the car, she opened the front passenger door and sat down naturally. A silk shawl embroidered with her initials was folded on the seat, and a bottle of prenatal vitamins rested in the cup holder.

Serena glanced back at me.

“Dante keeps these here for me. He worries too much.”

“Enough,” Dante said.

She touched her stomach.

“Don’t scold me. The baby will feel it.”

His expression softened despite himself.

“It’s barely three months old. It can’t feel anything yet.”

I sat in the back and said nothing.

On the way home, Dante kept explaining.

“Serena’s father is ruthless. If I don’t step in, he may force her to end the pregnancy. She wants to keep the child.”

“Then let the De Lucas handle their own scandal. Why does my child’s father have to become hers?”

Serena’s eyes reddened at once.

“Dante...”

He immediately turned toward her.

“No one will force you. I promised I would protect you and the baby.”

Then his gaze met mine in the rearview mirror, and his voice turned cold.

“Aria, don’t be cruel. I already refused the De Lucas once because I chose you. This time, I can’t abandon Serena too.”