Chapter 3

Alina’s POV

After dinner, my father called me into his study.

He didn’t even wait for me to sit down before he exploded. “Why can’t you be more like Nerissa? Sweet, sensible—easy to get along with.”

His words came fast, sharp.

“You’re already married, and I still have to clean up after you? I even have to help you keep your own husband happy? I thought after what happened at your party, you would’ve learned something. But no—you still show up and make everyone uncomfortable.”

I sat down quietly, saying nothing.

He kept going. “Jason told me you want a divorce. What were you thinking? Hasn’t he treated you well all these years? Hasn’t he helped this family?”

I let his words settle, then spoke. “So even if I know he’s sleeping with Nerissa, I’m supposed to pretend I don’t and stay with him?” My voice was steady. “Is that what you want for me, Papa?”

A flicker of surprise crossed his face—but not shock or guilt.

Father knew all too well about Jason and Nerissa, but he had done nothing. If anything, he was just as complicit—if not worse.

My chest tightened.

Father looked away for a moment, then said, almost impatiently, “If it weren’t for that incident before your wedding… You should be grateful he’s still willing to stay. Nerissa makes him happy—so let her. You still have everything else. You’re still his Donna. That’s what matters.”

The chair scraped loudly as I stood.

“These days, I don’t even recognize you anymore,” I said, my voice trembling. “If Mom were here, she would never allow this in the Dacosta family.”

Father shot to his feet. “She’s not here anymore, is she? She’s dead. And now you listen to me. Jason and his family have influence in New York’s mafia circle—we need them.”

A bitter laugh slipped out. “So that’s why you handed him Mom’s casino? Just to please him?”

My father’s face flushed deeper. “Like I said—if you knew how to keep your husband happy, I wouldn’t have had to! Why did you have to sleep with another man like a whore? Why do I always have to clean up after you?”

The room spun.

I could endure the others misunderstanding me—even Jason. But hearing it from him… from my own father… It felt like something inside me was burning.

Before he reached the door, my voice came out low, barely steady. “You knew that casino was the only thing Mom left me. You knew what it meant to me, Papa… you shouldn’t have…”

“You will go back home,” he cut me off sharply. “You will behave. You will do whatever Jason says—because you owe him that much.”

The word owe echoed in my ears as he stormed out.

Jason had said the same thing.

I owed him—so I had to accept the humiliation.

I owed my father, the Dacosta name—so I had to sit quietly while they stripped me of everything, including my dignity.

But did I really owe them anything?

That picture was fake. I had never slept with Dominic.

But obviously, no one cared. They were too busy turning me into the villain, too eager to believe I was the one who had ruined everything.

The nausea surged again.

I barely made it to the bathroom before I threw up, my body shaking with it.

When I finally looked up, all I saw was my reflection—pale, hollow, barely recognizable.

A thought flickered in the back of my mind.

But in that moment, I didn’t know if I should feel relieved… or terrified.

…

I walked back home.

Nerissa was right—I had stayed inside for so long, I’d forgotten how far New York streets could stretch.

It took me nearly an hour and a half to reach the neighborhood.

On the way, I stopped at a drugstore and bought a pregnancy test. I tucked it deep into my purse, then continued toward the Vale mansion.

Before I even reached the door, I heard voices.

When I got closer, I saw a team of men carrying furniture inside.

Nerissa sat on the sofa like she owned the place. She glanced at me, then smiled—a slow, mocking curve of her lips.

“Jason said I’m moving in tonight,” she said lightly. “So you should probably take the guest room. And I’ve already had your things moved out.”

Ever since I found out about them, I hadn’t stepped into the master bedroom anyway. Whether she moved in or not… it didn’t matter.

…

Sleep didn’t come easy.

Noise bled through the walls—soft at first, then unmistakable.

The guest room was close enough to the master bedroom for me to hear everything.

Every time Nerissa’s voice rose, something twisted violently in my stomach, like I might throw up again.

Jason knew exactly what he was doing. He knew me, knew where to press, how to hurt.

In just two days, he had turned me into a stranger in my own home.

Good for you, Jason. I hope you really love her. Because if all of this is just to hurt me… then you’re more pathetic than you think I am.

The noise didn’t stop until dawn.

I didn’t even try to sleep after that. Instead, I got up and went to the bathroom, taking the pregnancy test with me.

I stared at the box for a long moment, hesitation tightening in my chest.

Then I opened it.

The sooner I knew… the better.

I sat on the stool, waiting, my fingers gripping the edge of the sink. My mind drifted back to the early days of our marriage.

I remembered how I’d told Jason I wanted a child—and how he turned me down, saying we were still too young. Every time, he reminded me to take the pills after we had sex.

Now, thinking back on it, the truth felt painfully obvious.

If Jason really believed I had betrayed him, he would never have wanted my child.

The signs had always been there. I had just refused to see them.

The timer went off.

My hand trembled as I reached for the test.

Positive.

I was pregnant.

I drew in a slow breath, but my heart only raced faster.

For a brief second, the thought crossed my mind—should I tell Jason?

After all, he was the father.

But just as quickly, his voice echoed in my head. “How do I know the child is mine? You’re a cheating whore, remember?"

I squeezed my eyes shut and shook it away.

My hand moved to my stomach, pressing gently against it. “Baby…” my voice softened, almost breaking. “How about we run away together?”

I swallowed, holding onto the thought like it was the only thing keeping me steady. “Mommy will find us a place. Somewhere safe. It’ll just be you and me.”