Chapter 3

The next morning, I went to the hospital alone.

While I waited for my appointment, two women nearby recognized me.

“Isn’t that Dante Russo’s fiancée?”

“It must just be someone who looks like her. Do you really think Dante would let his fiancée come to a prenatal appointment alone?”

I lowered my head and pretended not to hear them.

I had once believed he loved me that much too.

That changed five years ago, when Bianca took a bullet for him during an ambush.

After that, every cough and every nightmare she had became more urgent than anything involving me. I became the one expected to understand and keep giving way.

The examination confirmed that I was eight weeks pregnant and that the baby’s heartbeat was steady.

The doctor reviewed the precautions I needed to take on a long-haul flight and reminded me to schedule a follow-up appointment after I arrived in London.

When I left the hospital, I returned to the university to collect the original copies of my research papers and the data required by the institute.

I had just stepped out of the building when a black Mercedes pulled up sharply at the curb.

The door opened, and Dante climbed out.

His coat was unbuttoned, and his tie sat slightly crooked. The moment he saw me, the tension in his face eased. Then relief gave way to restrained anger.

Julian got out of the car behind him and glanced at the documents in my arms.

“See? I told you she wasn’t leaving Chicago.”

“Turning off her phone, selling her apartment, and hiding on campus—it was all to make us come looking for her.”

Dante stopped in front of me.

“I went to your apartment, and the realtor told me you’d put it up for sale.”

He let out an exasperated sigh.

“I thought something had happened to you. I spent the entire night looking for you. Elena, I already explained what happened at the wedding. How long are you planning to stay angry?”

“What could possibly have happened to her?” Julian interrupted impatiently.

“You came to find her yourself. She got exactly what she wanted.”

Dante was silent for a moment.

“That apartment was too small anyway. Selling it is probably for the best. I’ll get you something bigger.”

“Come back to the house with me tonight. I’ve set the new wedding date for three days from now.”

He did not ask whether I still wanted to marry him.

In his mind, once he set another date, I would appear at the altar on time.

I wanted to refuse, but the ruby necklace my mother had left me was still in the safe at the house.

In the end, I nodded.

When we returned to the estate, Dante’s assistant stopped him downstairs to go over the revised wedding arrangements.

I went upstairs alone and discovered that the study that had once belonged to me had been completely transformed.

My desk, research materials, and awards were all gone. One entire wall had been converted into a wardrobe filled with Bianca’s clothes, and a new bed stood beside the window.

The bathroom door opened.

Bianca walked out wearing my silk nightgown.

She froze when she saw me.

“Elena, why are you back?”

This was supposed to be the home Dante and I would share after our wedding, yet she was asking why I was there.

Julian entered the room behind me.

“Bianca has a respiratory condition. This room has its own medical suite and climate-controlled air filtration, so it’s better for her recovery.”

“She’s only staying here temporarily. Don’t make this into something bigger than it is.”

Bianca’s eyes immediately filled with tears.

“If my being here bothers you, I can move out right now.”

I did not answer.

I was staring at her neck.

She was wearing the ruby necklace my mother had left me.

“Take it off.”

Julian frowned.

“She only borrowed it for a little while. You already have every memory Mom left you. Why can’t you let Bianca wear one necklace?”

“Mom left that necklace to me.”

Bianca lowered her eyes and ran her fingers over the ruby.

“I only wanted to remember what it felt like to have a mother who loved me.”

Dante appeared in the doorway.

Bianca immediately unclasped the necklace and approached me with reddened eyes.

“I’m sorry, Elena. I’ll give it back right now.”

Dante’s voice carried obvious impatience.

“She only wore it for a few minutes. I can buy you another one exactly like it.”

“There isn’t another one exactly like it.”

I reached for the necklace.

Bianca moved closer and whispered so only I could hear her.

“You see? They keep saying no one can replace you.”

“But all I have to do is ask, and they’ll take your wedding, your room, even the things your mother left you, and hand them to me.”

She pressed the necklace into my palm, hooked her fingers around my wrist, and suddenly let herself fall backward.

To Dante and Julian, it looked as though I had pushed her.

Bianca tumbled down the staircase.

The necklace’s antique setting struck a marble step and snapped. The ruby came loose and rolled to the bottom of the stairs.

Julian shoved me aside.

“Elena, she gave the necklace back to you. Why did you still push her?”

I did not defend myself.

I simply crouched down and picked up the ruby.

Dante lifted Bianca into his arms and carried her past me.

“The wedding in three days is canceled.”

His voice was cold and empty.

“When you learn how to apologize to Bianca, we can discuss marriage again.”

After they rushed Bianca to the hospital, I gathered the broken necklace and left the house where Dante and I were supposed to begin our marriage.

At ten that night, I boarded my flight to London.

Before the cabin door closed, Dante sent me a message.

[Bianca is awake. Come to the hospital and apologize to her. If she forgives you, the wedding can still take place in three days.]

Julian’s messages followed immediately.

[Come here now. Otherwise, I’ll propose freezing your share of the family trust and transferring it to Bianca.]

[Don’t assume we’ll indulge you forever.]

They were still using marriage, property, and family to force me to submit.

Because they believed those things were all I had.

I removed my old SIM card, snapped it in half, and dropped it into the trash.

Then I rested one hand gently over my abdomen.

Outside the window, the lights of Chicago gradually fell away beneath us.

They would understand soon enough.

This was not another fit of anger.

I was truly done with them.