Chapter 2

Julian never came home that night, and I didn't wait for him.

I took the marriage certificate and family agreements out of the safe, photographed everything for my lawyer, then turned off the bedroom light.

A message woke me at one in the morning.

I reached across the cold, empty side of the bed and picked up my phone.

Mia had sent me a photo.

Julian stood at a sink with his sleeves rolled up, washing a pair of pale lace underwear.

In the mirror behind him, Mia held up her phone, her eyes crinkling with laughter.

"I wasn't feeling well earlier and got my underwear dirty. He wouldn't let me wash it myself and insisted on doing it for me. The great Mr. Moretti, washing underwear for the first time in his life."

A few moments later, she deleted the photo and sent another message.

"I'm so sorry, Vivian! Wrong chat! I shouldn't have sent that to you."

I stared at the wedding ring on his finger, and my stomach turned.

I blocked her, lay back down, and slowly pulled the blanket over my stomach.

The next day, Julian showed up at the family's jewelry company with Mia.

They'd barely gotten out of the car when a black SUV with no plates rounded the corner and stopped across from the main entrance.

Mia saw it and froze.

"Julian... are they back?"

She clutched his coat, her face draining of color.

Julian pulled her into his arms and motioned for the bodyguards to check the SUV.

The SUV immediately sped off, shot through the intersection, and disappeared into traffic.

Mia's legs gave way. Julian scooped her up and carried her into the lobby.

Her face was buried against his shoulder. As they passed me, she lifted her head and looked at me.

Marcus, the family's head of security, followed them inside with his men, looking grim.

"Last night, she gave the family hospital's address to a cab driver. This morning, she left without checking her route. If she keeps leaving herself exposed like this, no number of bodyguards can keep her safe."

Mia was still in Julian's arms, and her eyes immediately filled with tears.

"It's my fault. I was afraid that using a family car again would make Vivian think I was calling you away on purpose."

Julian kept her in his arms.

"Starting today, she gets the highest level of protection. Four cars, eight men, 24 hours a day."

I watched him in silence.

Was he really doing all this to protect me?

Three months earlier, I'd been followed after an auction and asked him for two more bodyguards.

He'd refused, saying a sudden increase in security might expose my identity. Instead, he'd told me not to go out alone for a while.

Marcus turned to me.

"What about Ms. Bennett's two assigned guards? Do we keep them?"

I set down the diamond photos I'd finished reviewing.

"Give them to her too. I won't need them much longer."

Julian immediately looked up.

"Vivian. A word."

Other than a few elders, no one here knew Julian and I were married.

The Morettis had built their fortune on smuggled African diamonds. I had the best eye in the business. For five years, I'd graded their stones for almost nothing while working publicly under my maiden name.

Julian had refused to make our marriage public. He said the moment his enemies knew who I was, they'd use me against him.

Six months ago, he'd found Mia, who looked like me, dressed her in my clothes, put her in my car, and started taking her out in public with him.

I followed him into his office.

The family doctor had already taken Mia to the lounge.

He shut the door and reached for my hand.

"Does your forehead still hurt?"

I pulled my hand back. "It's much better."

He put his hands on my shoulders and leaned down to look me in the eye.

"Still angry? I didn't come home last night and you didn't call once. Vivian, you've never done that."

I looked at him.

"Mia was with you. What was there to worry about?"

His fingers tightened.

His grip hurt. I pushed him away, and my elbow knocked against the tablet on his desk.

The screen lit up, showing a preregistration form for labor and delivery at the family hospital.

"Infant name: Luca Moretti"

"Mother: Mia Bell"

"If I remember correctly, Mia's boyfriend isn't a Moretti."

Julian let go of me and moved in front of the screen.

"Mia and the baby are already being watched. Without the Moretti name, the baby won't be on the family's protection list."

I stared at the name on the screen as a heavy weight settled on my chest.

Mia's baby hadn't even been born, yet he already had my husband's last name.

"If that's all, I'll get back to work, Mr. Moretti."

That evening, I finished valuing a rare pink diamond and left to meet Lewis Harrison.

Julian's car was parked across the entrance, blocking my path.

"Get in. The Moretti Foundation is holding a charity dinner at the Harrison Hotel tonight. The auction diamonds need your final sign-off. Mia will be at the head table as my wife. I've booked the restaurant upstairs for after dinner. It'll be just the two of us."

Mia sat in the back seat, wearing the Moretti pin on her chest.

She spoke timidly. "Don't worry, Vivian. I'm only sitting beside Julian in your place. I'd never think of myself as the Donna."

I looked at the pin.

"The report is already with Marcus. With the Donna there, no one at the dinner will notice I'm missing."

Julian gripped the car door, his expression darkening.

"Vivian, don't test me like that."

"Sorry. I'm meeting Mr. Harrison about the next shipment at that same restaurant upstairs."

The car Lewis had sent for me was waiting across the street.

I walked past Julian, got in, and headed to the restaurant ahead of them.