Chapter 1

When the red light outside the operating room finally went out, I was standing at the end of the corridor.

Isabella Rossi was wheeled out, her face deathly pale as she clutched Antonio’s hand.

The man bent toward her and whispered something. With his long, slender fingers, he carefully adjusted the shoulder strap that had slipped down her arm. His movements were so gentle they were almost tender.

“Antonio.”

I spoke.

His fingers stiffened, then slowly withdrew.

“What are you doing here?”

He straightened.

“Didn’t I tell you? Isabella has only just come out of danger. There’s no one else from the family here, so I need to stay with her.”

Several guards wearing the De Luca family crest immediately stepped forward, speaking hurriedly.

“Madam, please don’t misunderstand. Mr. De Luca happened to be handling business in this territory, so he was the first person who could get here.”

I stared at their faces as they desperately tried to smooth things over for him.

I had not even said anything, yet they were already rushing to defend him.

On the hospital bed, Isabella bit her colorless lower lip. Her voice was so faint it seemed as though it might break at any moment.

“Miss Zoya, please don’t blame Mr. De Luca. It’s my fault. I shouldn’t have gotten into trouble during your wedding rehearsal.”

“The timing of your accident,” I said with a smile, “was indeed rather unfortunate.”

Isabella’s body stiffened slightly.

The next moment, she lowered her head. Her long lashes drooped as tears rolled down her cheeks.

“I’m sorry. I caused trouble for the family.”

Antonio’s expression darkened.

“Zoya, she’s just escaped death. Don’t make things difficult for an injured woman.”

It was always the same.

Whenever Isabella was present, I became the cruel one.

Six months ago, she had “accidentally” leaked false intelligence, causing me to lose two informants. I had merely reminded her of it during a meeting, yet she had burst into tears in front of Antonio.

Last month, at the family banquet, she had clearly known that she was allergic to strong liquor. Still, she insisted on taking the glass of whiskey meant for Antonio from the port boss.

Everyone at the banquet had seen it. Later, the family elders whispered that I, the future mistress of the De Luca family, was narrow-minded and incapable of showing compassion toward a newcomer.

Whenever Isabella was present, she was always the innocent victim, while I was always the aggressive and unreasonable woman.

Antonio grabbed my hand and pulled me toward the corner of the wall. He leaned close, lowering his voice.

“Our church wedding is next week. I’ve already arranged everything—the guests, the godfather, the family elders. What exactly are you in such a hurry about?”

I paused. I had originally intended to hand him the pregnancy report in my pocket.

“Antonio, actually, I’m—”

“Mr. De Luca—”

Isabella’s weak voice came from inside the ward.

“My wound hurts terribly. Could it be infected? Could you come and take a look?”

Antonio released me almost without hesitation.

A nurse came out holding a medical order.

“Miss Isabella needs an anti-inflammatory injection. It will cost three thousand two hundred euros.”

Isabella glanced at her phone and bit her lip.

“I don’t have enough money in my account…”

Without saying a word, Antonio took out his black card.

The next second, a payment notification appeared on my personal terminal.

【Three thousand two hundred euros had been deducted from the contract account.】

Three thousand two hundred euros.

The money had been taken from the account Antonio and I had established together—

the account meant to fund our wedding and our future life.

Antonio’s eyes darted away from mine.

“I’ll put the money back when we return to the estate.”

“The deduction just happened because I have too many accounts linked to my watch. I must have touched the wrong one by accident.”

This time, it was an accidental charge.

What about all the times before?

He walked over to me and deliberately softened his voice.

“Don’t be angry. The mistake was mine. I’ll replenish the contract account when we get back.”

“The church wedding will go ahead as planned, all right?”

I stared at him in silence.

In his mind, it seemed that as long as the missing money was replaced, every wound he had inflicted could be erased and everything could return to normal.

I did not answer.

He raised his hand, intending to ruffle my hair as he had done countless times before.

I turned my head away, avoiding him. His palm stopped in midair.

He seemed stunned, but he did not say anything else.

I turned and walked away.

After a few steps, I suddenly stopped.

I gently placed my palm over my still-flat stomach. A tiny life was growing inside me.

After a long silence, I slowly spoke.

“Antonio.”

“Hmm?” he replied.

“The wedding is canceled.”