Chapter 5

Emily huddled behind him, sobbing. "Reese, I thought we were in love!

"She called me a mistress. I can't bear that humiliation!

"Maybe I should walk away from you and all of this!"

Reese pulled Emily into his arms. "Rebecca, you had no business meddling in this!"

I pulled off my wedding ring, ready to ask him for a divorce.

Emily pushed him away. "I'm sorry, but I can't accept being kept as your mistress."

Reese looked at me. Every trace of warmth had vanished from his blue-green eyes. "Rebecca, you're not fit to be my wife.

"The Camorra family failed to teach you manners. You've brought shame on yourself and them.

"Apologize to her!"

The room fell silent.

The guests included prominent members of Emily's powerful financial family and several of Reese's most trusted men.

Everyone stopped talking and turned to watch us.

I looked at Emily's hand clasped in his, my eyes burning. "The Camorra family swore loyalty to you, not to her. I will not apologize!"

A storm gathered in Reese's eyes. "Rebecca, you have no standing to say any of that to me!"

He drew Emily against him.

"Rebecca," he said, quietly enough to sound controlled but loudly enough for every guest to hear, "Emily is the lady of this estate."

The hall went dead silent. Then whispers broke out.

"Isn't that Rebecca Moretti?"

"If even the Don won't stand by her, what kind of Donna is she?"

"The Camorra family collapsed years ago. She'll be lucky to make it through tonight!"

Their words drove into my ears like nails.

My family had fought for Reese and died in a firefight for him.

When a rocket was fired at him, I threw him to the ground and shielded him.

The blast tore open my back, and I miscarried on the spot.

Once, simply because I loved irises, he ordered every flower in the chapel replaced with them.

He had irises embroidered across the skirt of my wedding dress.

Five years ago, he had sworn before a priest that he would be faithful to me for life.

Four years ago, he took a bullet in his left lung and refused to release my hand.

Three years ago, when another woman appeared at his side, I became hysterical. At first, he only questioned me coldly.

But he finally yielded to my tears and promised it would never happen again.

One year ago, he built an estate for another woman.

Now he was trampling our sacred marriage into the mud for her.

To free her from the label of mistress, he had publicly denied that I was his wife.

Reese's voice returned to its usual calm, cold enough to make me tremble. "Rebecca, I'm telling you one last time.

"Apologize to Emily for every word you said today."

I met his gaze as blood from my split lip slid down to my collarbone.

I wiped it away and smiled bitterly. "I'm sorry."

That apology was for the woman I had once been, the one who still expected something from marriage.

Emily sniffled and said she forgave me.

Satisfied that the spectacle had ended, the onlookers made no effort to hide their ridicule.

"Look at her. She looks like a prizefighter who just got knocked out!"

"She's a disgrace to the Camorra family!"

Reese released my wrist. The finger marks on my arm darkened from red to purple.

I pushed through the crowd and left the estate. He hurried after me. "Consider this a lesson, Rebecca. As my wife, you never should have attacked a defenseless young woman!

"Go home and think about what you did. As a reward, I'll end things with her."

His apology was just another accusation delivered from on high, as if I were a subordinate who had failed him.

Not his wife.

I stopped listening and climbed into the car without looking back.

I ordered Charles, "Carlo Moretti's law firm. Now."

Chicago's finest firm drafted a divorce settlement that satisfied me within hours.

The words "husband unfaithful during wife's pregnancy" still jolted me.

That night, I sat awake until dawn and wondered whether the angel who had never been born had come only to reveal God's will, to tell me this love was a mistake.

At dawn, I had Charles drive me to the airport under the pretense of a family business trip.

Once I boarded, Reese called. "Emily was terrified. No one has ever treated her so brutally!

"Her face is badly swollen. I'm taking her to a doctor."

After saying that, he seemed to realize how cold he sounded and softened his tone. "Be a good girl, Rebecca. Charles says you're away on business. When you come home, I'll buy you a bigger diamond."

I studied the handprint swelling on my face in the mirror and fell silent for a moment. "Buy it for your new wife, Reese.

"I'll have Carlo Moretti's lawyers formally serve you with the divorce papers. Be sure to sign them."