Chapter 1

My husband had a daughter with another woman. When the baby had a severe allergic reaction, everyone pointed the finger at me.

"You vicious bitch!"

Aurelia loomed over me, shaking a silver rattle in my face. Her eyes were pure fire. "My daughter almost died! Do you have any idea the pain she was in?"

Two guards held me down in a chair. I couldn't move. "I didn't—"

SLAP!

The crack of the slap echoed through the room, leaving a fire burning on my cheek.

"Still lying!" she shrieked. "If you hate me, come after me! Why would you poison an innocent child?"

"I never touched that rattle!"

A voice cut through the noise. "Enough."

Vito Santoro, the Don, stepped from the shadows. A black pistol was already in his hand.

He pressed the cold muzzle to my forehead.

"You touch my granddaughter, whore?"

His voice was a low growl. I could feel his finger tense on the trigger.

"Father, don't," Alessio finally said.

I whipped my head toward him, my heart leaping with hope. He would believe me. He had to—

But his eyes were cold. Unfamiliar.

"Drag her to the cellar," Carmela Santoro said, walking into the room. Her voice dripped with disgust. "Let her think about what she's done."

"No!" I struggled against the guards. "Alessio, believe me! You know I would never hurt a child!"

He looked at me like I was a stranger.

"We had a deal, Thea. We wait for Aurelia to have a son, then we leave. Why did you have to hurt my daughter?"

His words cut deeper than any knife.

I remembered the soft nights, him tracing my face, whispering, "Thea, once this is all over, we'll go to Tuscany. We'll open a small flower shop."

I remembered his promise, his lips against my ear. "I'll protect you for the rest of my life. I'll never let anyone hurt you."

I remembered that snowy night, him taking a bullet for me. His blood staining my white dress. He was smiling as he collapsed in my arms. "As long as you're safe, Thea, it's worth it."

Where did that Alessio go?

The guards dragged me toward the cellar. I looked back one last time. He turned away and gently pulled Aurelia into his arms.

The cellar was dark and freezing.

Three days. Three nights. A piece of bread, a little water. Just me, the rats, and my despair.

On the fourth day, they let me out.

I didn't go to Alessio. I went straight to Vito's office.

"I want to leave," I said, my voice a raw whisper.

Vito and Carmela exchanged a look. Then Carmela let out a cold laugh.

"Finally came to your senses? A flower shop girl, thinking she could actually marry into the Santoro family?"

"Yes," I said, my voice flat. "I'm not good enough."

"Hah. At least you know your place," she sneered. "I told you from the start. A girl with your background could never deserve my son."

"Please, just send me somewhere Alessio can't find me."

Vito ran a thumb over his cigar box. "In two weeks, someone will arrange your departure. And remember, you are never to see my son again."

I nodded and turned to leave.

As I walked through the living room, I saw them.

Alessio was on the couch. Aurelia was curled up against him, holding their baby girl.

The golden sunlight streamed in, painting them in a perfect family portrait.

My footsteps made them look up.

When Alessio saw me, his first instinct was to pull the baby protectively to his chest.

That single, protective gesture was the final stab to my heart.

He realized what he’d done and awkwardly handed the daughter to a nanny.

"Thea," he said, standing up, trying to come closer. "You look like hell. Are you hungry? What do you want to eat?"

His concern felt like a mockery.

"I'm fine."

"Thea, I... locking you in the cellar wasn't my idea. It was my father's—" He paused. "You shouldn't have been so impulsive."

"I didn't hurt her."

"But everyone saw—"

"I said I didn't do it."

We stared at each other. I saw guilt in his eyes. I saw pity. But I didn't see trust.

"Alessio," Aurelia's voice was sickeningly sweet. She walked over slowly, her hand on her pregnant belly. "Don't be so hard on Thea. She only lost her mind because she loves you so much."

Her words were meant to sound kind, but they were pure acid in my wounds.

But what truly broke me was the necklace around her neck.

It was the only thing I had left from my grandmother. A small, simple pearl pendant. Worthless to anyone but me.

"That's my necklace," my voice trembled.

Aurelia looked down, a picture of innocence. "This? Oh, Alessio just gave it to me."

"Liar!" I lunged for her, trying to get it back.

The moment I got close, she stumbled backward, letting out a piercing scream.

"My baby!"

"Aurelia!" Alessio yelled, rushing to her side.

"She pushed me!" Aurelia cried from the floor, clutching her stomach in terror. "She's trying to kill my baby!"

"I didn't touch her!"

But no one was listening.

Alessio spun on me, his face a mask of fury, and shoved me hard.

My head slammed against the sharp corner of the stone fireplace.

The impact sent black spots across my vision. Warm blood trickled down my neck.

"Thea!" I heard someone yell my name. The voice sounded far away.

Through my blurring vision, I saw Alessio lift Aurelia into his arms, whispering to her. "Don't be scared. I'm here. You and our baby will be fine."