Chapter 2

Rebecca's POV

I froze, staring at Enzo in disbelief. My very brother had known about this all along and helped them keep it a secret from me!

Enzo glanced at me, clearly guilty. But that flicker of guilt vanished almost immediately before he was back to his usual cheerful self. He pulled a freshly made box of chocolates from his bag and handed it to Jacopo.

"I knew you'd come today, so I made you some in advance," he told him, then turned to me. "Come on, Rebecca. Jacopo's adorable, and he's got great genes. You should be grateful you get to have a son like him."

I should be grateful? I let out a cold laugh.

After our parents passed away, I was only 15 when I took on the burden of raising Enzo.

I had always told myself that he was the only family I had left. No matter how hard things got or how exhausted I was, I had never once complained to him.

Instead, I had always given him the best of everything I had. Yet now, he was telling me to accept my fiance's infidelity and help raise his bastard child.

My phone buzzed. Nathan Rinaldi had sent another text.

"I've arranged a room for you. Do you have any other family members who'll be coming with you? They're welcome to stay, too."

"No. I'm an orphan."

After sending the reply, I glanced at Enzo one last time. If he wasn't going to stand by my side, I no longer wanted him as my brother.

I stood up to leave, but Niccolo stepped in front of me and blocked my way. "What is this supposed to mean? You're throwing a fit over something this trivial? Who exactly are you trying to give attitude to?

"Our whole family thought you were sensible and understanding. Looks like we were wrong about you. You know Papa's still recovering, yet you still picked a fight with him on Christmas Eve."

I stared at Niccolo in disbelief. "I picked a fight with him?"

He pinched the bridge of his nose. "So what if I gave Margherita a child? Is that really worth making a big deal over? Margherita has no intention of getting married. She's not a threat to your position, so what exactly are you worried about?

"Besides, we're getting our marriage license in three days. After that, I'll be yours and yours alone. You won't even have to go through pregnancy and childbirth. You practically get a son for free. What's so bad about that?"

I slowly looked around the living room at everyone present.

The man I had loved for six years, his parents, who had always treated me like their own daughter, and my younger brother, whom I had raised myself, had all conspired to hide something this huge from me.

Now that the truth was out, not one of them seemed the least bit guilty.

All they felt was irritation and anger—irritated that I wasn't happily accepting their arrangement, and angry that I had dared to show even the slightest bit of displeasure.

I sighed deeply. Watching them laugh and enjoy each other's company, I just wanted to get away. I didn't belong with these people.

Forcing a smile, I said, "Jacopo is adorable, but he's not my child. Enjoy your Christmas Eve. I'll be going now."

As soon as I turned, Niccolo shouted, "Stop right there!"

Ivano slammed his hand against the table again, even harder than before. "Let her go! You've spoiled her rotten, Niccolo. Look at the nerve she has to throw a tantrum on a night like this!"

Niccolo still came after me. He grabbed my wrist, but I wrenched my hand free. Suddenly, Jacopo came running up behind me and started pounding on me with his little fists.

"Bad lady! You're picking on my papa!"

I instinctively moved out of the way. He missed me, lost his balance, and fell to the floor. In an instant, the living room erupted into chaos.

"He's just a three-year-old child!" Niccolo barked at me. "How could you do this to him?"

Margherita ran over and scooped Jack into her arms. Tears streamed down her face. "If you're upset, take it out on me! Leave my child out of this!"

Ivano was shaking with rage. "Get out! Get out of my house now! I must've been blind to let Niccolo marry you!"

Anna hurried to his side, trying to calm him down. Even Enzo, of all people, joined in. "Rebecca, what you just did was downright monstrous!"

I stood there in a daze. The only words I could manage were, "I didn't…"

Before I could finish, Margherita kicked me hard enough to knock me to the floor. Caught completely off guard, I fell onto my knees, scraping the skin raw.

She glared down at me and screamed, "You didn't? Are you telling me a child this young would make up something like that?"