Chapter 2

By the time I returned to my Manhattan apartment, it was already deep into the night.

I booked a random hotel, washed up, and fell into a dazed sleep.

In the early hours of the morning, I was jolted awake by a frantic phone call.

My boss sounded both anxious and excited.

“Elena, something’s happened in the East District. The Vitale and Lanza families are exchanging fire at a church on the outskirts. I know that’s your fiancé’s territory, but if you can get an exclusive shot…”

She did not finish. I had already hung up.

Carlo would never let me anywhere near that place.

However, I had to go precisely because of that.

I unlocked my phone screen.

Then, I saw Sophia’s latest post on social media.

It was just one photo.

In it, Sophia’s hand was wrapped in Carlo’s large one, with wedding rings on both of their ring fingers.

My eyes landed on the old scar on Carlo’s arm.

Something in my dead, silent heart still ached violently.

That scar was from when Carlo, at eighteen, protected me from my father’s abuse. He had gotten cut by a broken bottle shard.

It was also the reason I had always believed he cared about me.

It turned out that it had all just been my wishful thinking.

The last trace of attachment in my heart completely died.

I turned on my laptop, quickly organized my files, and asked a lawyer friend to draft a notice of broken engagement.

When I returned to the church, everything had already descended into chaos.

I suppressed my emotions and began contacting doctors for the injured at the scene.

The shootout was far more severe than expected.

When I looked at the newly built construction site near the church and the illegally stored explosives, I felt a sinking suspicion rise in my chest.

The next second, I was kicked hard from behind.

I slammed to the ground, my hands and face scraping against the gravel.

Michael’s voice rang out behind me.

“Elena, you stubborn trash! Did you follow them all the way here just to catch them cheating?! Are you sick in the head?!”

At some point, Michael had completely forgotten how our mother died at the hands of Sophia’s mother.

I could never forget that day.

My mother had stood on the rooftop. The wind was tearing through her hair.

She looked back at me once, her eyes filled with despair.

She said, “Elena, I’m sorry.”

Then, she jumped.

Later, my father said she had been mentally ill. It was a suicide.

The very next day, Sophia’s mother moved into our house with her daughter.

She sneered at me and said, “I’ve been with your father for a long time. Your mother couldn’t take it, so she killed herself.”

I told Carlo the truth. He did not believe me.

He said, “Your father already said it was suicide. Who are you trying to accuse?”

Michael did not believe me either. “Sophia’s mother is a kind woman. Stop slandering her!”

He had become Sophia’s lapdog now.

I did not want a brother like him anymore.

I rose to my feet in silence, brushed the dust off myself, and walked toward him.

I walked up to him without any expression on my face and slapped him hard.

Michael’s head snapped to the side. He was stunned. He did not expect me to fight back.

Before he could react, I looked at him with pure disgust.

“Stop flattering yourself. If you like Sophia that much, then stay by her side like the dog you are.

“You deserved that slap. From now on, we’re done.”

I ignored his furious glare and turned around to leave.

Not far away, Carlo was walking toward me with a pale-faced Sophia in his arms.

A flicker of guilt crossed his face. He explained, “Elena, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday last night.

“I’ll throw you another birthday party when I’m done here.”

I calmly looked past him, past Sophia, past their intertwined fingers.

Then, I shook my head.

“No.”

My calm reaction stunned all three of them.

Michael, who had caught up, sneered.

“Elena, what are you acting like that for? Stop it.

“You’re pregnant with Carlo’s child and still playing hard to get?

“Pathetic.

“Even if you’re pregnant, you’ll never be worthy of kneeling before Sophia.”

If this had been before, those words would have broken me.

However, I no longer cared.

Carlo’s expression darkened when he noticed my indifference.

“Elena, you’re already disrupting my work by following me here, and now, you’re throwing a tantrum?

“I’m telling you, my patience has limits. Sophia needs to rest. Your presence is only upsetting her.

“Go home. Now!”

He grabbed my hand, trying to drag me away.

The next second, gunshots rang out again.

In the same instant, Carlo and Michael both rushed toward Sophia, who was standing in the open.

Carlo instinctively shoved me to the ground.

He had clearly seen it too. Someone behind him was aiming at me.

A bullet struck my waist with perfect precision.

Pain exploded through me, and I lost consciousness completely.

When I woke up again, I was in a hospital bed.

The room was empty.

A nurse came in, removed my IV, and looked at me with concern.

“Didn’t you know you were pregnant? Why were you in such a dangerous place? You lost the baby because of the gunshot wound.”

I stared quietly at the ceiling. My voice was soft.

“I see. Thank you.”

The nurse heaved a sigh. “You miscarried. You’ll need a D&C procedure soon.”