Three

Kiara's Pov

{One Month Later.}

'Congratulations, Mrs Salvatore you're pregnant.'

The doctor's words played in my head over and over again, even though it's been two weeks since I heard it.

It didn't take much for me to know who the father was, but I couldn't tell him,especially with the fact that I abandoned him and worse I'm a married woman now… so it's pointless.

I hadn’t told anyone, not Maya, not Hope, not even myself if I could help it, but it didn't stop the fact that I'm having a baby… While abortion did cross my mind, this baby is the only piece of Kade I'll ever have, and I won't lose it.

“Donna, I need to get you ready. The guests are arriving, and Don Carlo is looking for you,” Cara said, peeking into the bathroom.

Even at the mention of his name, a shiver went through my body.

My husband, the old bastard was always around me like a vulture circling its prey. He was patient, but only because patience made the reward even better to him.

The only reason he hadn't touched me yet was because he was waiting for tonight… his sixty-sixth birthday.

“I'll be out in a minute… I just need a minute,” I replied, keeping my voice as low as possible.

“Okay, Donna. I'll be clocking out once you go to the party. Since you'll be spending the night with Don Carlo, are there any special snacks you'd like…”

Her voice faded in my head. Tonight he'll fuck me.

If he finds out I'm not a virgin…he'll kill me. He's talked about this night so much he's planned it to the very end.

While we haven't had sex, that doesn't mean he didn't touch me though. Most times he came over to my bathroom to watch me bathe. Whenever he pecked me, his lips would linger on my cheek. He mostly made me wear skimpy outfits so he could ‘feed his eyes’

“The process for tonight is very simple. Once the party is over, you'll be directed to the designated bedroom. Your lingerie is on the bed so you can change. Now, are you sure you don't need anything? Considering that your husband requested Viagra for be sent to the room, you might need some snacks…”

“Get out,” I cut her off, and she shut her mouth, nodded and walked out.

I placed a hand on my chest like it could stop how fast my heart was beating. I felt my lunch coming back up. I bent over the sink just in time.

Each advance Carlo ever took made my stomach twist in disgust.

But I endured.

I smiled when he wanted me to, talked only when he wanted me to. That's the only way I've survived this long, and I'll keep surviving.

I wiped my mouth and rinsed it. I opened the first aid kit in my bathroom and pulled out the laxatives and started crushing them. All I needed to do was slip it into his wine. He won't be able to touch me if he spends all night in the toilet.

I put the crushed pills in my bra, splashed water on my face. Even from here I could hear them from the other end of the door—hair and makeup crew, the stylist, all of them… wanting to do their best to make me beautiful for Carlo.

“Um, Donna, we only have a few minutes left,” one of them said, knocking.

“I'm coming,” I replied.

I wiped down the table with my sleeves and took a deep breath.

I can do this. I can endure tonight. I can endure for a few more days… I headed for the door, but the window caught my attention. The number of cars pulling in.

I could even see people laughing and hugging each other inside this… prison.

I thought about running and never looking back. The thought played in my mind like a movie, but then there was Hope.

My sweet baby sister.

I had to send her away for her safety. I heard from the maids that the trafficking ring might still be functional, and that's when I noticed how he looked at her—like she was an inconvenience and before she started looking like money, I had to send her away.

Sometimes I reached for my phone, tempted to call, but I couldn’t. If my husband found out her location…it's just a risk I couldn't take.

But my room had the perfect view of the compound. So I traced the imaginary escape routes I didn’t have the courage to take.

My hands drifted to my stomach, and my vision blurred out.

“I'm not dying tonight. I'll have this baby, I'll reconnect with Hope,” I whispered to myself as my gaze went over every corner, every gate, every guard. I made one more promise to myself: “I will leave this place, even if it's the last thing I do. But for now…”

“Donna,” someone knocked. “Please, we have to be done in ten minutes.”

“Coming,” I responded loud enough for them to hear. I took a deep breath before wiping my eyes.

“For now… I'll play good wife till I get my chance,” I vowed to myself.

I turned to the mirror and practiced my smile. Once my smile looked good enough… I headed for the door because I had no choice but to play the role of dutiful wife.

~~~

Everywhere I looked, people were smiling and laughing. Music filled the air, clinking glasses, toasting to my husband's sixty-sixth year as if he were some great man.

He spotted me the moment I entered.

“There you are, my jewel,” he said, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear as his arms wrapped around my waist.

I put on my practiced smile, even though it faltered once or twice because his hands would go to my ass.

“And here is my wife, Mrs Salvatore,” Carlo said, exchanging a handshake. “Isn't she hot?”

I would be offended but that's always how he introduces me, and it's been one month.

“Good evening…” I started, but he cut me off to continue with Carlo.

“She is. You deserve the finest things, Boss,” he said, shaking Carlo with two hands, but then his wife greeted

“You are indeed beautiful,” she said behind a fake smile. I would know, because it mirrors mine but her eyes were so pitiful. It may be a figment of my imagination, but it's nothing new.

Everyone talks about the age difference. Some look at me with pity or scorn. I've been called a gold digger, every ugly name under the sun, at least not in front of me, but I hear them nonetheless.

“Smile wider, Kiara” he hissed softly so I was the only one who could hear him. “Tonight is special. Don’t ruin it.”

I obeyed.

“The dinner table has been set…” one of the workers announced, and everyone headed for the hall.

He pulled out my chair himself, making a show of it as if he were the perfect gentleman.

I sat, folding my hands neatly on my lap. My eyes went over the table settings. That's when I noticed the three chairs left empty.

It wasn’t unusual for guests to arrive late, so I didn't put much thought into it… But it was difficult to ignore, given the fact that they had to be people of high ranking, since they are above his second in command.

Who are they?

“Stop fidgeting,” Carlo muttered under his breath, his hand going up my thigh.

I wanted to shrink away, but I stayed still, staring at the empty chairs as if they were my only escape.

Conversations buzzed around us—about business deals, family gossip, the kind of hollow chatter people filled their nights with.

I heard none of it. My focus remained on the empty seats.

A strange unease curled in my stomach. I shook my head like it could chase it away, and I took a full spoon of dessert and focused my attention on my plate.

After dessert, the guards will take me to my suite. I'll have enough time to spike the wine bottles, but for now… I'll wallow in my dessert.

I barely registered the sound of the doors opening, the sound of careless laughter spilling in with the sound of heels clicking… probably a drunk guest, so I just kept picking at cheesecake.

Someone dropped a bag on the seat in front of me, and when I finally looked up… I felt like all the air was knocked out of my lungs.

Maya?

Her eyes locked on mine, and she froze.

“Maya, my darling daughter, welcome home… where is that arrogant brother of yours?”

Did he just say daughter?