Chapter 4

My consciousness faded.

I don't know how long I was out.

When I opened my eyes again...

Bright white lights.

The smell of antiseptic.

A hospital.

I stared at the ceiling.

A tear slid from the corner of my eye.

Five years ago.

Another hospital.

Leo was only fifteen then.

End-stage heart failure.

He needed a heart transplant.

A million dollars just for the black-market organ.

And Rocco?

He was overseas, sent to handle a family crisis.

Completely unreachable.

I begged for money everywhere.

It was never enough.

I watched Leo's heartbeat grow weaker.

I was desperate.

I went to Rocco's father.

The old Godfather, who had always despised me, finally made me an offer.

The old Don slid a briefcase across the desk.

He stated, "A million in cash. And the heart? It's on ice. Waiting for my call."

He added his condition, "But you take this money, and you get out of my son's life. If you ever try to contact him again..."

He didn't have to finish.

I understood.

As I was leaving, a shell of myself, the Don's fixer stopped me.

The fixer threatened clearly.

"The boss has a message. It's best if you never speak of this to anyone. Otherwise, there's no guarantee your brother will make it to the next surgery."

A clear threat.

I had no strength to fight.

I clutched that check and sobbed in the hospital hallway.

It was the first time I had ever bowed to fate.

For Leo's life, I gritted my teeth and broke up with Rocco the moment he returned.

I thought that would be the end of it.

But then came the sudden family war.

Rocco, bleeding out in a pool of his own blood.

He used his own death to force me to stay.

Under the old Godfather’s watchful eye, I didn't dare speak the truth.

I could only let Rocco imprison me.

And so, I endured five years of his revenge.

His torture.

"You're awake?"

A cold voice pulled me back to reality.

I turned my head.

Rocco was sitting in a chair by the bed.

His eyes were shot with red.

He demanded, his voice tight with suppressed fury, "Why didn't you tell me you were pregnant?"

He stared at me.

A shiver went down my spine.

I looked down at my flat stomach.

Pregnant.

When we were deepest in love, I had fantasized about having his child.

A little boy who looked just like him.

But for the past five years, there had been nothing between us but torture and revenge.

I never thought, in the middle of all this wreckage, that a new life would begin.

Rocco stood up.

Walked to the bedside.

He loomed over me, his eyes bloodshot.

He declared, a smirk of charity on his face.

"Since you're carrying the heir to the Valeriano family, I can find it in my heart to forgive you. For betraying me for money."

I was stunned.

Looking at his arrogant, condescending face, a bitter laugh escaped my lips.

Forgive me?

I didn't need it anymore.

I had waited five long years to hear those words.

I remembered the first time I found out about his first mistress.

I was broken.

Desperate.

I grabbed his clothes like a madwoman, begging him over and over.

I begged frantically.

"Rocco, please, believe me! I had my reasons! Forgive me, can't we stop torturing each other?"

I had humbled myself completely.

My dignity was shattered, but I still wanted to save us.

And what did I get in return?

He threw my hands off him and sneered.

He retorted sharply.

"What reasons could you possibly have? You sold our love for a million dollars. Tell me, what 'reasons'!"

Back then, my mouth opened, but no words came out.

What could I say?

That his father held my brother's life in his hands?

I didn't dare gamble Leo's life on the chance that Rocco might believe me.

It was all for nothing.

I walked on eggshells for five years.

And in the end, I still couldn't save Leo.

I took a deep breath.

I looked at the man I once loved so much.

And suddenly, it all felt so pointless.

I opened my mouth.

I was about to tell him everything.

The truth.

Leo's death.

But Rocco didn't notice the shift in my mood.

He reached out, his hand gently stroking my face.

"Stop this talk about divorce. Stay in the villa. Be good. And have this baby."

He paused, his tone softening slightly.

He promised, "From now on, I won't bring those other women around to provoke you. And as for your brother, I'll arrange the best medical care for him."

A mocking laugh escaped me.

Just then, the doctor came in to change my IV.

He overheard Rocco and looked confused.

The doctor asked,

"Mr. Valeriano, Mrs. Valeriano's brother passed away three days ago. Didn't you know?"

Rocco froze.

As if struck by lightning.