Chapter 6

I stood at the door, drenched, when I heard Cecelia's voice coming from the living room. "Adrian, our little princess is making a fuss again. She can't stop crying…" Cecelia sounded a little upset. "I can't cajole her on my own. Can you help me with her? Don't worry, I won't let Ella find out about what happened tonight…"

It felt like every cell in my body froze as I stood stunned at the door.

Cecelia was in a silk sleeping robe in the living room. Her collar was loose, and her hair fell all over her shoulders. I watched as Adrian stood up to walk toward Cecelia's bedroom. After that, familiar panting could be heard coming from inside the room.

I could no longer take it as I turned and ran into the rain. I felt the rain wash all over me, but I did not feel cold at all.

My mind was filled with memories of the first time we slept together. Adrian had treated me with great care and tenderness, and made me feel treasured. He had whispered huskily into my ear, making a vow to me, "You're my first woman, Ella, and you'll be my last…"

Now, he was with another woman in the room. It hurt so much, and the pain felt worse than when I was struck by a gunstock. I crouched in the rain until my legs were numb, but I waited until every light in the villa had been turned off before I stumbled back in a daze to the villa, and I found myself a random empty room to go to sleep in.

When midnight came, I was overcome with a sudden and high fever. While I drifted in and out of consciousness, I heard Adrian's low, gentle voice from the main bedroom. He was humming an ancient Imano bedtime song to comfort his child.

Yes, Adrian was giving prenatal education to the baby inside Cecelia's belly, which was an intimate act between family members. It was just like how he used to promise me—"When we have our own child, I'll sing them to sleep every night."

I had no idea how much time had passed when I heard someone calling out to me. "Ella? Ella?" I tried my best to open my eyes, and I saw Adrian next to my bed with some medicine.

"Why are you burning up…" He felt my forehead worriedly and was gentle with me, just like he once was before.

However, the moment Adrian came near to me, I was reminded of what I had seen not long ago and I turned away from him. I refused to let him touch me.

"The medicine and water are right next to you, Ella." He paused before saying with difficulty, "Cecelia's sick and pregnant, and my daughter needs someone to look after her, which is why I brought her back to the villa, and let them have the main bedroom…

"You should stay here for a few days and don't leave the room, in case… In case you spread your virus to them. I'll lock your room from the outside, and the butler will deliver your food and medicine."

Before I could reply, he left the room quickly, almost like he was escaping, to return to taking care of Cecelia and their children. When I heard the clacking of the lock, my tears started falling. My life felt like a joke.

I used to be his most treasured person, but I had become a dangerous item that had to be locked up.

…

No one delivered me water and food on time for the next few days, and I suspected this was Cecelia's order. My fever still had not subsided, and I was constantly dizzy. It did not help that I was constantly hearing happy laughter coming from outside the door.

Adrian and Cecelia would watch classic romance in the family home theatre, the same ones he used to watch with me all the time. They would have candlelight dinners in the dining room, which was the same surprise he used to prepare for me every month by cooking for me.

They even started discussing the name of their future child, just like how he used to hold me in his arms while saying softly into my ears, "Ella, if we have a boy, let's call him Marcelo, and if it's a girl, Isabella. What do you think?"

His daughter with Cecelia was called Bianca, while the unborn baby boy in Cecelia's belly was called Dante. I curled up in bed while biting hard on the corner of the blanket to make sure I did not make a sound when I was sobbing.

My fever took three days to finally subside. The day I walked out of the room was the day Cecelia's daughter was inducted officially into the family. The ceremony was held at Colombo Villa, on the field surrounded by oak trees.

A bonfire was burning brightly as the delicious smell of barbecue filled the air. The atmosphere was lively as the Colombo family members enjoyed red wine in the celebration.

Salvatori and several other committee members were all smiles as they carried Bianca in their arms while giving her their best wishes. Bianca was gifted mountains of exquisite accessories and expensive toys.

"This is for Cecelia, Adrian." Salvatori smiled as he passed a wooden box to Adrian. Inside was a ring with a huge ruby on it. It was the family heirloom of the Colombo family. "This is to thank her for giving the Colombo family a healthy descendant."

Adrian accepted the ring, and he put it on Cecelia's finger while saying softly, "Thank you for everything." Cecelia leaned into his arms shyly, and their interaction made it look like a picture-perfect moment for the family of three.

All of the guests crowded around the child, while heaping praises on her.

"Listen to how bright her crying is. She's going to grow up to be the pride of the family!"

"Bianca's eyes look just like Cecelia's! Only an Imano woman would have such features."

"Here's to the Colombo family's never-ending prosperity!"