Chapter 2

I stopped what I was doing and looked at Luca's anxious face, keeping my own expression cool.

"You must have heard wrong. He was probably calling for Christine."

Luca suddenly looked embarrassed. He stammered, unable to answer.

But I went anyway. I didn't want innocent people caught up in the mess between Nolan and me.

Nolan was already awake when I got there.

His shoulder was wrapped in bandages and his face was pale. When he saw me come in, he gave me a tender smile.

He reached for my hand but accidentally strained his injured shoulder.

He hissed in pain. "Aria, you came. I was too cruel to you before. Are you still mad at me about Christine?"

Before, I would have thrown myself into Nolan's arms in tears and told him how scared I was of losing him.

But now, I just looked at him quietly. "I'm not mad, Nolan."

"I lied to you, Aria," Nolan explained patiently, his expression gentle and apologetic. "I've been working for the mafia all along. Those injuries I got at the docks weren't from work. They were from fights over territory. I wasn't the Don yet."

His warm gaze stirred something in my numb heart. The explanation was seven years too late, but I had to admit I still couldn't bring myself to give up on him.

Nolan took my hand anyway and looked at me earnestly.

"Aria, Matthew helped me become Don. He died for me. I can't just abandon his wife."

For a moment, I felt dazed. This supposedly loyal Don reminded me of the dependable husband I'd once known.

But after seven years of lies and that traumatic labor, I couldn't face him. I took a deep breath. When I spoke, I sounded defeated.

"Christine is your best friend's widow. Of course you should take care of her.

"You don't need to use your injury to test me. I'll do as I'm told. But I want my baby."

Nolan was silent for a long time. In the end, he agreed to talk Christine into it.

I couldn't deny it. Deep down, I still had hope. I wanted so badly to go back to the happy life we'd had before.

But that night, Nolan never came.

Instead, Christine showed up at my house in a bulletproof car.

She brought top-grade Iranian saffron, a case of the finest Wagyu beef, more supplements and expensive gifts than I could count, and a white case packed with dollar bills.

Christine spoke in a falsely sweet voice. "Aria, thank you for being willing to give me the baby. Please accept these gifts."

I stared hard at her, so angry my voice shook. "I never agreed to let you take my baby."

A smug smile spread across Christine's face. She crouched beside my bed and put on a sweet voice. "Aria, my husband and my child both died because of Nolan. Now this baby is the only thing holding me together. I can't live without him.

"You'll help me, won't you?"

I couldn't stop myself. I grabbed the gift box beside me and threw it at her. "Get out! You think you can buy my baby with this stuff?!"

The box struck Christine's temple. Her mask slipped. She stood up and barked at her bodyguards to hold me down.

I fought back, screaming at them to get away from me.

Christine took off her heels, gripped my chin, and leaned close, her voice cruel. "Don't worry, Aria. I won't leave a single mark on you."

Then Christine kicked me hard in the stomach, and I collapsed to the floor in pain. She was clearly enjoying herself. I struggled to sit up and tried to get out of the room.

But Christine grabbed me by the hair, and all I could do was twist and fight.

As we struggled, Christine flung me aside. My back slammed into the corner of the table, knocking the milk bottle to the floor, where it shattered.

I landed hard on the broken glass. Pain shot through me, making my scalp tingle, and I felt warm liquid run down my back.

My vision darkened, but I could make out Nolan through the haze.