Chapter 2

The silence of the night shattered—a frantic pounding on the door, a guard's deep shout.

"Don! It's an emergency!"

Livia's name cut through the commotion.

Caius shot up from the bed.

"What is it?" He threw on a shirt and yanked open the heavy oak door.

"It's Livia, Don!" The guard's voice was tight with panic. "She's locked herself in her room. Hysterical. Says she's going to... harm the baby!"

The color drained from Caius's face.

He shoved past me. I stumbled, my hip cracking against the sharp corner of the dressing table.

Tears sprang to my eyes from the pain, but I bit back any sound.

He didn't even spare me a second glance, rushing past me like a storm.

I steadied myself against the wall and watched him tear down the hall, his men close behind, a storm headed for Livia's room.

Pushing myself off the dressing table, I slowly followed.

The hallway was brightly lit, a dozen men crowded outside Livia's door.

"Livia! Open the door!" Caius slammed his fist against the wood. "Don't do anything stupid!"

A heart-wrenching sob came from inside.

"Caius… I'm scared… I'm so scared…" Livia's voice trembled. "If I don't make it, at least let the baby…"

"Don't talk nonsense! You'll be fine! We'll both be fine!"

"Just open the door!"

His voice was laced with pure panic.

I leaned against the far wall, saying nothing.

"Break it down!" Caius ordered his men.

Marco and two others slammed their shoulders into the door.

On the third impact, the lock gave way.

Caius was the first one through.

I walked to the doorway, ready for the rest of the show.

Livia was sobbing brokenly, her voice pitiful.

"Caius… I didn't want to say anything… but this afternoon… Alessia sent a maid with some special broth…"

"She said it was a tonic, to help with the pregnancy…"

"But after I drank it, my stomach started to hurt, and I broke out in a cold sweat."

Caius spun around, roaring at the men in the hall. "Get the family doctor! Now!"

Livia grabbed his hand, feigning reassurance. "Don't worry, the doctor has already been here. He gave me some medicine. I feel much better now."

My blood ran cold.

I had never sent her anything.

"And the maid…" Livia choked on a sob, pausing for effect. "She said this child… was a curse."

The room fell into a dead silence.

After a few seconds, I heard Caius's low, resolute voice.

"Livia, you and this child are the future of the Falcieri family. No one will harm you."

"I promise."

The words were followed by the sound of an embrace and soft, comforting whispers.

Ten minutes later, Caius emerged from the room.

His eyes burned with a cold fire.

He saw me standing in the hallway and strode toward me.

"Alessia!" His voice was a low, dangerous growl. "What did you do to Livia?"

"I did nothing," I said, meeting his gaze calmly.

Caius trapped me against the wall, his hands slamming down on either side of my head. "Did you try to kill my son?"

"Your son?" I laughed, the sound brittle. "Caius, are you really so blind you think that baby is yours?"

"What the hell are you talking about?" He slammed his fist into the wall next to me. "Don't try to change the subject."

I looked at the rage in his eyes, a fire hot enough to consume me.

This man was completely blinded.

"I sent her nothing," I said, my voice dangerously calm. "But you'd rather believe her tears than listen to a single word from me."

"Then why would she lie about it?"

"Because she needs an enemy to secure her position."

His expression hardened into pure fury.

"Alessia, this is your last warning. Livia is carrying the Falcieri heir. If you dare to hurt her again…"

"You'll what?" I stared directly into his eyes. "Shove me aside like you did tonight? Or just throw me out of this house for good?"

He opened his mouth, but he was speechless.

I turned and walked back to my room, my hip still throbbing with a dull ache.

Sitting on the edge of the bed, I watched the sky outside the window slowly turn gray.

Dawn was breaking.

I opened a drawer and took out a new, untraceable burner phone.

I dialed an overseas number.

"It's me," I whispered into the receiver. "Initiate Plan B."

A low, steady voice came back from the other end.

"Understood, Lady Ares. Your new workshop in Antwerp is ready."