Chapter 4

When I came to, the first thing I saw was the ceiling of the Mazzoni family's hospital.

Riccardo was sitting beside my hospital bed, gripping my hand tightly. He looked like an absolute wreck.

"Why am I here?" I asked, my voice scratchy.

He flinched like he'd been electrocuted, snapping his head up. His usually cold, dark eyes were bloodshot. "The baby is gone, Elena."

His voice was hoarse as he spoke with restrained anger. "Elena, you didn't even know you were two months pregnant?"

I froze upon hearing that. The door opened, and the doctor walked in with my chart.

"Doctor, what could've caused the miscarriage?"

I took a deep breath, trying my best to stay calm.

The doctor sighed. "Your uterine lining had already been thin to begin with. And with you being out in that heavy rain for so long last night, plus that high fever that wouldn't break, there was no way the baby could have made it."

Riccardo shot up from his chair, his tall frame swaying unsteadily. "Thin uterine lining?"

He squeezed the words out through clenched teeth. "Elena, what's the meaning of this?"

Seeing things were about to get messy, the doctor quietly made himself scarce.

I slowly dropped my gaze, resting a hand on my now-empty stomach. A deep, gnawing pain spread through my chest, leaving me struggling to catch my breath.

When I finally looked up, I made no attempt to hide the hatred in my eyes for once. "You're asking me for an explanation?"

With a bitter smirk, I said in an incredibly hoarse voice, "And what exactly do you want me to say, Riccardo? I lost our first baby when I fell down the stairs trying to get away from your enemies, who came for revenge."

Back then, he had my bloodied body in his arms. With red eyes, he swore that we would definitely have more children someday.

I squeezed my eyes shut, fighting back the tears threatening to spill. "The second one? I lost it during your father's funeral. I stayed up for three days straight trying to keep your family from falling apart, and I miscarried from sheer exhaustion. I didn't tell you because I didn't want to break your heart."

Riccardo's eyes went wide with shock. "W-What did you just say?"

I closed my eyes as the memories came rushing back like a tide.

Back then, when the old Don was assassinated, I handled the funeral arrangements and did everything I could to keep the family's elders calm despite being exhausted.

I only realized I was pregnant when the severe cramps hit.

I went to the hospital alone to deal with it. But when I got back home, I overheard his mother, Rosa Colombo, through the crack in the door. "Elena's way too delicate. I can't believe she can't even get through a funeral without passing out. A proper Donna shouldn't be a burden at a time like this."

Riccardo had merely replied coldly, "She was spoiled growing up. It's only natural that she's a little delicate."

I had bottled up all the hurt and kept the secret to myself.

As I stared at him, tears silently rolled down my cheeks. "Riccardo, what right do you have to demand an explanation from me?"

Riccardo panicked, instinctively reaching out to hold me. "Elena, I didn't know—"

Before he could finish, the door swung open.

Sofia walked in, holding a thermal flask. "Elena, I heard what happened, so I made you some soup…"

I couldn't even be bothered to look at her. I simply spat, "Get out."

Sofia froze in her tracks. She shot Riccardo a helpless, pitiful look as she bit her lower lip.

Riccardo let out a sigh. "Elena, don't be like this. Sofia's just trying to be nice."

His voice had gone cold again. It made me wonder if the anxious-looking man from a minute ago had only been a figment of my imagination.

As this whole situation suddenly struck me as absurd, I slumped back against the headboard and said coldly, "I need to rest now, so please leave. Are you satisfied with this attitude, Don Mazzoni?"

Riccardo opened his mouth, desperately trying to ignore the growing sense of panic in his chest.

He stepped forward and awkwardly leaned in to give me a hug. "I'm sorry, Elena. This is my fault. When you can be discharged, I'll throw you the grandest wedding ever.

"I'll make up for everything I owe you, and then some. We'll have the wedding three days from now, okay?"

I felt sick to my stomach upon hearing that.

He didn't stick around for my answer. As if he was terrified I'd say something even more merciless, he hastily grabbed Sofia and practically fled the hospital room.

My phone buzzed. It was a text from my lawyer, Mr. Moretti. "Ms. Leone, due to the storm in the Meritarrean, the earliest flight out is at noon, three days from now.

"I've already booked your ticket. I'll have someone waiting to pick you up on time."

I typed back, "Okay."