Chapter 4

I couldn't stop trembling.

They were using my pregnancy, saying it made me paranoid and forgetful, to brush the whole thing aside.

Dante reached out to hold me. "Come on, this is just how you are. Pregnancy makes you overthink and forget things."

"These really are from us."

"You can't see how much I care about you?"

My heart clenched.

He patted my shoulder. "Once our child is born and you're raising the Family's heir, you won't have time for wild thoughts. Don't worry, until then I'll put up with anything from you."

At that, I couldn't hold back any longer.

I slapped him across the face, forcing myself hard not to cry.

"Don't touch me! You make me sick."

My voice broke.

Five red finger marks rose on Dante's face at once.

He held down the fire in his eyes and coaxed me with forced patience. "What is the matter with you? You'd suspect me over this?"

"The doctor said pregnancy makes you suspicious. I don't blame you."

I gritted my teeth, my heart cold to the core.

Then he reached for me again.

I slapped him again, harder this time.

"I told you not to touch me!"

The words had barely left me when a hard slap landed on my cheek, and every thought in my head vanished at once.

A sharp sting tore through me, and I fell against the corner of the table.

Ellie glared at me, full of resentment, and pulled Dante up.

"He already explained! What more do you want? Don't push it too far, Monica!"

Dante stepped toward me to check on me, but Ellie blocked him.

I could barely breathe.

I set the photo I'd taken last night down in front of them.

"I know everything. Don't bother hiding it. I saw it all." I rose slowly, calm in a way I couldn't put into words.

They'd been on the same side from start to finish. My accusations meant nothing.

I wanted to end this marriage calmly.

And I wasn't going to leave it a mess.

When they saw the photo, both their faces changed.

Ellie was fumbling for words, but she still forced herself to speak before Dante could. "Yes, you saw it. It's all true."

"I own what I do. I'm the one who fell for Dante first, and it took me a few tries to seduce him, but I truly love him."

"No less than you do! Monica, my whole life I've given in to you on everything."

"You owe me this. If it weren't for you, how could he have proposed to me and left me feeling like some mistress! You turned me into this! You're the truly vicious one here!"

At her words, my blood ran cold.

Ellie said it with complete conviction, not a trace of guilt in her voice.

Growing up, she'd always been the one our parents favored, all under the pretty excuse of "giving in to me on everything."

The truth was, our parents would buy her something she didn't like.

She'd let it sit until it was worn out and then hand it down to me like charity.

Dante stepped forward and grabbed at me. "Monica, let me explain."

I backed away and watched them quietly.

"Come on, ignore her." Ellie tugged Dante out of the room.

The moment the room went quiet, my whole body sagged.

I stepped back in a daze.