Chapter 3

Elara blocked me at the door, her voice dropping low.

"Lorenzo didn't sleep at all last night because of you. He finally came to the office to catch a few minutes of rest, and you want to wake him up again?"

She said it so naturally, like she was the woman of this office. Like she belonged here.

The thought of them spending the whole night together made my stomach turn.

"I need him to sign something."

Elara glanced down at the folder in my hand and smiled.

"Lorenzo already told me. He doesn't want to get involved in Vincenzo family business. Just handle the neighborhood paperwork yourself."

I froze. Lorenzo had told Elara about family affairs. Things that were supposed to stay between us.

When I didn't move, Elara reached over and tugged the folder from my grip, impatience bleeding into her voice.

"Just give it to me. I'll pass it to him when he wakes up."

Fine. I didn't want to see Lorenzo anyway. I forced down the queasiness rising in my throat and spoke flatly.

"Okay."

I barely got the word out before I couldn't hold it anymore. I bolted for the bathroom.

But the room spun around me. Everything went black, and I collapsed.

When I came to, a nurse was adjusting my IV drip, smiling down at me.

"Mrs. Vincenzo, you're pregnant. Please take better care of yourself."

I stared at the prenatal report on the table. A bitter laugh caught in my chest.

Four years we had waited for this child. And now, just as I was about to leave Lorenzo, the baby came.

But he would never have a father who loved him.

The door swung open while I was still lost in thought.

Lorenzo walked in, holding the folder I had given Elara. His face was grim.

"Ayana, I signed it. From now on, don't bring Vincenzo family matters to the hospital. It makes my colleagues uncomfortable."

I took the folder from him. Elara's teary face flashed through my mind. A bitter smile tugged at my lips.

He hadn't even read what he was signing. He just wanted to make Elara feel better.

Good. That saved me the trouble of explaining anything.

"Lorenzo. I'm lying in a hospital bed, and all you did was interrogate me. Not one word of concern."

His tone softened slightly. "You know you're anemic. Stop being so picky about food."

"It's just a minor issue. Don't waste medical resources on it."

My throat closed up. The weight in my chest was suffocating.

He used to plan out every meal for me. Carefully balanced, tailored to my tastes, all to fix my anemia.

When did that stop? When did he start telling me not to take up hospital resources?

I looked at his face and didn't recognize the man standing in front of me.

"Lorenzo, I..."

I was about to tell him about the baby. But the door burst open.

"Lorenzo! The patient's family has Elara cornered in the room. You need to come now!"

He didn't even wait for me to finish. He turned and walked out.

That was it. The last bit of warmth in my chest went cold.

I rested my hand on my belly. This child would have only me.

The exhaustion of early pregnancy hit hard. I forced myself to stay awake just long enough to text Greer.

[I'm pregnant. My flight is tomorrow. Come pick me up from the hospital.]

Then I let the darkness pull me under.

I woke to Greer's screaming.

"Elara! What the hell are you doing?!"

A searing pain ripped through my abdomen.