Chapter 4

Watching that, the pain became a dull, distant ache. The world went quiet, leaving only the frantic drumming of my own heart.

"Just a ring isn't enough," Carina's brother said, unimpressed. He pointed at me on the floor. "Silas, make it clear. Right now. I don't want some shameless woman like this bothering my sister in the future."

Silas stood with his back to me, silent for a long moment.

Then, he slowly turned and walked toward me.

He stopped right in front of me, looking down. His grey eyes were devoid of any warmth.

"Alessia. Those promises I made... they were just youthful impulses. Now, your presence has become a burden to me."

Every word was a serrated blade twisting in my heart.

"I'm tired of this endless drama. Leave yourself with the last shred of dignity and stop bothering me."

The air in the hallway felt thin, suffocating.

I sat on the floor, my limbs numb and cold.

I knew he was putting on a show. Playing the part of the cold-blooded Don to appease Carina's family, to serve his "bigger picture."

But even if it was an act, the words were real, weren't they?

He did see me and my pregnancy as a burden. He was tired of having to deal with my feelings. He was just using this as an excuse to say what he really thought, grinding my self-respect into the dust.

The deep ache in my belly continued, but I was numb to it now.

I used the cold wall to pull myself to my feet.

I didn't cry. I didn't scream.

I just looked at him and gave a single, calm nod.

"Okay."

Just that one word.

I turned and, on trembling legs, walked toward the door.

The apartment door shut behind me with a solid thud.

I had just reached the hallway when the door was yanked open again.

Silas rushed out after me.

The cold-blooded Don was gone, replaced by a man with undisguised panic on his face.

"Alessia!" he strode toward me, his eyes locked on my stomach as he reached for me. "Where did you hit? Does it hurt?"

I flinched away from his touch like he was a disease.

His hand froze in mid-air.

"Those things I said... they were just to calm them down," he said in a low, urgent voice. "They were furious. I had to get them under control. You understand, right?"

I looked at the face I had loved for seven years and felt like I was seeing a stranger.

He thought that after all the broken glass he'd made me swallow, all he had to do was offer one piece of candy and I'd be fine.

I pushed down the exhaustion and pain and looked him straight in the eye.

"Silas. We're done."

My voice was quiet, completely flat.

Silas's tall frame went rigid. The panic in his eyes faded, replaced by that familiar, frustrated look. He dropped his hand and rubbed his brow, sighing wearily.

"Alessia, what tantrum are you throwing now?" His tone was condescending, certain. "You're pregnant with my heir. We have seven years of history. You're going to end it? Where would you even go?"

Still so arrogant.

He was so sure of himself, mistaking my shattered heart for a petty lover's quarrel. He was certain I couldn't leave him, certain that I would fold and forgive him, just like I always had.

"Silas—"

Carina's sweet voice called from inside the apartment. "My brother is leaving. Aren't you going to see him out?"

Silas's brow furrowed.

He glanced back at the half-open door, then at my pale face.

He made his choice.

He pulled a set of keys from his pocket and pressed them firmly into my hand.

"These are for the apartment downstairs," he commanded, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Carina needs the main suite to accommodate her security team. It's temporary. To avoid trouble, you'll switch places with her."

He wanted me to give our home to her.

"Go downstairs and rest. I'll come get you when they're gone."

Without another glance, he turned, walked back through the door, and shut me out of his world completely.

I stood there, holding the keys that were still warm from his body, and I laughed.

I turned and walked down the stairs to the "new place" he'd set up for "convenience."

The key slid into the lock. The door opened.

What I saw felt like a giant slap in the face.

On the entryway shoe rack, side-by-side, were Silas's custom leather shoes and a pair of Carina's limited-edition heels.

I walked inside, stiff as a board.

On the liquor cabinet in the living room sat the rare bottle of Macallan that Silas treasured most. Next to it was a picture frame. In the photo, Silas and Carina were laughing together under the Caribbean sun, a perfect couple.

On the coffee table, beside the cigar box, sat a matching his-and-hers set of water glasses.

Even on the bathroom counter, two toothbrushes stood side-by-side—his usual brand, and a pink one.

Seeing Silas's other home with my own eyes, the last bit of foolish hope I had shattered into dust.

I stayed in bed for a full day.

The next day, the cramps in my stomach were so bad I could barely stand. On the way to the hospital, my mother saw the despair on my face and quietly told me not to be afraid.

I was about to answer when our car was hit brutally from behind.

There was a screech of metal, and the impact threw me forward. My stomach slammed into the seat in front of me. I felt something warm and wet run down my leg.

Blood.

I clutched my belly, my face white with pain.

Carina's armored SUV pulled up alongside us. She stepped out, surrounded by bodyguards, looking down at me with fake panic.

"Alessia, I'm so sorry! I saw you and just wanted to apologize for my family's behavior yesterday, so I followed you."

She leaned in and grabbed my hand, fake tears in her eyes.

"I was so afraid you wouldn't forgive me... Oh my God, my driver didn't see you at all. I'm so sorry..."

With my last bit of strength, I shoved her hand away.

My vision swam with black spots.

And then, darkness swallowed me whole.