Chapter 3

When I returned to the estate, I had barely taken off my coat when Vittoria came down the stairs. She was holding my prenatal checkup records.

She asked, "Are you pregnant?"

I didn't answer.

Adriano snatched the report from her hands. The moment he saw the results, he froze.

I watched his face, waiting for his reaction. But the first thing he said wasn't what I expected.

He blurted, "Why now?"

Those two words were like a punch right to my heart.

Vittoria immediately chimed in, "Antonino is very sensitive. How do you think he'll feel when he suddenly learns that you have a child of your own?"

I looked at them. "Then when would be a good time? Should I wait another seven years? Or until Antonino is an adult?"

Adriano's expression darkened. "Lucrezia, don't say that. I never said I didn't want this child God has given us."

I stared intently at him. "Then why aren't you happy? I'm 36, Adriano. I've waited seven years for this child."

Vittoria frowned and interrupted me, "Who said you couldn't have the baby? It's just that you can't push Antonino aside just because you have a child growing inside you. Antonino has called you Mama for seven years."

I was trembling with anger. "When did I ever say I didn't want Antonino?"

Her voice rose too. "Then why are you making a fuss now? Does it really matter that much whether or not he's your biological child?"

I directed my gaze back at her unflinchingly. "But it does matter."

Then, I took the birth certificate from my handbag and placed it on the long dining table.

"How much longer are you planning to lie to me? Whose son is Antonino?" Those two questions tore out of me in an uncontrollable scream.

A dull pain immediately seized my abdomen, and I instinctively clutched my stomach. Adriano took a step toward me.

I recoiled and barked, "Don't touch me!"

Vittoria's face blanched immediately. She stared at the birth certificate for a moment. Then, she lowered her proud head that she always held up high in shame as she faced me.

She said, "I'm sorry, Lucrezia. Adriano made a terrible mistake back then, and Elena became pregnant. What was I supposed to do? Luca happened to die in that ambush, and all I could think about was bringing the child back into our family."

My temples throbbed. "So, you told me he was Luca's son."

Vittoria began sobbing even harder. "I was afraid you wouldn't raise him! Elena didn't want to take care of him, and Antonino was only three. You're soft-hearted, and you'd always loved children..."

I looked down at her. For the first time, I realized just how repulsive a person could be.

"So, you chose me," I deadpanned.

Adriano finally spoke. "Lucrezia, it's not what you think."

I turned to him and pressed, "Then what is it? You betrayed me during our marriage and had a son with another woman. Your mother made your dead brother take the blame and claimed the child was his. Every time I asked you to have a child, you told me to wait.

"Doesn't that mean you chose me to be the substitute? If that wasn't your intention, then what is it that you were doing?"

His lips moved, but not a single word came out.

Suddenly, my abdomen clenched painfully. Warm liquid ran down my legs, spreading a dark stain across the hem of my pale dress.

Adriano's face fell. "Lucrezia!"

I grabbed onto the table for support. "Get me to the hospital now!"

After the car left the estate, he said in a hoarse voice, "I'll take responsibility for this child."

I stared out the window as the streetlights blurred past.

In a dismal voice, I said, "You don't have to. You already have a son."

I placed a hand over my stomach and added, "This is my son. He has nothing to do with you anymore."