Chapter 4

After everyone at the Moretti estate learned that I was pregnant, a strange tension settled over the entire household.

It lasted until the afternoon of the fourth day when Vittoria burst into my bedroom in a panic.

She said anxiously, "Antonino is missing!"

I sat bolt upright. "What did you say?"

She started making the sign of the cross repeatedly and frantically. "At noon, I said to Adriano that once the baby in your belly is born, Antonino will eventually become an outsider. I told him to figure out how to reassure the boy before that happens."

I turned sharply toward her. "You said that in front of Antonino?"

All color drained from Vittoria's face as she argued, "How was I supposed to know he was hiding behind the door? Besides, was anything I said untrue? Once your child is born, will you still care about Antonino the same way you did before? I just wanted Adriano to pay more attention to him."

The sound of hurried footsteps came from downstairs. Adriano was already heading out with several men.

I threw off the covers and said, "I'm coming with you."

He put a hand on my shoulder. "No. You stay here. I'll contact Elena. She might know where Antonino is."

With that, he and Vittoria hurried out. The moment the front doors closed, the entire estate fell silent, leaving only the ticking of the grandfather clock.

At 6:00 pm that evening, my abdomen began to hurt. At first, it was only a dull ache. Then, the pain grew stronger with every wave.

When I walked into the bathroom, I saw the blood on my underwear—there was more this time.

I immediately called Adriano.

When the call connected, there was chaos on the other end of the line. I could hear Vittoria crying, along with Elena's voice.

I heard her saying, "Antonino locked himself in! He won't let anyone in!"

Adriano asked urgently, "What's the matter?"

I tightened my grip on the phone and said, "I'm bleeding again. Come back and take me to the hospital!"

Elena suddenly shouted, "Adriano, he's starting to smash the things inside!"

His voice immediately became frantic. "Call an ambulance. The hospital isn't far from the estate. Antonino is in a volatile mood right now. I'll come find you as soon as I handle this."

My voice began to tremble. "The doctor said this kind of bleeding must not be left untreated."

Adriano was silent for two seconds before he replied in a lowered voice, "Lucrezia, I know you've been hurt by all of this. But Antonino ran away today because he found out you're pregnant. Can you not force me to choose between you and him right now? Can't you be a little more understanding?"

With that, the call ended.

I stood in the middle of the bathroom, dumbfounded. I could hardly believe that, even now, he still thought I was forcing him to choose.

Suddenly, my vision went black, and I collapsed onto the floor. I tried to get up, but my legs were utterly weak. I could only crawl out of the bathroom and use the last of my strength to call emergency services.

When the paramedics arrived, they cut through my blood-soaked dress.

One of them looked alarmed as they asked, "Where's your family?"

I opened my mouth with difficulty and said, "I can't reach them."

On the way to the hospital, my consciousness grew increasingly hazy.

Someone kept tapping my face. "Don't fall asleep! Stay with me!"

When we reached the hospital, the entire world became a blinding sea of white. Through my fading consciousness, I heard fragments of voices.

"Start resuscitation immediately."

"She has continuous uterine bleeding, and the baby's heart rate is dropping."

"Have we reached her husband?"

"No. He isn't answering."

Before I completely lost consciousness, I instinctively covered my abdomen.

I thought, "Just hold on a little longer, my baby. I'll leave with you."

The emergency treatment lasted more than three hours. By the time Adriano arrived at the hospital, dawn was approaching.

He asked, "Lucrezia? Where is my wife?"

The doctor on duty looked up. "Are you her husband?"

He quickly nodded. "Yes."

The doctor stared at him, his expression grim. "We called you 27 times."

Adriano immediately pulled out his phone. The screen was filled with missed calls from the hospital.

The doctor looked at him. "We managed to save the baby for now."

Adriano's rigid body swayed. He caught himself against the wall, and he looked as if he could finally catch his breath.

"What about Lucrezia?" he asked anxiously.

The doctor replied, "She lost a lot of blood and is extremely weak. She suffered a serious abdominal injury years ago, and this episode of bleeding has aggravated the old injury. She'll need complete bed rest from now on. No exertion and absolutely no further emotional stress.

"The baby is still in a fragile condition. Whether the pregnancy makes it through the next few months will depend on how well she recovers."

Adriano stood there, his face drained of color.

When I woke up, daylight had already filled the room. Adriano was slumped over beside my bed, still clutching my medical report.

The moment I moved, he woke up with a start.

He jumped to his feet. "You're finally awake, Lucrezia."

I didn't look at him. I simply placed a hand over my lower abdomen. "How's my baby?"

His eyes immediately reddened as he replied, "Still here. The doctor said the baby is still here."

I closed my eyes as tears slipped into my hair. Thank God, my baby was still here.

Adriano reached out to touch me, but I turned my face away.

He said, "Lucrezia, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would be this serious. It won't happen again. I promise. From now on, I'll always stay by your side first."

I didn't answer.

After waiting seven years and nearly losing my own child, I no longer needed his promises. While he stepped out to call the doctor, I pulled my phone from beneath my pillow.

At the very bottom of my contacts was a number I hadn't called in seven years.

It was my last resort that I'd severed with my own hands after leaving my family and marrying into the Moretti famiglia.

I pressed the call button.

The phone was answered after only two rings.

There was a brief silence before the person on the other end spoke up respectfully. "Principessa?"

I stared at the closed hospital room door and lowered my voice. "Bring some men to the hospital to get me. Don't alert the Moretti famiglia."

The person on the other end immediately asked, "Just you?"

I lowered my head and put a hand over my abdomen. "No. My child is coming with me."

There was a brief silence.

Then, the voice replied solemnly, "Understood. Our men will arrive in Sezarro before dawn."

I hung up and deleted the call history.

Seven years ago, I left my family for Adriano. Now, I would take my child and leave his world for good.