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Chapter 2

Author: Aged
A row of servants knelt in the living room. Dante stood over them with a gun in his hand, coldly demanding to know where I was.

The instant they saw me, relief flooded the servants’ faces, as if they’d just been spared.

Dante let out a breath too. He strode over and pulled me tightly into his arms. “Where did you go? You weren’t answering your phone.”

He sounded anxious, as if he were genuinely afraid I’d suddenly vanish.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Sorry. I went shopping and lost track of time.”

Dante ruffled my hair, his voice softening. “I’m not blaming you.

“Okay, it’s our anniversary today. Come see the gift I got you.”

Dante opened a jewelry box in front of me. Inside was a pair of pendant necklaces.

“The women’s pendant has a chip inside, and the men’s is the receiver. As long as the switch is on, I can hear your voice anytime, like you’re right there beside me.”

The love in his eyes was just as intense as when we first met—and just as obsessive.

I was almost swept away by his devotion.

Maybe he did love me. Maybe the family had pressured him into marrying Gianna.

But just as he was about to fasten the necklace around my neck, his phone rang.

When he answered, the living room was so quiet that Gianna’s voice carried clearly to my ears.

“Dante, I suddenly feel sick to my stomach. I think I might be pregnant.”

Dante didn’t say a word. He hung up. His expression didn’t change, and he finished fastening the necklace before he spoke.

“An important client just showed up. I’ll be right back.”

With that, he hurried out.

I stood there, watching his car drive off into the distance, and the tears I’d held back all day finally fell.

Once, I’d worked up the courage to tell Dante I wanted to have a baby.

He said no.

“Pregnancy is hard and dangerous. I don’t want you taking that kind of risk for me. Having you is enough.”

At the time, I was touched that he cared so much about me.

Looking back now, he just didn’t want a child with me.

I hurried to wipe my tears, and my hand accidentally brushed the switch on the pendant.

Gianna’s tearful voice came through.

“What if I really am pregnant? Are the baby and I supposed to hide from Alina for the rest of our lives...”

I froze. Dante had been in such a rush to get to Gianna that he hadn’t even noticed he’d given me the wrong pendant.

Dante’s low voice came through. “Easy, sweetheart. Let’s wait until the doctor’s seen you.

“Afterward, I’ll take you to the Alderton Estate to clear your head. I’ll take care of everything else. Don’t worry.”

Gianna’s sobs turned into a laugh. “That’s more like it.”

A sharp pain shot through my heart.

Dante had never talked to me about the future. Mostly, he asked me to wait. Wait until things blew over. Wait until he’d dealt with the family. Wait until he wasn’t so busy.

But it didn’t matter. He didn’t have to bother planning my future anymore. Soon, I’d disappear from both their lives.

I didn’t want to hear any more. My fingers found the pendant, ready to switch it off.

But Gianna’s sweet voice came through again.

“I want to do something for Alina myself. After all, I’ve always felt terrible about what happened. Think of it as a good deed for the baby. Okay?”

A chill swept through my whole body, and my fingertips wouldn’t stop shaking.

Dante knew better than anyone how deep a scar that incident had left on me.

No matter what, he shouldn’t let that woman anywhere near me. He’d sworn he wouldn’t.

But after a long silence, he spoke.

“All right.”

I pressed a hand to my chest. It felt like something inside had been ripped wide open.

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