Chapter 1

The conversation behind the door went on.

They were discussing how to break the news to the elders, how they might react, and what surname the baby would take.

But not one word of it was about me.

Like they were sure I'd just go along with it.

I didn't open the door.

Instead, I turned and went back to the main house.

In the living room, a maid was carefully helping Aria down the stairs.

"The Don ordered us to make you fresh broth three times a day, for the baby..."

I almost laughed.

Everyone in the house had been openly fussing over Aria's pregnancy behind my back. Everyone knew except me.

When Aria saw me at the foot of the stairs, she hurried to pull away from the maid.

"Donna, what are you doing here?"

I should have been the one asking her that.

I walked up to her slowly, staring at her stomach.

"How far along are you?"

Aria's eyes widened and filled with tears.

"Donna, what are you talking about? I don't understand..."

She was still pretending.

I went to the cabinet, pulled out a half-finished bottle of whiskey, and held it under her nose.

"If you're not pregnant, prove it. Drink."

Aria bit down hard on her lip.

Footsteps rushed up behind me, and a hand clamped down on my shoulder.

"Elena, what are you doing?"

I turned slowly and looked at Niccolo.

"Waiting for an explanation."

He pressed his lips together. Finally, he said, "So you know?"

I opened my mouth, but before I could say anything, Aria grabbed my wrist. She was trembling.

"Donna, I know I owe you my life. I never should have betrayed you.

"But that night really was an accident...

"It was at the party a little over a month ago... We both drank way too much..."

Teary-eyed, she touched her stomach, her lips trembling.

"Then I found out I was pregnant. But this baby is innocent. Please..."

A month ago.

While I was busy arranging Leo's memorial Mass, the girl I'd raised like a sister was sleeping with my husband.

Niccolo clenched his jaw and pulled Aria behind him.

"You weren't the only one responsible for what happened that night. Stop blaming yourself."

Then he turned to me and lowered his voice.

"Elena, if you need to scream at someone or throw a punch, take it out on me.

"But what's done is done. There's a baby now, and I have to take responsibility for both of them."

Responsibility.

He'd been saying that word since he was 18, when he first started chasing after me.

He'd promised to look after me for the rest of my life. To make me the happiest wife and mother in the world.

And now he'd gotten another woman pregnant, and he was standing in front of her like a shield.

Then Niccolo glanced at the daisies in my arms and faltered.

"Is today... the anniversary of Leo's death?

"I'm sorry... I wasn't going to tell you yet."

Seeing the regret on his face, I quietly cut him off.

"And then what? Keep lying to me until the baby's born, so I can watch the three of you play happy family?"

Niccolo stopped short, and his face changed.

"Elena, I never wanted it to come to this. I was just afraid you couldn't handle it.

"But don't worry. No matter what, you'll still be recognized as the baby's mother. Nobody can take your place."

I gave a bitter laugh.

Am I supposed to thank him for being so generous?

Before I could answer, Aria suddenly clutched her stomach in pain.

"Don, my stomach..."

Niccolo froze, then frowned.

"Quick, get the car! We're going to the hospital!"

He called over his shoulder, "I'll explain later."

Then he scooped Aria up and hurried out the door.

I looked down at the bottle in my hand and drained it.

The whiskey burned its way down my throat, but my mind had never been clearer.

Leo, it's time for us to go.