Chapter 5

My long silence stirred Rossi's suspicion.

The pressure coming off him thickened layer by layer until the air itself was suffocating.

Those deep-set eyes locked onto me, weighing, probing.

"Or have you been faking it from the very start, this whole obedient act? Hmm?"

My heartbeat picked up on its own, slamming painfully against my ribs.

"Whatever result you want, I'm willing to accept it."

I answered softly, with the same old meekness.

He stared at me in silence.

I held my breath, strangling the instinct to tremble, terrified that one crack would bring everything down.

At last, he looked away, his voice relaxing into a faintly teasing note.

"Just a joke." His voice was light. "No one is interested in a woman carrying another man's child."

His eyes dropped to my belly.

"I hope everything you've said is true.

"You're coming with me to tomorrow's Easter celebration. I'll make a public donation at the church. You know what your job is."

With that he turned to leave, pausing at the door to coldly instruct the servants that without his permission, I was not to take a single step out of my bedroom.

Early the next morning, I carefully padded my belly into a visible but gentle curve. At a glance, I looked like a woman just beginning to show.

As we set out, Rossi's gaze landed on the swell of my belly, and a flicker of satisfaction crossed his eyes.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

At this grand public celebration, my only role was to play his visibly pregnant, devoted girlfriend: stand at his side, draw every eye, and shield Bianca and his unborn heir from any threat waiting in the wings.

The moment we arrived at the church, I spotted Marco Solano.

As the Family's underboss, Solano was expected to attend public functions meant to bolster its reputation.

Our eyes met, and we gave each other the slightest nod.

But even that brief exchange displeased Rossi.

He gave a low cough that carried a veiled warning.

I withdrew my gaze at once and meekly slid my hand around his arm.

The celebration ran its course without a ripple.

Soon, the ceremony reached its final stage: the public donation.

The Family had already donated twelve thousand dollars to the church in private to secure its continued protection.

This public donation was pure theater, a show staged for outsiders to win hearts.

Rossi stood beside the priest, shaking hands for the cameras, every inch the gentleman entrepreneur.

The instant the flashbulbs went off, the church's heavy doors burst open.

A team of FBI agents in tactical jackets poured in.

"Mr. Rossi, you're under arrest on fifteen federal felony counts, including bribery of public officials, extortion, and international smuggling. Come with us. Now."

The church erupted.

Every eye snapped to Rossi.

And Rossi's gaze went first to Solano, standing beside the agents. A contemptuous smile curled his lip.

"I'm a law-abiding citizen. On what grounds am I supposed to answer your baseless accusations?"

He straightened his collar, taking his time, not a trace of panic in him.

I knew where his confidence came from.

He was suspicious by nature. He relied on Solano, but he had never truly trusted him.

Whatever evidence had passed through Solano's hands was nowhere near enough to shake his foundations, let alone convict him.

The FBI agents traded glances, hesitating.

Into that standoff, I slowly rose from my seat.

I stepped out of the crowd. Under the stunned gaze of the entire church, I spoke clearly.

"And what if the accusation is mine?"