Chapter 2

Carlo's only weakness was his nonna, who had raised him, and was now gravely ill.

She was also the leverage he used to control me.

Nonna's only wish was for us to live a blissful married life and to bear a child soon.

Because of her comment, Carlo brought me to his private island and had cameras recording round the clock, all just to reassure her.

Carlo called it a retreat, but in truth, it was a confinement.

He promised that as long as I played my role well for a week, long enough for Nonna to pass on peacefully, he'd let the Lucianis go.

I believed him. Or rather, I had no choice but to do so.

The island was beautiful. The villa stood by the sea, with waves surging endlessly beyond the floor-to-ceiling windows.

I would have loved this place if this had been the past. After all, designing a romantic home had once been my dream.

But now, it was nothing more than a lifeless cage, and I was a bird trapped within.

Carlo seemed like a different man in front of the cameras. Gone was his usual harshness, and he was even cooking for me himself.

He was patiently serving me during meals.

"Eat more. It's uncomfortable to hold you when you're so thin." There was an unfamiliar hint of tenderness in Carlo's voice.

I felt momentarily dazed.

Back then, the young man I had saved from the cathedral fire used to tell me that he'd treat me well in the future.

Unfortunately, he ultimately mistook Serena for me.

"What are you thinking about?" Carlo suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against my ear.

I drew back instinctively and avoided his touch. "Nothing. I'm just a little tired."

Carlo didn't get angry. Instead, he lifted me up in his arms and carried me toward the bedroom. "Then get some rest."

…

The sound of the waves was especially loud that night. I ended up having a nightmare.

I dreamed of that fire, where the cathedral's statue came crashing down. I pushed Carlo away with all my strength, my back crushed beneath the debris.

"It hurts… Help me…" I woke up crying, drenched in cold sweat.

A pair of strong arms wrapped around me, gently patting my back.

"Don't be afraid. I'm here." Carlo's voice was low and gentle, as if it could smooth away all my fear.

In the darkness, I leaned against his chest and listened to the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

At once, I felt momentarily blinded by an illusion. Perhaps Carlo did have feelings for me after all.

I wondered if we could go on living like this if I told him about the baby.

I parted my lips, about to tell him about the pregnancy, when a sudden ringing shattered the fragile warmth of the moment.

It was Serena's custom ringtone.

Carlo instantly stiffened, pushing me away almost instinctively. The force was so strong that I nearly rolled off the bed.

He grabbed his phone, an unheard-of panic seeping into his voice as he asked, "What's wrong, Serena?"

Serena's sobbing came through the line, painfully clear in the quiet night. "I'm scared, Carlo… The thunder is loud. I got frightened while filming, and my chest hurts so much…"

"Where are you? I'm coming over now." Carlo was already getting dressed as he spoke, his movements rushed to the point of fastening the buttons wrongly.

I glanced out the window.

The storm was raging, with thunder and lightning splitting the sky. Now was the most dangerous time with the typhoon passing through.

"You're still going in this heavy rain?" I couldn't help asking.

Carlo didn't turn around. His fingers paused briefly while he fastened his belt. "Serena has a weak heart. She can't take the fright."

"What about me then?" I stared at his back, my voice trembling. "I'm your legally wedded wife, and I'm still carrying—"

"Shut up!" Carlo spun around abruptly, his gaze icy. "Don't try to pressure me with that empty title, Lydia. If anything happens to Serena, I'll make the entire Luciani family pay."

With that, he slammed the door and left.

Outside, the storm raged. The roar of the helicopter's blades thundered through the night.

I chased after him, barefoot. "Don't go, Carlo! Taking off in weather like this will get you killed!"

I wasn't sure if I was worried about Carlo's safety, or desperately clinging to the last shred of my own dignity.

The wind was blowing fiercely on the helipad, as though it could sweep me off my feet.

I had just started running when the powerful gusts stirred up by the rotors knocked me down. Pain flared up when my knee struck the rough concrete.

I looked up, ignoring the pain. The helicopter rose slowly into the air, disappearing without hesitation into the dark, rainy night.

On the most dangerous night of the typhoon, Carlo left his pregnant wife behind on a deserted island, all to comfort another woman who had been frightened.

Rain pounded against my face, and I couldn't distinguish it from my own tears.

I placed a hand over my belly and smiled.