Chapter 1

[Isabella's POV]

After coming out of the doctor's office, I immediately rushed into the elevator and went all the way to the VIP ward on the top floor of the hospital. I needed Vincenzo Cursley to explain himself to me.

The elevator reached the top floor. Just as I was about to head out, I heard two familiar voices coming from the end of the corridor.

Vincenzo, you've got some nerve hiding Claudia and your child right under Isabella's nose. I was just wondering - what if she finds out?

To be honest, I'm really not sure what you're thinking. When we were kids, you were crazy about Claudia. Then, as an adult, you suddenly fell for Isabella, even though that meant driving Claudia away. But later, you went to great lengths to bring Claudia back, and ended up having a child with her... So, Vincenzo, who do you actually love?

In that moment, I felt a chill run down my spine and my body suddenly froze.

That was Fabian Granger's voice. He had known Vincenzo since they were kids.

Vincenzo went silent for a long while. Finally, he said, “I love Isabella, but I also can't just give up on Claudia. I feel bad after knowing that she hadn't been having a good life in Chemora.”

"Isabella has become my wife, The only way I can protect Claudia… is to let her carry my blood.“

Fabian sighed. "But what if Isabella gets pregnant? Claudia is my cousin. I don't want to see her child live without a father, left to live in misery for the rest of their lives."

The elevator doors creaked shut. Just as they closed, I heard Vincenzo whisper, “Don't worry, it won't happen.”

Fabian seemed slow to react: “What?”

But I got it. I understood everything now.

He meant I wouldn't be carrying his child.

Because he has already given me a slow-acting poison that will render me infertile, I cannot bear children for him.

I didn't go out to confront them; their conversation had already given me the answer.

The phone vibrated in his pocket.The screen lit up, showing that I had just received a text message from Vincenzo.

"Isabella, I'll meet you at the port tomorrow. Don't forget to bring along the protection charm I gave you.It will keep my princess safe on her journey."

I could feel my emotions about to explode. Huge tears began rolling down my cheeks.

Vincenzo was the head of the mafia, the Don, and he was always very busy. However, ever since we got married, he would insist on waiting for me at the port every time I came back from my business trips overseas.

He would also always book a restaurant in advance, give me a bouquet of flowers, and welcome me back home. It had always been that way every time.

His friends once told me that I was Vincenzo's first love, and he had gone out on a limb, maybe even two, to pursue me until I finally accepted him back then.

He also spent a lot of money hiring the best medical team to run the hospital my parents left me in on the West Dock, and helped me improve its medical services – all so that he could be with me.

Vincenzo spoiled me even more after we got married.

Once, I had just mentioned to him that I missed Mom, and he had immediately gotten to work in the middle of the night, calling up every contact he had and locating the heirlooms that Mom left for me before the sun even rose the next day.

However, it was also precisely a man as romantic as him who had secretly formed another family behind my back.

Suddenly, everything made sense.

No wonder Claudia Henderson was more familiar with Cursley Mansion's ins and outs than I was. No wonder someone who had supposedly spent the better part of her life in Chemora could still refer to Vincenzo's friends by their nicknames.

No wonder an "adoptive sister" like her could make him set his work aside and accompany her on a trip around the world.

Claudia wasn't his adoptive sister at all. She was obviously someone who had already been betrothed to Vincenzo at a young age. She was his fiancee.

And I had been the third wheel in their relationship the entire time.

My phone buzzed again. This time, it was a family photo from Claudia.

Accompanying the photo was a text message that said, "Bella, stop hoarding the spot that has never belonged to you. I thought that you'd know better, but I guess you're a lot more stubborn than I expected.

"Vincenzo said that the kid looks a lot like him. What do you think?"

I just glanced briefly at the text message before exiting the chat window. If she wanted him so badly, then I would let her have him.

I opened up my contact list and tapped on the number that I'd nearly forgotten by now. "Alexander... I lost our bet. I'll go with you, but there's one thing I need. Help me to pretend that I have died."