Chapter 3

Dante's family company had extremely strict rules.

From the moment I walked in as finance director, it was settled that I would never walk out alive.

"Ana, don't do this just because you're angry with him. You two are husband and wife. If anyone should leave, it should be me."

Vivienne blinked and walked over to Dante with tears in her eyes.

"Honestly, Ana, you've misunderstood. I was careless and twisted my ankle, and I'm the one who called him to come and help me. If you're angry, be angry at me. Stop making things hard for him. He can't do without you."

Dante frowned and turned to Vivienne.

"Nonsense. You've done nothing wrong. Some people have important positions but none of the grace that should come with them. You're coming tonight. Don't make me say it twice."

My chest tightened so sharply that I could barely breathe.

That evening, the gala went ahead as planned.

When I got there, Dante was seated up front, holding Vivienne's hand as they whispered to each other, looking every bit like a couple.

"Next up is a Victorian tiara. Starting bid: five million dollars."

Dante, determined not to be outbid, jumped straight to twelve million dollars and won it.

The room erupted.

Dante stood.

"I'm giving this piece to the most important woman in my life."

I was sitting in a corner, and my heart felt like it had taken a blow.

Reporters started guessing who the most important woman was.

Dante wouldn't say.

When the bidding ended, soft violin music filled the room and the dancing began.

By the time Dante and Vivienne left the dance floor, it was already late at night.

Vivienne, wine glass in hand, stood beside Dante as he raised a toast to a business mogul. Just as she was about to drain her glass, Dante caught her wrist.

"Vivi, you're pregnant. You can't drink."

With everyone egging him on, he turned and looked at me.

"Anna, come here."

I froze. My legs felt like lead, and I couldn't make them move.

"You drink it for Vivi."

The room went quiet in an instant.

With every eye on me, I walked over to them and said, "I'm sorry. I can't drink. Mr. Greco, I'm allergic to alcohol."

Dante raised an eyebrow.

He leaned close to my ear and said quietly, "Since when do you lie in public? The doctor is right here. If you have an allergic reaction, he'll treat you immediately. This is important, and you're part of the family. Don't embarrass me in front of everyone."

My mind went back three years to a party where I had been forced to drink until I nearly suffocated.

Dante tore into several of his uncles and his younger brother like a madman.

Then he carried me to the hospital himself.

In that moment, I knew this man would protect me for the rest of my life.

Three years later, everything had changed.

Dante, who had once been willing to shield me with his life, forgot I was allergic to alcohol.

That man was gone for good.

My hand rested on my belly for a moment.

"But I'm pregnant too. I'm carrying your child."

Dante went still.

After a long, stunned silence, he laughed.

"You'd lie about being pregnant just to get out of drinking for Vivi? Anna, you've really outdone yourself."

As soon as he'd finished, Vivienne hurried to smooth things over.

"If Ana doesn't want to, don't force her. I can drink. She isn't from our world. She doesn't understand what this means."

Then she turned and looked at me.

There was a complicated look in Vivienne's eyes.

Challenge and contempt flashed through them at once.

At some point, her bodyguard had come to stand beside me.

Then I was shoved hard and fell to the floor.

I tried to get up despite the pain, but I had no strength.

Someone shouted nearby.

"Oh my God! There's blood!"

Amid the chaos, I heard Dante shout, "Protect Vivi!"