Chapter 3

My hand paused. The next moment, I ended the call as if nothing had happened.

"A friend. She asked me to recommend a lawyer for her."

Only then did Dante breathe a huge sigh of relief. He stepped forward and pulled me tightly into his arms. "You scared me to death. I thought you were going to divorce me. But of course, you wouldn't leave me. You love me so much, and we promised we'd be together forever."

He placed an exquisite gift box in my hands.

"Happy anniversary! This is a gift I paid top price for at an auction. Do you like it? I can't wait to see how beautiful you'll look wearing it!"

Inside the box was a pair of expensive diamond earrings. He had never given me earrings or studs before, because I did not even have pierced ears! Yet after only five years of marriage, he had already forgotten this fact.

My hands trembled as I closed the lid. I struggled to keep my voice steady. "Thank you. I love them."

Dante did not notice anything unusual. He was still excitedly planning our anniversary.

"I booked a table at the most luxurious rotating restaurant in Luncy. I also prepared a grand fireworks display for you after dinner..."

At that moment, the villa's landline rang. Dante picked it up casually, but before long, he frowned.

A woman's sobs drifted faintly through the line. My heart, however, remained utterly calm.

"Giulia, something very important just came up, and I need to leave. Can you wait for me at home? Don't worry, I'll definitely be back tonight to celebrate our anniversary together.

A hint of anxiety flickered in Dante's eyes, yet he did not leave immediately. Instead, he looked at me tenderly, waiting for my answer.

At that moment, my refusal nearly spilled out. If I said no, would he still insist on leaving? However, I only stayed silent for a moment before nodding obediently.

"Okay. Go handle your business. Work comes first."

Pleased, he planted a kiss on my forehead and left in a rush.

In his haste, he did not even notice the suitcase by the door. He also failed to see the miscarriage report I had carelessly tossed on the table.

I stayed where I was, sitting alone for a full hour before I dialed Luca again to discuss the divorce proceedings. Finally, Luca tried to persuade me.

"Giulia, won't you reconsider? Everyone knows how much Dante loves you. How could he possibly betray you? Maybe there's some misunderstanding?"

A misunderstanding? I stared blankly at the jewelry box on the table, a thread of hesitation and doubt stirring in my heart.

Just then, a message popped up on my phone. The profile picture made my pupils contract.

It was the woman from today!

I accepted the request without hesitation.

She quickly sent several photos. When I made out the contents of the first one, I froze in place.

Dante was slumped over the hospital bed with his eyes closed. The woman was kissing his forehead, her eyes full of devotion.

[See? With just one phone call, no matter what he's doing or how tired he is, he'll rush back to my side immediately.]

[I've let you have him for five years. Now that I'm back, it's time for you to step aside.]

[If you don't believe me, I'll prove it to you again. He won't come back tonight, even though it's your fifth anniversary. All I have to do is say the word, and he'll drop everything for me.]

It suddenly became clear to me. It was her—Dante's childhood sweetheart, Isabella Marcelli.

She went abroad to marry five years ago. I had never met her, not even after marrying Dante.

Someone had once said to my face that Isabella was the one Dante truly loved. However, the person who said that disappeared the very next day, and I never saw him again.

My heart felt like it was being stabbed with needles. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath before typing out a reply with trembling fingers.

[Fine. I'll do as you wish!]

Today, I witnessed with my own eyes just how devoted Dante was to Isabella.

I had always believed Dante's love for me would never change. However, the person he wanted to protect had already changed without me even realizing it.

A sharp pain shot through my abdomen. The gauze around my stomach was stained red again. Blood dripped onto the white carpet, the sight shockingly vivid.

I pressed a handkerchief against the wound and withstood the pain to book a flight out of Eralia.

After my friend delivered the divorce agreement for me to sign, I left without looking back.

…

At the hospital, Dante woke up to find that it was already 2:00 am. He prepared to leave in a hurry, but Isabella stopped him.

"Dante, my wound is bothering me. Can you stay with me tonight?"

Dante hesitated for a moment but still steeled himself to refuse her request.

"Not today. I promised Giulia I'd make up for our anniversary. Tomorrow, the doctor will evaluate and treat your leg injury. I've arranged for premium care as well. I'll come see you the day after tomorrow. Get some rest for now!"

With that, despite Isabella's urgent calls, Dante hurried out of the hospital.

Dante's sports car roared through the night as he rushed home at top speed.

He ran breathlessly to my room. Only when he saw the slight bulge under the covers did he relax. He slowly sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Sorry I'm back so late. I missed our anniversary. But it's okay. Tomorrow, I'll prepare something even more spectacular. I won't go anywhere tomorrow. I'll just stay home with you."

His voice was gentle, his lips curved in a faint smile.

"Stop pretending to sleep. There's no way you could've fallen asleep before I got back..."

Yet the next second, his expression changed drastically as he yanked back the covers.

I was not there. He switched on all the lights and discovered the room was empty. All my personal belongings were gone.

Dante's pupils contracted, and he bolted down the stairs.

"Nico! Nico! Where did my wife go?" He shouted at the butler.

He rushed into the living room, about to call out again, when the glaring bloodstain on the white carpet scared him out of his wits.

"Whose blood is this? Someone, get out here now!"

In his panic, his gaze fell on the miscarriage report on the table. He froze completely in place.