Chapter 3

Alessandro held Serafina in his arms, yet his gaze kept drifting toward the corridor. By the time his assistant arrived, Serafina had already fainted from the pain.

"If you'd been a few minutes later, the baby's heartbeat would've stopped."

The doctor chided Alessandro as she adjusted the IV, and he nodded without really listening, his eyes still drifting toward the hallway.

Serafina knew exactly who and what he was waiting for. The realization irritated her so deeply that she closed her eyes and pretended she hadn't woken up.

Only then did he seem to notice the crease between her brows.

She hadn't smiled since the wedding, and he found himself thinking that once she woke, he'd take her somewhere to relax.

As he reached out to smooth her forehead, a faint scent of white magnolia drifted in.

Matilde stood at the door.

Alessandro lifted a finger, signaling her to keep quiet.

She lowered her voice, though the disappointment in her tone was obvious. "So the baby's fine?"

He glanced past her. "Where's Niccolo?"

"He went to the office. Are you worried about her?"

"Not here."

"Why not? I'll say whatever I want, whenever I want! Why does she get to bear your child first?"

Matilde threw herself into his arms, kissing him without restraint.

Her fur coat slid from her shoulders, exposing the lace camisole underneath. The sound of their kisses filled the room.

Just as her hand moved toward his belt, Alessandro groped her butt. "Enough. Go back. Wait for me tonight."

She rose onto her toes as if she meant to continue, but he picked up the coat, wrapped it around her again, and pressed a brief kiss to her forehead.

"Don't overthink it. You know I only love you."

After sending Matilde away, Alessandro leaned against the wall in the corridor and lit a cigarette.

Inside the room, Serafina slowly opened her eyes, and a tear slid down the side of her face.

She'd never pretended to be gentle. When they first started seeing each other, she'd said, "Even if I'm not gentle, even if there are things I have to do and can't be completely honest about, would you still accept me?"

Back then, Alessandro had tenderly reassured her, "That's what makes you cool."

Now, she realized perhaps he hadn't meant it at all.

Once, Serafina had thought he was like the sun, warming her and lighting the way through her confusion.

Alas, the sun had never belonged to her.

She wiped away her tears and quickly texted her private investigator. "The gate code is 9749. Install the pinhole cameras now. The sooner the better."

Serafina gripped her phone, lost in thought, not knowing how to begin sorting the storm of emotions inside her.

Just then, the door opened again.

"Serafina."

Alessandro strode toward her, moving as if he meant to pull her into his arms. "How are you feeling—"

"Don't come any closer!" Serafina shouted.

Every nerve in her body recoiled from his touch.

A flicker of hurt, layered with unmistakable worry and fear, crossed Alessandro's eyes. "What's wrong, Serafina?"

Alba happened to walk in with some food and froze when she saw this. She said worriedly, "Ms. Greco used to have a physical aversion to men. It looks like it's happening again."

Alessandro tamped down the irritation rising in him and deliberately stepped back. "Don't be afraid. I'll stay right here," he said gently.

Serafina looked at the tenderness on his face, and her mind drifted back to the first time they met four years ago.

When news of the alliance between the Greco and Madonia families first broke, the entire city turned it into a wager. The notorious Madonia heir and the untouchable Serafina—who would call it off first?

No one expected Alessandro to trade in his silver hair for a sleek black side part and repeatedly send word through his secretary that he had something important to give her.

He'd sought her out 99 times. On the 100th, she finally allowed him to stand within 15 feet of her.

She only needed one glance to see what he was holding.

It was her diary, the one she'd lost years ago, the one that carried her happiest memories with Cosima, and the one she'd searched for a decade.

He brought her back to every scene written in those pages, carefully recreating the moments, and little by little, the ice around her heart began to melt.

The final entry led them to Nadoria.

Under fireworks that lit up the sky, Alessandro dropped to one knee, gentle and devout like a believer at prayer.

Her heart had opened like those fireworks, and then came the wedding that everyone talked about.

Now, looking at his concerned expression, she felt as if she were looking at a stranger.

Still, this wasn't the time to unravel it.

She'd prepared for this day for five full years. She remembered Cosima's wish to revive Gambino Group as well as her warning that Serafina shouldn't rely on anyone but herself.

At this, she called her secretary. "Notify everyone that the press conference this afternoon will proceed as scheduled."