Chapter 2

That night, staring at the intricate tattoo on Kieran's chest, my heart felt like it had been ripped in two.

I could accept a husband who didn't love me. After all, I could work, little by little, to melt his heart.

But I couldn't make a man who was in love with someone else fall for me.

In my grief, I rushed back to the old Valerio estate, intending to ask my father to dissolve the marriage alliance.

But my father pulled a document thick with dense clauses from the old family safe.

How could I have forgotten? As the Don of the Valerio family, his daughter's marital problems would never take precedence over the family's survival.

The contract, signed in blood, laid out the terms of our marriage.

"The alliance can never be broken unless you produce an heir for the Thompson family," my father's voice was heavy.

"If you insist on leaving, the Thompsons have the right to absorb our territory or declare war."

What a cruel consequence.

Even with the full might of the Valerio family, we couldn't withstand the wrath of the Thompsons.

I had never realized that in this game of power, I had been sold to the Thompsons like a bargaining chip.

My father and mother stood before me, their faces etched with guilt, almost pleading. "Scarlett, we know it was wrong of us to hide this from you."

"But at the time, the family's finances were collapsing, and rival families were circling like vultures. The alliance with the Thompsons was the only way to survive the coming storm."

"And now, even if you want a divorce, you must consider the family's survival. The Valerio family cannot afford a war."

Holding the blood-signed contract, I felt a mix of sorrow and bitter irony.

My parents were thinking of the family's survival, and the Thompsons of their bloodline. But who was thinking of me?

With no other choice, I cast aside all dignity. I threw myself at Kieran again and again, desperate.

My only thought was to have a baby and buy my freedom.

But every time, he rejected me without hesitation.

His heart belonged only to Camilla. He was like a devout pilgrim on a sacred quest.

Not long after, Camilla returned from abroad, newly divorced. Kieran brought her directly to the Thompson estate, claiming she had nowhere else to go.

He let her live in our home, in the guest room just a few steps from our own bedroom.

On Camilla's first night at the estate, she walked in on me trying to seduce Kieran.

When she saw me in a sexy silk nightgown, her eyes welled with tears, and she ran off as if she had been deeply wronged.

Kieran, his eyes filled with worry and concern, rushed after her.

I clung to the hem of his shirt, refusing to let him go. "Kieran, my father is pressuring us for an heir. Just once. Just give me one chance..."

In that moment, he angrily shoved my hand away, so forcefully that I nearly fell.

"I've told you countless times, I'm not interested! Scarlett, if you want an heir that badly, go have one with someone else!"

"This is the last time I'm warning you. Don't try this again."

I stared at him, my last line of defense shattered.

Watching him hurry after Camilla, my heart turned to ash.

I didn't sleep at all that night. I had no tears left to cry.

After a long night of contemplation, I finally understood. The blood pact only stated that I had to produce a baby to end the alliance.

It never said whose baby it had to be.

So I went to a high-end club in lower Manhattan, known for its absolute discretion.

I randomly picked a man who looked decent enough and went to bed with him. And, quite smoothly, I became pregnant.

I would take Kieran at his word. I would have a baby with another man, and then I would leave. We would both get what we wanted.

Now, seven months later, I put away the test results and began to cover my tracks.

I had to act fast, while my pregnancy was not yet obvious.

I lit a fire in the fireplace and began burning documents: copies of the contracts detailing my marriage to Kieran, private letters, and some medical records.

The firelight danced on my face. With every piece of paper that burned, I felt more liberated.

Kieran pushed the door open and saw me.

He frowned at my crouched figure before the fireplace. "What are you burning?"

"Old legal documents. The lawyer said to destroy them periodically to protect our privacy."

I didn't turn around, continuing to feed paper into the fire.

He sensed something was off and was about to approach when the butler knocked and entered.

"Sir, for the Romano family's reconciliation dinner tomorrow night, will you be wearing the family signet ring?"

Kieran nodded. "Have my grandfather's ring brought from the vault."

Soon, the butler returned with a black velvet box.

Inside lay the Thompson family's heirloom signet rings, passed down through generations: a matching pair, for the heir and his wife. Both were platinum, set with enormous black diamonds.

Kieran picked up the woman's ring and walked toward me. "Tomorrow's dinner is important. As my wife, you must attend with me."

The ring glittered with a cold light in the fire's glow.

It was magnificent, but wearing it now would only draw attention to my slightly swollen fingers in late pregnancy.

I was about to refuse when Kieran suddenly knelt, grabbing my wrist. "Have you... put on weight recently?"

His sharp eyes scanned my hand. "Your fingers seem thicker than before."

"Yes, I've been eating more lately," I said, quickly pulling my hand back and trying to change the subject.

Just then, Camilla pushed the door open, clearly looking for Kieran.

Her eyes immediately fell on the pair of rings on the table.

"Oh my God, are those the legendary Thompson family signet rings? I heard they're the masterpiece of an 18th-century Italian artisan. The woman who gets to wear one is truly honored..."

Seeing the undisguised longing in her eyes, I didn't wait for Kieran to speak. I simply handed her the woman's ring.

"Since you know so much about its history, you should wear it to the dinner."

"Really? Can I?" Camilla's voice trembled with excitement. "But this symbolizes the Lady of the Thompson family. Is it appropriate for an outsider like me to wear it?"

She said that, but she was already eagerly sliding the ring onto her finger.

I watched her hypocritical performance with a cold, indifferent heart.

"It suits you."

I had already surrendered his heart. What was a ring?

With that, I looked at Kieran. "I have other plans tomorrow, so I won't be attending. Let Camilla accompany you as the Lady of the Thompson family."

Kieran remained silent, his deep eyes fixed on me, as if trying to read my true intentions.

He seemed shocked by my unusual behavior, clearly not expecting me to so easily surrender a symbol of my position as lady of the house.

"Kieran? Kieran!"

"Can I wear the ring and go to the dinner with you tomorrow? Please?"

Camilla's coaxing voice finally brought him back to his senses. He slowly nodded.

"Fine. You'll come with me tomorrow."