Chapter 2

Early the next morning, I was woken by commotion downstairs.

Luca had brought Cindy back. I watched coldly as he carefully supported her, as if she were some priceless treasure. Several men were carrying things inside—prenatal supplements of the highest quality and imported medical equipment.

"Careful! Don't bump into anything!" Luca directed them nervously.

When he looked up, he saw me. Panic flashed across his face for a moment before it was replaced with a kind of justified helplessness.

"Xandra, you're awake?" He let go of Cindy and rushed upstairs, lowering his voice as he explained, "The Salvatore residence was attacked last night. Cindy… She's pregnant, and the shock affected the baby. I brought her here to stay for a few days."

As if realizing that he said too much, he hurriedly added, "The child isn't mine. It's an IVF baby using Kendall's preserved sample from before he passed. I'm just taking the name to shut those old men up."

Such a clumsy lie. He must've forgotten that his brother, Kendall Salvatore, had always despised the idea of IVF. There was no way he would've left anything behind.

I looked past him at Cindy. She deliberately tugged down her collar, revealing the marks on her neck, and shot me a provocative glance.

"If Cindy's not feeling well, it's only right for her to stay here," I said expressionlessly.

Luca froze, clearly not expecting me to agree so easily. A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes as he reached out, trying to pull me into an embrace. "Xandra, I knew you'd understand. Don't worry. She'll stay in the guest room downstairs. She won't disturb us."

I dodged his hand. "She's pregnant. We don't have enough staff. I'll have the housekeeper bring in more help."

"No need!" Luca blurted.

When I looked at him, he coughed awkwardly and explained, "Cindy's situation is special. I'm worried about outsiders with bad intentions. More people would mean more risks. I'll arrange for my own people to take care of her."

Was he afraid I'd harm Cindy's child? It seemed as though he already saw me as an enemy.

"Suit yourself." I turned back toward the room. "I haven't been feeling well lately. I don't want to see anyone."

Luca followed behind me, his tone turning coaxing. "What's wrong? Should I call the family doctor? Oh, right. I brought you a gift."

He pulled out a box. Inside it was a dazzling pink diamond necklace. "When I saw it, I thought it would suit you perfectly."

I glanced at it and laughed bitterly. Cindy was the one who liked necklaces. I was allergic to metal and couldn't even wear jewelry.

Five years of marriage, and he had even forgotten that. He had clearly just taken this necklace straight from Cindy.

"Thanks. Just leave it there." I didn't take it and walked straight into the master bedroom. A room once filled with our best memories now felt unbearable to look at.

I took out a large suitcase and began stuffing all those unbearable things inside. If they were no longer beautiful, then they didn't deserve to stay.

Leaning against the doorframe, Luca frowned at me. "Why are you cleaning the room?"

"Cindy is pregnant. How can she stay in the guest room? I'm clearing out the master bedroom for her," I lied casually.

Luca didn't doubt it. He walked over and wrapped his arms around my waist from behind, resting his chin against my neck. That familiar scent of Cindy's perfume hit my nostrils again. My stomach churned, but I forced myself not to push him away.

"Xandra, I know this is hard on you. Once the baby is born, the alliance between the two families will be secured, and the elders won't have anything to say. Then, we'll finally be free," he whispered in my ear, as if trying to hypnotize me, or himself.

Free? What a brilliant plan.

He wanted the power of the Don, my love, and a legitimate child with Cindy. He was far too greedy.

Suddenly, Cindy's panicked scream rang out from downstairs. "Luca! My stomach… It hurts!"

Luca's arms stiffened instantly. Almost by reflex, he let go of me and rushed out of the room. "What's wrong? Call the family doctor!"

The urgency and panic in his voice were far beyond what should exist between in-laws.

After I finished clearing out the bedroom, I went to the study and opened the safe. Inside were our prenuptial agreement and transfer documents for a portion of the Salvatore family's core assets.

When he proposed, to prove his sincerity, he willingly handed over to me the family assets that had been allocated to him. As long as I wanted, a third of the Salvatore family's holdings could be mine. But I had never touched them. They felt tainted.

As the daughter of the Caprese family, I had never lacked wealth. What I had accepted back then was his sincerity. But now, that sincerity was gone. I rolled up the documents and stuffed them into the suitcase along with everything else.

Just then, a housekeeper's voice came from downstairs. "Signor Salvatore, your mother and the elders have arrived."

My hand paused. Cindy had only just gotten pregnant, and Luca's mother had already come with the elders?

It seemed that Cindy wasn't here to seek security. She was here to force a decision.