Chapter 2

The butler stepped forward beside the dining table, hesitating to speak.

Anthony glanced at him. “What is it?”

Evelyn asked with concern, “Enzo, what’s wrong? Is it about Amelia…”

The butler’s face was ashen. “Don Anthony, your wife hasn’t made a sound since last night. Should we open the door and check on her?”

I stirred with sudden hope.

Come on, Anthony. Come see me.

Anthony rose at once, worry creasing his face. “We’ll go right now.”

Evelyn frowned, then quickly mirrored his urgency, standing as well. “Let’s go see. I remember Amelia survived a whole week in the wilderness with no trouble just to complete a family mission. Why would she go silent after just three days? I hope she isn’t faking this just to make you worry…”

At those words, Anthony stopped mid-step.

“She was yelling and crying for the first two days—she sounded pretty strong to me… I’m afraid if I show up now, she might lash out at me again…”

Evelyn spoke with a sigh, and slowly, Anthony sat back down.

He frowned, “You’re right. She can handle herself in the wilderness. The attic is safe. She’s fine. It’s all an act.”

“I’ve heard pregnant women shouldn’t have mood swings—it can affect the baby. But she hates me so much. These three days, she’s probably been thinking of ways to torment me once she’s out… If I could get pregnant, I’d let her torment me all she wanted… But my body…”

Evelyn lowered her head, her voice fading, her eyes reddening again.

Anthony looked at her, a flicker of guilt in his eyes. “Don’t think like that.”

Evelyn wiped her tears and forced a smile. “Alright, I won’t. I’m sure Amelia is fine. Right now, I just need to focus on recovering. I want to be as strong as she is.”

I listened to their exchange, and all I could think was how absurd it all was.

In their minds, my good health and survival skills made me indestructible.

I’d lasted three days in a snowstorm. So three days locked in an attic? That was nothing.

While I was enduring contractions and pounding on the door, he was eating breakfast downstairs.

While I was screaming for help, he was in his study handling paperwork.

While I was bleeding out and taking my last breath, he was at Evelyn’s side, gently urging her to drink warm milk before bed.

He knew nothing about my suffering.

Because he didn’t want to know.

The butler hesitated, then ventured, “Don Anthony, are we going to pick up your wife later? Should I make preparations in advance?”

Anthony replied casually, “Push it to this afternoon. I have a meeting with the Corleone family about the docks this morning.”

The butler nodded in acknowledgement. “Then I’ll have the car ready to take your wife to the hospital.”

Evelyn thought for a moment and leaned closer. “Anthony, let me go with you to get Amelia. I want to apologize to her in person for the trouble I’ve caused these past few days.”

Anthony glanced at her. “Why would you apologize?”

“Amelia probably thinks I’m the reason she was locked up. I want to clear things up.”

A frown creased Anthony’s face. “No need. If she misunderstands you, that’s her problem. You don’t owe her an apology.”

Evelyn shook her head, tears welling in her eyes again. “No, I have to apologize. I don’t want my presence to ruin your relationship.”

Anthony relented, saying, “Fine. Go get ready.”

Evelyn suddenly said in a quiet voice, “I don’t have anything nice to wear. I saw a lot of clothes in Amelia’s closet that she never wears. Could I borrow something?”

“Sure. Whatever you like.”

With Anthony’s permission, Evelyn walked to my room, wearing a victorious smirk. She pulled dresses from my closet and stood before the mirror, cutting them apart, one by one.

She murmured, “Amelia, what are you doing in the attic right now? Are you hungry? Thirsty? Does your stomach hurt?”

Her eyes were vicious as she handled the expensive garments.

“Anthony hasn’t come to see you even once. I told him locking up a pregnant woman for a few days was fine. You’re strong. You could handle it. I told him all that yelling was just an act, that you were trying to make him feel sorry for you. I told him if something were really wrong, you’d have sent word. You didn’t, so you must be okay. Guess what he said?”

She smiled at her reflection before continuing.

“He said women understand women. He’d listen to me.”

She laughed out loud, her whole body shaking with delight.

“Amelia, oh Amelia. All that suffering to carry his babies. What good did it do? He believes me. Not you.”

She stood up, walked to the jewelry cabinet, picked out the diamond ring Anthony had bought me for our wedding, and slipped it on her finger.

“If something happens to you, I’ll give Anthony a performance. I’ll wrap myself around him and sob, asking how something so terrible could have happened to you. I’ll tell him no one knew you’d go into labor early. It’s not his fault. He’ll believe me. He believes everything I say.”

I floated beside her, staring at that smug face, overwhelmed with disgust.

But I couldn’t touch her.

All I could do was watch.