Chapter 3

After saying that,he walked up to me and,while my vision was going black,snatched the blood bags from my hands.

Then he tore off the seal and slammed the blood bag onto the floor.

"For a performance,you'd even sell the Donna's dignity.Elena,how was I ever blind enough to marry a woman like you?"

"Get out."

Enduring the pain,I picked up the blood bags.

Selena gave a soft laugh."Don,look.Doesn't she look like a dying dog?"

I seemed not to hear their mockery.With my hand pressed tightly over the puncture in the bag,I tried to stand and leave,but my body had gone numb.

In the end,I crawled out of the ward,leaving streaks of blood behind me,and pushed the remaining blood bags into the family doctor's hands.

"Please.You have to save Nico."

After a long time,the operating room light went out.The doctor looked exhausted,but relieved.

"The heir has been brought back.He's very weak.Tonight is critical."

"Don't worry,Donna.We will do everything we can."

I caught sight of the medical waste bin inside the operating room.It was piled high with crossbow bolts,blood-soaked cotton swabs,and syringes.My heart felt as if it had been carved open.

But at least he was alive.

I wept with joy,thanked them again and again,and stayed beside Nico after he was transferred to the ward.

His face was pale.His breathing was weak,but steady.

The taut string inside me loosened slightly.I went with the doctor to have my injuries treated.

When I wheeled myself back to the ward alone,I saw Selena standing by Nico's bed with a group of people.

I stared at Selena nervously,trying to get closer,but the bodyguards stopped me.

"Selena?What are you doing?"

Selena turned to look at me,an innocent smile on her face.

"I got close to the Don for the Moretti family's power.He even got me pregnant with Moretti blood,but because of this little bastard,he still hasn't kicked you out of the Donna's position."

"I wanted to put on a little show so the Don wouldn't suspect me when this bastard died.But who knew he would actually be saved?"

The news of Selena's pregnancy did not stir anything in me.I begged hoarsely.

"When Nico is discharged,I'll divorce him immediately.I'll take Nico and leave.We'll never disturb you again."

Selena said nothing.She simply took out a glass bottle,opened the cap,and shook it lightly.

A single drop fell onto the bed.With a hiss,acrid white smoke rose,and the bedding was instantly corroded.

It was the industrial corrosive used in dockside warehouses to destroy evidence.

My eyes nearly split with rage.I lunged forward,and the wheelchair was violently overturned.

I crashed to the floor and crawled toward the bed with both hands and feet.

"No!Selena!Let him go.He just survived.I'll take him away right now."

Selena made a gesture,and the bodyguards'fists and feet rained down on me.

Her gentle voice drifted over."But it's all right.Now...he'll just rot into a lump no one can recognize."

Through the shifting shadows of legs,I watched with my own eyes as Selena tipped the bottle in her hand.The liquid poured over Nico's cheek,neck,and chest.

Nico let out one hoarse scream,then fell silent.

In moments,only a ruined,rotting shell remained on the bed,so mangled it no longer looked human.

Flesh had collapsed,and acrid smoke curled upward.