Chapter 2

A collective gasp swept through the room.

Only Cupid's excited voice echoed in my ear.

[Yeah! A new mommy! yeah!]

"Ha!"

Bianca's sharp laugh cut through the quiet.

She was the Don’s favorite mistress and the daughter of a boss.

She crossed her arms and glared at me with disgust.

"Look at this pathetic creature! Throwing yourself at a man just to get knocked up."

"Why would any woman want a disgusting parasite inside her?"

"A baby ruins your waist. It screams, makes a mess, and drains your life away. Children are nothing but filthy burdens."

She spoke about the baby like it was a disease.

Inside my head, Cupid screamed with rage.

[Listen to this idiot! Call me a parasite? I am a god!]

[Don't listen, new mommy! Let her regret!]

Anger also rose in my chest.

I had cared for orphans for years. I knew how precious a child was.

I took a step forward, meeting Bianca’s glare.

"A child is not a parasite," I said firmly.

"Loving a baby and wanting to be a mother is my own wish. It is my choice. There is nothing shameful about that."

Dante did not say a word. His eyes narrowed as he studied me.

He looked at my cheap clothes, my shaking hands, and the fire in my eyes.

Slowly, he lowered his gun.

Bianca noticed. Her face turned red with anger.

"Dante! Are you really listening to this barmaid?"

She turned back to me, a cold smirk appeared on her lips.

"You really think you can just choose to have his baby?"

"Do you know how many women have shared Dante’s bed? Every single one of them wanted his heir."

She leaned in, her voice cruel.

"None of them ever got pregnant. But the one who never wanted to conceive ended up pregnant. Isn’t it funny?"

The words hit me hard.

The memory of the doctor’s grim face flashed in my mind.

You are infertile, Nina. It is impossible.

She was right. Even if Dante gave me the chance, my broken body could never give him a child.

I pressed my lips together and lowered my head in silence.

Bianca saw my silence and smiled with triumph.

"Look at you!"

"Cheap trash like you is not fit to carry Dante’s bloodline. You are not even fit to clean his shoes."

She placed both hands proudly over her flat belly and looked around the entire room.

"The Don’s only heir is right here, inside my belly," Bianca declared.

"Nobody else can give him one. And as long as this baby is inside me, none of you dare offend me!"