Chapter 2

I went straight to the family’s private clinic.

The doctor told me that my previous medication abortion had already severely damaged my uterine lining.

If I terminated another pregnancy, I might never be able to have children again.

I lowered my head and listened, completely numb.

I signed the papers.

Took the anesthesia.

Lay down on the operating table.

When the cold instruments entered my body, I didn’t cry.

I just stared at the stark white light above me and remembered that sweltering afternoon when I was eighteen.

The dim bathroom.

Dante holding me tightly, his palms soaked with sweat and his eyes full of tears.

The pain had been real.

The fear had been real.

And the heartbreak in his eyes had been real too.

It was just a shame that now, his heart broke for someone else.

After the procedure, a nurse helped me out of bed and quietly went over the aftercare instructions.

I held on to the wall as I slowly made my way down the hall, every step unsteady.

The antiseptic smell burned my nose.

And at my weakest moment, I saw my husband.

He had another woman in his arms, that familiar tenderness softening his face.

I watched them talk in silence.

I felt nothing.

Vivienne wore a hospital gown and leaned delicately against Dante’s chest.

He probably went to handle her admission paperwork, because he walked away first.

The moment Vivi saw me, she froze.

Then she spoke timidly.

“Aria? What are you doing here? Did you follow us?”

“Dante only brought me because I had no one else. He was just being kind. Please don’t misunderstand.”

She deliberately emphasized the words no one else.

My stomach hurt too badly for me to bother playing along.

But just as I turned away, Vivi bit her lip and suddenly rushed at me.

“Aria, that million dollars is probably only a few Birkins to you, but I’m really going to die! The doctor said if I don’t get this surgery now, it’ll be too late.”

“Please, don’t take life-saving money away from someone who’s dying. Once I get better, I swear I’ll work myself to the bone to pay you back.”

Without warning, she dropped to her knees and grabbed my pant leg.

The tears came instantly.

“Please. Don’t take away the money that could save my life. I just want to live!”

Her miserable cries echoed through the waiting area.

Pain had cold sweat breaking out across my skin.

I yanked my leg free.

Vivi collapsed onto the floor, trembling all over.

Dante walked in just in time to see it.

His face instantly darkened.

He hauled Vivi to her feet, then stared at me with open irritation and disappointment.

“You followed me all the way to the hospital?”

“You seriously can’t let this go? You even want to take back the money she needs for treatment? Do you have any compassion left?”

When Vivi had called him away on our anniversary and I had gotten angry, he had accused me the exact same way.

“She’s already miserable enough. You’re a woman too. Don’t you feel anything for her?”

“How can you be so cold?”

I had heard it all too many times.

Whatever.

Dante frowned and stepped toward me.

Then he shoved me hard.

“Say something! What the hell do you want?”

The force sent me stumbling backward.

I crashed onto the floor.

My tailbone slammed against the cold, hard tile, and a tearing pain exploded through my lower abdomen.

I grimaced in pain.

Dante froze.

He didn’t understand why someone who had always been healthy had fallen so easily.

Just like he didn’t know that during the hours he had spent running around for Vivi, the last tie between us had already been severed.

He instinctively bent down to help me.

I moved away.

“Dante.”

My voice was hoarse.

“From now on, give her as much money as you want.”

“I won’t interfere anymore.”

He went still.

I braced my palms against the floor and forced myself upright.

Then I limped out of the clinic.

Outside, I found the number for Bianchi, the Colombo family’s attorney, and called him.