Chapter 2

Five years ago, Luca passed his initiation as heir to the Walsh family.

He wanted to let loose and celebrate, so Mia suggested a hiking trip.

She brought along a stranger. Vinnie.

The whole way, Vinnie hovered over me. Asked if I was thirsty. Offered to carry my pack.

His hand kept brushing against my ass.

I begged Luca for help, but he wouldn't even look at me—too busy tying Mia's bootlaces.

But back when we were kids, a school security guard once smacked my ass.

I was too young to know it was wrong. Luca saw it and lost his mind.

He punched the guard until the man bled, then had his uncle on the school board bury the whole thing.

So on the trail, I stuck close to the guide just to keep Vinnie's hands off me.

That night, half asleep, I felt a chill on my chest.

My eyes snapped open. Vinnie was unbuttoning my shirt.

I screamed. The guide and Luca came running.

Luca pulled me into his arms and whispered that it was okay.

I cried and said I was calling the cops. He frowned and stopped me.

"Lena, if you call the police, everyone finds out."

"There'll be an investigation. A scandal. It'll drag both our families through the mud."

I sobbed until I couldn't breathe. He held my hand like it hurt him too.

"Don't be scared. You came with me. I'll take care of it."

So when we got home, Luca proposed and took me to sign the papers.

My phone buzzes, dragging me back to the present.

I can see Mia's smug little face in every word on the screen.

"Luca only married you because he was afraid Sofia would blame me for not looking after you."

"I'm the one who brought Vinnie to harass you. Luca was terrified the cops would trace it back to me."

"He knew you loved him. So he sacrificed himself to shut you up."

Ice floods my veins.

Tears fall onto the wedding ring on my finger.

The day we signed, Luca lit up the sky for me. A whole fireworks show.

Under all that blue light, he kissed me and made a promise.

"Lena, I'll love you for the rest of my life."

We kissed like we couldn't stop. Booked a hotel suite.

That night, Luca takes my virginity, gentle and slow.

I laugh through my tears, wanting to fight back.

But I can't find a single thing that proves Luca ever loved me.

My phone buzzes again. This time Mia sends a voice recording.

I tap it with shaking fingers. Luca's voice fills the speaker.

"Mia, Lena's pregnant. Don't worry. I'll handle it."

My heart clenches so hard it hurts—the tears won't stop.

Year three of our secret marriage, I found out I was pregnant.

Luca didn't sleep all night. He stayed up, lying with his head on my belly.

The next morning, he drove me to my prenatal appointment himself.

On the way, the brakes failed. The car slammed into the guardrail.

I started bleeding on the spot—blood soaked my dress and stained the seat.

Luca was out cold. Smoke poured from the engine.

My first instinct wasn't to call an ambulance.

I smashed the window with my bare hands and dragged him out.

When I woke up, the baby was already gone. Just blood.

Luca knelt by my hospital bed, sobbing.

I was terrified he'd blame himself, so I buried all my grief and comforted him instead.

It was all a setup.

I laugh, then I cry—then I pull the crumpled prenatal report from my pocket and tear it to pieces.