Chapter 3

Bianca jerked upright and immediately backed away.

She refused to let Dr. Hart come near her.

“Donna Vivienne, the pregnancy has been perfectly normal.”

“There is no reason for the doctor to examine me again.”

I shook my head and spoke gently.

“You're carrying Don Lucian's child. We cannot afford to be careless.”

“Dr. Hart is one of the most respected obstetricians in New York.”

“One examination will allow him to estimate how far along you are and confirm your expected delivery date.”

Bianca continued shaking her head.

As she backed away, she struck the corner of the table, lost her balance, and fell.

She clutched her stomach and cried out in pain.

Lucian's furious voice came from the doorway.

He strode across the room and stopped in front of me.

“Vivienne, what the hell are you doing?”

Bianca burst into tears as if her rescuer had finally arrived.

“Lucian, I'm frightened.”

“Donna Vivienne wouldn't let me leave. The baby has been fine, but she insisted on having this doctor examine me.”

“Does she want something to happen to our child?”

As soon as she finished speaking, Bianca clutched her stomach and collapsed into Lucian's arms.

Lucian glared at me and ordered his soldiers to escort Dr. Hart out of the compound.

He lifted Bianca into his arms and hurried away.

Before leaving, he looked back and warned me:

“If anything happens to Bianca or the baby, I will never forgive you.”

Mara's face flushed with anger.

She grabbed a cushion from the sofa and threw it toward the doorway after Lucian.

I let out a quiet laugh and watched Dr. Hart leave.

All I had done was bring in a doctor who had examined Bianca before, yet the sight of him had terrified her.

The child she was carrying clearly was not Lucian's.

Bianca did not wake until late that night.

Her sobs carried down the corridor, carefully pitched to sound as helpless as possible.

“Lucian, Donna Vivienne will never accept me.”

“Please let me leave the compound.”

“If you aren't here one day, the baby and I might not survive.”

Lucian sent for me.

The moment I entered the room, a mug of scalding coffee shattered beside my feet.

A shard cut my ankle.

I caught the flash of triumph in Bianca's eyes.

I dug my nails into my palm until tears rose in my own.

“If Don Lucian does not trust me, he can place Bianca in charge of the compound.”

“If she needs prenatal supplies, she can take them from the storerooms herself.”

“If she needs a doctor, she can arrange one herself.”

“She will never need my approval again.”

Lucian fell silent.

The DeLuca family still appeared powerful, but its financial deficit had been growing for years.

My premarital trust and the legitimate companies controlled by the Valentis had quietly covered the shortfall.

If I stopped managing those accounts, the failing businesses tied to Lucian's name would not keep the DeLuca family solvent for long.

Bianca bit her lip, unable to hide the greed in her eyes.

She tugged sweetly at Lucian's sleeve.

“Lucian, I think that's a wonderful idea.”

“I'm going to give you an heir soon anyway.”

“Once the baby is born, I'll return control of the compound to Donna Vivienne.”

Lucian hesitated before nodding.

I surrendered control of the compound accounts, security lists, and staff assignments.

Without looking at Bianca's smug expression, I turned and left.

That same night, Bianca dismissed every member of staff assigned to my rooms and had security escort them off the property.

The remaining servants immediately began trying to win her favor.

The meals delivered to me arrived cold. Some had already spoiled.

But when Bianca tried to withdraw money from the family accounts, she discovered that there was no available cash.

She smashed the decorations in her room before running to Lucian in tears.

Lucian somehow produced a large sum of money and deposited enough to cover the immediate shortfall.

However, the legitimate income attached to his name could not possibly cover Bianca's lavish gifts or the extravagant lifestyle she had maintained outside the compound.

I had Mara contact my father through the Valenti family's encrypted channel and ask him to trace the source of the money.

Then I bribed one of Bianca's maids and instructed her to report everything Bianca did.

Seven days later, three long knocks followed by one short sounded at my door.

I changed into a maid's uniform and entered Bianca's room through the service corridor.