Chapter 3

It was deep into the night when we left the Bellandi estate.

Nina curled in my arms, eyes swollen, silent.

I stroked her hair, thinking she'd just cried herself out, and hurried to find a place to stay.

Standing in the hotel lobby, I was a mess.

"Hello, I'd like a suite."

I handed over my supplementary card.

The front desk swiped it and looked up. "Sorry, ma'am. It's been frozen."

My heart dropped. I dug out my own bank card.

Even the savings in my own account had been transferred out.

My fingertips went cold. A wave of nausea hit me.

Dante could be that ruthless.

He didn't just want me to bow. He wanted to cut off every escape route.

The front desk clerk's tone was flat. "Ma'am, do you still want the room?"

My throat tightened. I called my best friend.

"Can you lend me some money? Or book a room for me? Just one night for me and Nina."

Two seconds of silence. Her voice dropped.

"Elena, it's not that I don't want to help. But my family's been in talks with the Bellandi family. This thing you're in is too big. If I step in, my family's group could get dragged in."

She didn't finish. I already understood.

I hung up and looked at my reflection in the marble floor. It suddenly seemed ridiculous.

Twenty-some years of living, and I had nothing.

Only the daughter in my arms, who would stand by me without hesitation.

Then she swayed and collapsed softly against me.

I touched her forehead. My heart went cold.

She was burning up.

I scrolled through my contacts and finally stopped on a name I least wanted to trouble.

After borrowing money, I carried Nina back to the front desk.

"Please, just give me a room. My daughter has a fever."

The clerk suddenly rolled her eyes.

"No wonder the cards are frozen. You're that fake Bellandi daughter who cheated in her marriage."

I froze.

She looked me up and down, her tone growing sharper.

"You're trash to the bone, and you had to pop out a bastard to embarrass everyone. This is a respectable hotel. Please leave before you dirty our floor."

Guests turned to look at me.

I wanted to explain, but I had no words left.

I could only carry Nina out of the hotel in disgrace.

On the late-night street, the cold wind cut like a knife.

Nina was delirious with fever, face buried in my shoulder, murmuring:

"Daddy... don't leave me..."

That one sentence tore my heart apart.

I bit down and finally pulled out my phone, dialing Dante's number.

Ten calls. No answer.

My fingers shook as I typed a message.

【Nina has a fever. Can you come?】

A long time later, he replied:

"She's not even my child. I don't have time for your sob story."

I stared at those cold words.

The street was loud with people, but I couldn't even cry.

In the end, I took Nina to the hospital alone.

The emergency corridor was crowded. I'd just finished registering when I heard a familiar voice.

Dante was helping Bianca into the emergency room.

The nurse handed Dante a test sheet, her tone reproachful:

"Early pregnancy bleeding, threatened miscarriage. The first few months are critical. As her husband, be careful. Don't exhaust the mother!"

Dante took the sheet, instinctively pulling Bianca closer. "Does it still hurt?"

Bianca shook her head lightly, eyes red.

Dante frowned. "Don't go back tonight. Stay at my place. I'll take care of you."

Bianca bit her lip, murmured agreement, and leaned into his arms.

I stood frozen, blood turning to ice.

Years ago, when I was pregnant with Nina, I'd been held like that too.

My morning sickness was so bad I couldn't keep down water.

He cleared his entire schedule. For ten months, he stayed by my side.

He said, "Elena, you and our daughter are my life."

Now he was the one grinding his "life" into the dirt.

The one pushing me and Nina into the abyss was him.

I almost wanted to laugh.

So this is what it means. When someone loves you, it's real.

When they stop, they're just as cruel.

Nina was still burning in my arms.

My phone buzzed.

I looked down. Dante had sent a message:

"Elena, I'm not waiting anymore. Three days. City hall."