Chapter 1

During the third year of my secret marriage, I finally got pregnant.

I was floating on cloud nine all the way home, excited to share this amazing news with my husband, Stefano Farro. However, I overheard him talking to someone on the phone when I walked through the door.

"Salvatore, Antonia has taken charge of The Rosas. I'm going to tell Regina the truth. If you haven't gotten sick of sleeping with her yet, you can have her in the next few days."

"Sure, Stef," a voice that sounded just like Stefano said in an ostentatious tone. "You're such a generous and loyal man. To save yourself for Antonia, you're willing to let your own brother sleep with your wife.

"Aren't you worried about Regina having a breakdown when she discovers that the man who she's been sharing a bed with all these years is her husband's brother?"

"Do you think that an idiot who falls for a forged marriage certificate is worthy of being my wife?" Stefano asked in a cold and loathful voice. "Besides, she's so stupid. She hasn't noticed a thing even though it's been three years. She'll definitely never find out."

A chill ran down my spine.

It turned out that my fated love had been nothing more than a cruel game that Stefano and his twin, Salvatore Farro, meticulously planned for the sake of the woman they loved.

…

I continued listening in on Stefano and Salvatore's conversation.

"Alright, then, Stef. I'll make sure to enjoy myself to the fullest in the next few days," Salvatore said mockingly and maliciously. "You don't know this, but your wife has a smoking body, and she's also really obedient in bed. Once you marry Antonia, you should lock her at home and let me play with her."

"No. What if she goes crazy and hurts Antonia?"

"Good point. She's as shameless as her mother. She's just a bastard child, but she's shameless enough to fight Antonia for the role of successor. If she finds out that the woman who you really love is Antonia, she might actually try to do something to her."

Stefano's and Salvatore's voices were dripping with contempt for me, leaving me rooted to the spot. I couldn't even summon the courage to rush in and demand answers from Stefano.

No one knew that my father, Roberto Leone, established The Rosas with my grandfather, Bruno Scapuzzi's help. After the gang had found its footing, and Dad had cemented his position among the other families, he brought the child he had with his first love home.

The child had been only a month older than me.

My mother, Teresa Scapuzzi, hadn't been able to accept that Dad had not only cheated on her but also had another child with another woman. She ended up becoming depressed. To save herself, she ultimately chose to divorce Dad. She had then disappeared from our lives.

Not long after that, Dad married his first love, which also caused our family to fall apart.

At first, Dad had been immensely regretful for causing me to lose a whole and complete family. He promised that no matter what happened, the two people he loved the most would always be me and Mom. He also promised that I would become the successor of the family.

To live up to Dad's expectations, I worked myself to the bone in the past few years to become a qualified successor.

Unfortunately, Dad's heart was ultimately swayed by the woman who shared his bed. He slowly began to favor my stepsister, Antonia Leone.

In the past few years, he allowed Antonia to slander me, claiming that I was the illegitimate child. He also didn't lift a finger when Antonia forbade me from revealing Mom's identity.

I hadn't taken full control of The Rosas yet at that time, so I endured everything that Antonia threw at me.

I thought everything would change once I became the undisputed leader of The Rosas.

However, three years ago, Antonia claimed that I pushed her off a bridge when she was the one who threw herself off to steal the role of successor of The Rosas away from me.

In a fit of rage, Dad stripped me of all the power I had in the family and kicked me out of the house. The authority that I had spent years cultivating in the family disappeared overnight thanks to Dad's announcement and his favoritism toward Antonia.

Everyone criticized me for resorting to despicable and underhanded tactics just because I was jealous of Antonia.

Grandpa became terribly ill and fell into a coma at around the same time, so I didn't have anyone I could rely on. As a result, Dad threw me to the curb like I was nothing more than a bag of trash.

I would never forget how I had curled up among the pile of trash bags like a homeless person that day.

I was shivering from being drenched in the rain when Stefano carried me home. He told me that he believed that I wasn't that type of person. He became my shelter and helped me take care of all the rumors that were circulating about.

That was also when he slipped the ring that marked me as the daughter-in-law of the Farro family onto my finger.

"The fighting and killing makes the outside world too dangerous, Gina. It doesn't suit a rose like you. Marry me and let me be your shelter, okay?"

Stefano ignored everyone's protests and wanted to marry a woman with a terrible reputation like me.

Tears of gratitude had streamed down my face when I agreed.

After we registered our marriage, I had excitedly talked to him about our wedding ceremony, but a troubled look had crossed his face.

"My parents haven't approved of our marriage, Gina. We should wait before having the ceremony. Also, we can't announce our relationship to the public before getting my parents' approval.

"I'm sorry. It's not that I don't love you. I just don't want anyone to criticize you. I hope you'll be able to officially marry into the Farro family one day."

I knew the Farros didn't approve of me as their daughter-in-law. Although I was disappointed, I didn't bring up the wedding ceremony again for Stefano's sake.

He also talked about how he hoped that I would refrain from getting involved in any conflicts because the Farros required his future wife to have a clean background. It was why I willingly gave up on the role of successor and even left my own family, becoming his secret bride.

From the successor of The Rosas, I became a housewife whose entire life orbited Stefano. My hands, which I used to aim guns with, became covered with calluses from all the chores I did.

However, Stefano seemed to treat me a little differently after we got married. He was cold and distant in the day, but once night fell, he would passionately cling to me again and again.

I never once suspected him because of my love for him. I even made up excuses for him in my heart, assuming that a naturally aloof man like himself would only show his true colors at night. He only went wild once night fell because he loved me.

I never would have thought that my so-called husband were actually two different men. I also never would have guessed that the marriage certificate that I treated like a precious treasure was nothing but a forgery.

The love that they had shown me over the past few years had just been a trap that Stefano and Salvatore had set for me for the sake of another woman.

Tears rolled down my cheeks while Salvatore's curious voice echoed in the house once more, "What do you plan to do with her in the future?"

Stefano didn't hesitate for even a second before answering, "I'll send her to a place where Antonia will never have to see her. I'll hire people to take care of her. She'll be well cared for for the rest of her life, but she can never show her face in front of me or Antonia ever again."

He had decided the course of the rest of my life with just a few simple sentences.

It turned out that, from Stefano's perspective, I was nothing more than a toy that he could discard at any moment.

I couldn't listen to another word. I sprinted out of the house like I had lost my mind, crumpling the pregnancy report that I was holding.

The scenery around me turned into a blur of colors. When I snapped back to my senses, I realized I had run all the way to the bridge that Antonia had thrown herself off.

I was just about to take a step toward the edge of the bridge when my phone started ringing in my bag. Snapping out of my daze, I grabbed it and accepted the call.

"Gina, I'm awake," Grandpa's loving and gentle voice echoed from the receiver.

My nose stung when I heard his voice, and I got so choked up that I almost couldn't speak.

"What's wrong? Did someone bully my precious treasure when I wasn't around?"

Unable to hold back any longer, I burst into tears as I gripped the phone. "I missed you so much, Grandpa. Everyone bullied me when you weren't around."

"Don't cry, Gina," Grandpa said, sounding concerned. "I'll have my men bring you back home next week. How does that sound?"

I had to muster all the strength I had left in my body to answer him. "Okay."

Chapter 2

I felt numb when I returned to the home I shared with Stefano after hanging up.

I had left many traces of myself after living here for three years. Since I had decided to leave, I had to clean up everything until nothing was left behind.

The moment I stepped through the door, the man who was sitting on the couch stood up and approached me. He was wearing Stefano's clothes, and he mimicked Stefano's concerned tone as he asked, "Why did you only come back now, Gina?"

I dodged his outstretched hand and stared at his face. His eyes were glinting with a hint of mocking that I had never once seen in Stefano's eyes.

This man wasn't Stefano. He was his brother, Salvatore.

Their conversation that I had overheard earlier began playing in my head.

"If you haven't gotten sick of sleeping with her yet, you can have her in the next few days."

Stefano truly treated me like an object that he could give to someone else whenever he pleased. Both of them had worked together to toy with me like I was a fool.

I suppressed the sour and troubled feelings churning in my heart. When I spoke, the hoarse tone of my voice gave away the fact that I had just been crying earlier. "What if I discover something that I wasn't supposed to find out if I come back early?"

Salvatore was momentarily stunned by my words, and he frantically averted his eyes. "Are you trying to pull my leg, Gina? What could I possibly have to hide from you?"

He then pulled me into his arms and said in his usual gentle tone, "Did something go wrong during your checkup? Don't worry. No matter what happens, I'll be by your side."

He slipped his hand into my shirt like it was second nature as he spoke, undoing the clasp of my bra.

In the past, I would have been touched by his words. I would even have taken the initiative to welcome him into my arms to prove how much I loved him. Now, I felt nothing but disgust.

I shoved him away and said coldly, "The doctor said that I caught a cold. We'll have to sleep in separate rooms for the next few days so I don't spread it to you."

I didn't wait for his answer before heading to my room and locking the door.

…

Later that night, I felt someone hugging me while I was still dazed from sleep. His scent was familiar—it was the man I had shared a bed with for the past three years.

At first, he simply held me, but soon, he slowly began to roam his hands around my body as his breath fanned across my ear.

I didn't push him away since I was still half asleep, but just as he was about to unbutton my clothes, I heard him murmur a name.

"Antonia…"

The haze of sleep cleared from my mind in an instant as I felt the blood in my veins turn to ice. I finally understood why Salvatore had gone along with Stefano's ridiculous plan for so many years—he was also in love with Antonia. Both brothers had treated me as a replacement for the same woman.

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I raised my hand and slapped Salvatore hard across the face. I stared into his bewildered eyes and said coldly, "I already said I'm not feeling well, so I don't want to do it. Don't you understand me? If you want to sleep here, I'll move to the guest room."

There was a bright red handprint on Salvatore's face. When his gaze cleared, I could see hints of anger burning in his eyes. However, his fury melted away when we made eye contact. He got up with a sigh and caressed my face.

"I won't hold this against you because you're sick. I'll go to the guest room. You can continue sleeping here."

He rose to his feet and left, but I couldn't go back to sleep. I got up, wanting to drink some water. I had just reached my door when I heard Salvatore's voice resounding from beyond it.

"She's acting really weird tonight, Stef. Could she have found out something?"

"Lock her in the basement for now if she really did discover something," was Stefano's indifferent reply. "It's Antonia's birthday next week. I'll be announcing our engagement then. We can't let Regina ruin everything."

"Didn't she drop by the hospital for a checkup earlier?" Salvatore asked, sounding a little hesitant. "Could she—"

Stefano interrupted him impatiently, "She has always known how to put on a pitiful act. What? Did you develop genuine feelings for her after sleeping with her for three years? Are you feeling sad for her?"

"Of course not! How could I ever fall for a disgusting woman like her? I wouldn't even touch her if she wasn't so well-behaved in bed."

Salvatore's voice was colored with impatience and loathing, as if he was afraid of getting involved with me.

I covered my mouth with my hand and forced myself not to cry. I had dedicated three years of my feelings to them, but I meant nothing to them in their hearts. They didn't care about me even though I had just gotten back from the hospital. They only cared about whether Antonia would be upset.

I didn't know how much time passed, but my tears had already dried on my face. I sat in a daze for the rest of the night as I stared at the wedding photo hanging above the bed.

When sunlight streamed through the window, I finally moved my body that had gone stiff. I felt completely numb as I got up from the bed and began packing.

I packed my belongings, such as my identification documents and clothes, into my suitcase. I didn't pack anything that Stefano had gifted me in the past few years.

My hands trembled slightly when I came upon the marriage certificate. There was a photo attached to the certificate. I was smiling sweetly in it, but Stefano looked as emotionless as ever.

How could I have not noticed that he had been impatient and hateful when we got the marriage certificate? I had been too blinded by my own happiness of finally marrying the man that I loved. I didn't even notice that he had bribed all the staff members there to forge a fake certificate.

It was no wonder Stefano had come up with all sorts of excuses to not have a wedding ceremony with me. It made sense now why he always told me to keep a low profile and never talk about our relationship in public. We were never husband and wife from the very beginning.

The bedroom door suddenly swung open.

Stefano strode in. When we made eye contact, he gently drew me into his embrace as he always did.

"Who bullied my treasure? Tell me. I'll beat him to a pulp."

My nose started stinging as tears spilled down my face once again. He had always behaved this way—covering up his despicable actions with gentleness to get close to me. He trained me to become a well-behaved pet but was willing to abandon me in a heartbeat for the woman he actually loved.

I lowered my gaze and continued to pack my things quietly.

Stefano's eyes widened when he finally noticed my suitcase. He grabbed my hand tightly and demanded, "What are you doing, Gina?"

He looked so utterly sincere, as if he was truly feeling panicked.

I lowered my gaze to hide the mocking glint in my eyes. "Nothing. I just suddenly felt the urge to tidy up my things."

A hint of contempt flickered in Stefano's eyes when he looked down and saw the marriage certificate I was holding.

"You've always been fond of doing these things that the maids are supposed to do. Oh, that's right. I need you to sign this," he said as he handed a document to me.

Pain throbbed in my heart when I glanced at it—it was an agreement that would have me relinquish my rights as the successor of The Rosas for the rest of my life.

Chapter 3

A long time passed before I finally asked hoarsely, "Why… Why do you want me to sign this?"

A hint of regret flickered in Stefano's eyes for a split second. He gently drew me into his embrace and patted my back comfortingly.

"Gina, I already told you that the daughter-in-law of the Farro family needs to have a clean background. She also can't be a high-profile person. Not only were you involved in so much conflict in the past, but you're also an illegitimate child.

"Both your reputation and background are terrible. The family is worried you'll break the rules, but I came up with this plan to have them accept you," he said as he shoved a pen into my hand as if he were giving me a handout.

"If you sign this, Gina, I'll bring you home to meet the Farro family during Thanksgiving."

I subconsciously tightened my grip on the pen as my body began quivering.

After I married Stefano, the members of the Farro family would occasionally humiliate me. I had endured everything for his sake. I had even worried that he would feel upset if he found out, so I had kept it a secret from him.

To gain his family's approval, I had even abandoned my pride to curry favor with those who humiliated me.

Stefano knew how desperately I had wanted to gain his family's approval, but he had allowed me to suffer their humiliation for three years. Now, he came up with this excuse to ensure that Antonia will face no obstacles on her way to becoming the successor of The Rosas.

My silence seemed to make Stefano upset. He raised his voice and said impatiently, "You're an illegitimate child, Gina. You were never fit to be the successor."

I had heard many people call me an illegitimate child over the years. But I had also always told Stefano that Mom was Dad's first wife and that she had only left him because he had lied to her. He would always hug and comfort me whenever I told him, promising that he would never behave like a bastard like Dad.

However, Stefano had continuously insulted Mom that day. Unable to hold myself back anymore, I told him the truth.

"Mom was never Dad's mistress. Antonia's mother is Dad's actual mistress. She—"

"That's enough!" Stefano interrupted me sternly, his eyes shining with unbridled fury and hatred.

"You almost cost Antonia her life that day, Regina Leone. But she chose to forgive you because she's just that kind. She has also never taken your actions to heart even though you've kept targeting her in the past few years. She was even kind enough to ask me to take care of you.

"What about you? You're just an unpresentable illegitimate child, and yet you still want to take what doesn't belong to you."

"He doesn't believe me," I thought over and over again.

It turned out that the understanding and respect Stefano showed me all these years were nothing but lies that he used to continue his farce.

I could feel my heart trembling. I opened my mouth, but I couldn't say a word. Finally, I asked him in a quivering voice, "Are you included in the list of things that don't belong to me?"

Stefano was momentarily stunned by my words, looking as if he had just realized that he had misspoke. His expression morphed into one of regret as he gently enveloped me in his embrace.

"Why do you love to overthink, Gina? I'm your husband. Of course, I belong to you. Since you have a husband who dotes on you now, you should just stay home and be Mrs. Farro. There's no need for you to get involved with violence and bloodshed.

"Besides, you can't argue that you don't owe Antonia. I'm right, aren't I? You should just forget about The Rosas."

Stefano still insisted on putting on an act even though the situation had already come to this point.

Feeling exhausted, I closed my eyes and gently pushed him away. "I won't sign it, Stefano. Grandpa was the one who established The Rosas. It belongs to me. I won't give it up to anyone else."

I had been too foolish in the past, mistaking a scheme for sincerity. I had already given up so much for a man who didn't actually love me. However, I refused to behave in the same way any longer.

Stefano seemed to be infuriated by my resolve. He hurled the document onto the bedside cabinet and glared at me, enraged.

"I've spoiled you too much in the last few years, Gina. That must be why you're acting so stubborn now. I guess it's time for me to punish you."

He then walked out of the door and addressed his subordinates, saying, "Keep an eye on Mrs. Farro. She's not allowed to leave without my permission. Also, don't give her any food until she has learned the error of her ways."

Chapter 4

Stefano locked me in the bedroom. He didn't spare a single glance back at me before he left, no matter how much I screamed.

I only stopped shouting when my voice turned hoarse, and my body became sluggish from exhaustion and hunger.

I numbly picked up my phone when I heard it chime. I glanced at it and realized that Stefano's mother, Carlotta Galassi, had posted a new update on Instagram.

She had posted a picture of herself with Antonia with the caption, "We'll be a family soon."

The picture received many congratulatory comments from the members of the Farro family and Stefano's friends.

Carlotta clearly did not despise Antonia like she despised me. She was hugging Antonia intimately, looking like an actual mother-daughter pair.

The ring on Antonia's finger was dazzling and eye-catching. The Farro family's crest was clearly engraved on the side.

I lowered my head in a daze and looked at the ring on my finger—it was identical to the one that Antonia was wearing.

Stefano had used the ring to propose to me, claiming that it marked me as the daughter-in-law of the Farros. However, Antonia was currently wearing the exact same ring on her finger too.

I raised my hand and slipped the ring off my finger. I only had to twist it gently to separate the diamond from the band. I finally understood then that this ring that was supposed to cement my position in the Farro family was nothing more than a counterfeit that Stefano had hired someone to make.

All of my connections with Stefano had been nothing but lies.

I threw the ring into the trash can before burying my face in my pillow and letting out a heartwrenching wail.

"How could you hurt me this way, Stefano?" I thought.

A warm and slender hand brushed across my face before the person pulled me into their embrace and began softly coaxing me.

"I was just joking around with you earlier, Gina. Why are you crying?"

The man's voice was nearly identical to Stefano's, but the scent of wild lilies wafted from his body—a smell that Stefano never liked.

I knew then that the man holding me was Salvatore.

I felt repulsed by this knowledge. I was just about to shove him away when I saw him pick up the agreement on the bedside cabinet.

"Be good and sign this, Gina," he said softly, perhaps assuming that I was feeling scared.

A piece of paper dropped onto the floor when he picked up the agreement. It was the pregnancy report that I had carelessly placed on the bedside cabinet yesterday. If Salvatore picked up the report, he would know I was pregnant with his child.

However, Salvatore simply glanced at the report when he stepped on it.

"Where did this paper come from? When did you become such a messy person, Gina?"

I felt like someone had stepped on my own heart as I looked at the clear footprint on the back of the pregnancy report. Well, whatever. I was leaving soon anyway. There was no point in telling Salvatore about the child.

I lowered my gaze as I picked up the report and tossed it into the trash bin, saying, "I've always been a neat freak. I'll never want a man that another woman has laid her hands on."

The smile on Salvatore's face stiffened.

I could feel his searching gaze on my face. Perhaps he didn't have the guts to confront me because he didn't say anything else. Instead, he insisted on taking me out to get my mind off things.

Salvatore drove us to a deserted area. When there was something wrong with the tire, he told me to stay in the car and wait while he headed to a nearby gas station to ask for help.

An uneasy feeling began to churn in my heart, and I discreetly tightened my grip on the knife in my bag.

A few moments later, a group of men swarmed the car out of the blue and began wrecking it like they had lost their minds.

Someone broke the window, causing the broken shards to slice across my face. They reached through the broken window and grabbed me before beginning to drag me out of the car.

The shattered pieces of glass sliced across my skin, but I had no time to worry about the pain. I could only focus on struggling as hard as I could.

However, I was only one person and couldn't fight back against the combined strength of a group of men. They dragged me through the window and carelessly threw me on the ground.

The leader was holding a baseball bat. He was smiling wickedly as he approached me.

"So, you're the successor of The Rosas? You sure are pretty. We should enjoy ourselves before we take revenge on her," he hollered to the other men.

The men surrounded me, but before they could lay their hands on me, I stabbed their leader with my hidden knife.

I was once the successor of a mafia family. I wasn't a helpless woman who could only wait for someone else to save her.

They screamed as they assaulted me with their baseball bats.

Pain exploded all over my body, but I simply gritted my teeth and fought back against them until someone smashed their bat against the back of my head. The excruciating pain almost made me lose my balance.

Before I lost consciousness, I vaguely saw Salvatore running toward me, looking panicked.

"Regina!" he screamed at the top of his lungs.

Chapter 5

My mind was still stuck in a haze when I heard Salvatore's voice.

"Didn't you say you were only going to scare her a little to stop her from fighting you for the role of successor, Antonia? Why did they hurt her so badly?"

"I don't know, Salvo," Antonia replied in a weak and choked-up voice. "I just wanted to scare her a little. I didn't think they would actually beat her up. Maybe she bullied them a lot when she was still the successor, so they held a grudge against her and used this opportunity to take revenge."

"That's not possible," Salvatore retorted immediately. "Regina's always had a good temper. She would even get up in the middle of the night to make supper for me if I said I was hungry."

Silence descended upon the room the moment the words left his lips, leaving only the sounds of Antonia's quiet sobbing.

A long time passed before Stefano broke the silence. "I had no idea you knew her so well, Salvatore," he said, sounding displeased. "You even let her make supper for you?"

"I just mentioned feeling hungry. I didn't know she was such an obedient person," Salvatore explained hurriedly, sounding as if he was afraid of getting involved with me. "Besides, she's just a free maid and person to warm my bed, isn't she?"

"That's enough," Stefano said coldly. "We won't speak of this matter again. Clean up the scene. We can't let her find out that Antonia was behind the attack. As for Regina… It's only natural for her to be punished since she wants to go up against Antonia."

Stefano was the man who I had called my husband for the last three years, while Salvatore was the man who I had slept with every night for the past three years. Both of them had chosen to hurt me to protect Antonia.

I subconsciously clenched my fists as tears spilled from the corners of my eyes. I would rather still be unconscious at that moment. I wished I didn't hear the cruel words from the two men that I had orbited for the last three years.

I didn't know how long had passed before my consciousness finally cleared. I slowly opened my eyes and saw Salvatore sitting by my bedside. Worry was etched all over his face.

"You're finally awake, Gina. It's all my fault. I didn't protect you."

Salvatore's voice was colored with gentleness and heartache, but I wasn't moved in the slightest. I knew that every bit of gentleness he showed me was nothing but a lie.

I ignored him, looking down and gently stroking my stomach.

The child was a lot stronger than I expected. Although it had experienced such a crisis, it had obediently remained in my stomach.

My actions seemed to make Salvatore nervous. He grabbed my wrist and asked in a trembling voice, "Gina… Don't tell me you're carrying a child in your belly?"

I felt like my heart was being stabbed by needles as I looked at him. If he was so scared of getting pregnant, why didn't he take the necessary precautions?

Suppressing the sour sensation spreading through me, I calmly pushed his hand away and said, "No. My stomach just hasn't been feeling well."

Salvatore sighed in relief and hugged me as usual.

"Gina, The Rosas' enemies attacked you because they thought you were still the successor. Being the successor is too dangerous. You should just obediently stay home and be Mrs. Farro from now on."

His voice was as gentle as ever, and his eyes were shining with sincerity.

If I hadn't overheard his conversation with Stefano and Antonia, I would have actually believed that he cared about me. I lowered my gaze, unwilling to look at his hypocritical face any longer.

Salvatore wrapped an arm around my shoulders and continued to try to convince me.

"I know you like overthinking, Gina. But you're my wife. I can't bear to see my wife getting hurt."

I whipped my head up and stared at him. "Do you really see me as your wife?" I asked, intentionally refraining from calling his name.

A look of bewilderment crossed Salvatore's face before his expression morphed into one of adoration. "Of course, Gina. I swore to make you the happiest person in the world on the day we got married."

I inhaled deeply before asking in a hopeful voice, "Then, are you willing to help me even if I don't give up on being the successor of The Rosas? Are you willing to help me find out who's responsible for today's attack?"

Salvatore's face darkened instantaneously. "I've already dealt with those men, Gina. Stop overthinking this. You also must give up on being the successor. You know the rules of being the daughter-in-law of the Farro family."

Rules, rules, and rules—Stefano had tricked me for three whole years using these so-called rules. And now, Salvatore wanted to use them to continue lying to me.

"I don't want to be the daughter-in-law of the Farro family anymore then."

I shoved Salvatore's hand away. Powering through the pain, I got up from the bed and headed outside.

Salvatore yanked me back into the room. His eyes were completely bloodshot when he demanded, "What the hell are you saying, Gina?"

Chapter 6

The door swung open just as I was about to answer Salvatore.

Antonia rushed into the room and tackled me to the floor. "I'm sorry, Gina. I didn't do it on purpose. I overheard your argument. There must be some sort of misunderstanding, so I came in to try to convince you to stay," she said as she discreetly drove her elbow into my stomach.

Pain spread through my entire body, causing me to cry out in anguish.

"Gina!" Salvatore exclaimed, sounding panicked as he rushed toward me. "Are you alright? I'll call the doctor right now!"

He was about to press the call button when Antonia suddenly stretched out her injured arm.

"I know you don't like me, Gina. I don't mind if you hate me and hurt me. I just want to fulfill my responsibility and take care of you as your sister."

Salvatore looked at me hesitantly as Antonia began sobbing quietly.

I shook my head vigorously. "No… Actually, I'm preg—"

Antonia suddenly let out a loud wail, drowning out my voice. She pounced on me, stopping Salvatore's outstretched hand from reaching me while discreetly pressing down on my stomach.

"You can scold me and hit me as much as you want, Gina. Just stop being angry. Stop making everyone worry about you, okay?"

The overwhelming pain robbed me of my ability to speak, and I could only stare at Salvatore pleadingly. However, he suddenly retracted his hand that had been suspended in midair as a look of disdain flickered across his face.

"Antonia's right. You only suffered some minor wounds. Your injuries can't be that serious. You should stop making a fuss since Antonia's willing to forget about what you did to her in the past and take care of you."

Antonia was delighted as she tried to drag me away.

I struggled wildly for the sake of the child. "No. I'm actually pregnant," I choked out. "My stomach hurts so much. I want to go to the hospital…"

"What?"

Salvatore's eyes widened. Shock and surprise were shining in his eyes.

However, Antonia stood between us, blocking me from his view. "No matter how angry you are, you can't lie to someone by claiming that you're pregnant, Gina. You were still so nimble when you were fighting off those men. How could you possibly be pregnant?"

Antonia spoke gently while she applied even more pressure on my stomach.

The excruciating pain radiating from my stomach immobilized me. I could only silently pray and hope that Salvatore would help me just this once for the sake of our child.

Salvatore pursed his lips hesitantly.

Antonia became even more smug when she noticed his reaction, a cruel glint flickering in her eyes. However, when she turned to look at Salvatore, she was wearing a kind expression.

"It's all my fault for making Gina angry," she said. "Let me take care of her. I'll take good care of her if she really is pregnant."

"No! I don't want that!"

I mustered all the strength I had left and raised my head to reject Antonia's suggestion. However, Salvatore only averted his gaze.

"Stop pretending, Gina," he said. "At the end of the day, Antonia's still your sister. She didn't take your actions to heart even though you tried to end her life. She's such a kind person, so she'll definitely take good care of you."

In the end, Salvatore had chosen to believe Antonia even though I was the one who spent 1,095 nights with him… even though I was the one who was carrying his child in my belly.

Antonia pressed down even harder on my stomach as she moved her lips close to my ear. Her voice was dripping with delight when she whispered, "No one will believe you, Regina."

I suddenly felt the fight drain out of me. It seemed that everyone would choose to give up on me when Antonia was in the picture. Both Dad and my lover had done the same thing.

"Salvatore," I called out softly before Antonia dragged me away. "Are you too scared to believe that I'm pregnant, or do you just not want to believe I'm expecting?"

"What nonsense are you spouting?" Salvatore demanded heatedly as he whipped around.

I laughed as I stared at his trembling fingers. "You're really just a coward."

He didn't turn around this time. I knew he was too scared to face reality. He was so scared he didn't even notice that I called him Salvatore instead of Stefano.

I could feel my stomach caving in as if something was disappearing from my body. Terrified, I held my stomach, but I could still feel blood flowing between my legs.

The little angel that had stayed in my body for the past three months was about to leave me.

I closed my eyes and let the tears spill from the corners of my eyes.

Stefano, Salvatore—I hated both of you. I'd never forgive either of you ever again.