Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I had burned every bridge for Darren, only for him to inject me with a dangerous labor suppressant over a baseless rumor. I promised myself that when the truth was revealed, he would kneel and repent. Right now, I was pressed against the cellar door, pounding desperately on the heavy oak. "Darren! Take me to the hospital! The baby is coming!" Heavy footsteps approached from outside. The sound of the lock turning ignited a spark of hope in me. When the door swung open, I saw Darren’s face, as cold and unforgiving as marble. "Now?" he scoffed, his eyes on my sweat-soaked nightgown. "You really know how to pick your moments.""Darren..." I gasped for breath. "I can’t hold on much longer..." He grabbed my hair, forcing my head up to look at him. The rough motion sent a searing pain across my scalp. "That bastard in your belly isn't coming out until I know who its real father is." His words struck me like a bolt of lightning. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. "Are you insane? This is your child!" Darren seized my chin, his nails digging into my flesh. The pain made me suck in a sharp breath. "Don't play innocent with me, Scarlett. You think I don't know about the filthy things you've been doing behind my back?""I have never betrayed you!" I shook my head desperately, tears streaming down my cheeks. He let go, and I nearly collapsed. The weight of my pregnant belly made it difficult to keep my balance. "Dr. Russo," he called into the hall. A thin, middle-aged man entered the room, carrying a black medical bag. I knew him. He was the family's private doctor, the one who handled our... discreet problems. A cold dread washed over me. "No..." I backed away, my back hitting the wall. The agony of the contractions made it impossible to escape. "Boss, the delaying agent is ready. It's a custom compound," Dr. Russo said as he opened his medical bag and took out a syringe filled with a milky white liquid. The fluid gleamed under the light. "The dosage?""Enough to halt the labor for several hours." The doctor's tone was flat, as if this were all routine. "But the side effects may include...""I don't care about the side effects," Darren cut him off with a wave of his hand. "Begin." Two bodyguards in black suits rushed into the room. They were Darren’s most trusted enforcers. "Let go of me!" I struggled wildly, my nails leaving bloody scratches on their arms. One of them cursed and gripped my arm tighter. I could feel my bones groaning under the pressure. "You can't do this!" I screamed at Darren. "I'm your wife! This is your blood! The baby will die!""Then let it die," Darren said, looking down at me. "A bastard with tainted blood doesn't deserve to live in this world." The moment the needle pierced my skin, a burning pain spread through my veins. The drug felt like liquid fire coursing through my body. The pain of the contractions suddenly vanished, replaced by a strange, creeping numbness. My limbs grew as heavy as lead. I could barely lift a finger. "Good," Darren nodded, satisfied. "She’s more cooperative now." The click of high heels echoed from the hall. Silvana walked in, a twisted look of triumph on her face. "You should have taught her this lesson a long time ago, brother," she said, nudging my limp hand with the toe of her shoe. "A whore like her brings nothing but shame to the Falcone name." I tried to speak, to fight back, but all that came out was a faint whimper.

Chapter 2 Chapter 2

The drug felt like it was shredding my nervous system. Every heartbeat felt like an explosion in my chest. "Continue to monitor her condition," Darren said, adjusting his cufflinks, his voice cold. "If the effects wear off, give her another dose immediately. Under no circumstances is that bastard to be born before Angelina's."“The heir to the Falcone family must be Angelina’s son, a pure-blooded Falcone.”"Yes, Boss," Dr. Russo replied with a respectful bow. They were preparing to leave. I bit my tongue, the taste of blood shocking me into a moment of clarity. With my last ounce of strength, I cried out, "Darren! He’s your son! I can prove it with a blood test!" He stopped and slowly turned around. "You think I don't know that?" he sneered. "You're a clever one. Forging evidence is what you do best, isn't it?" The door slammed shut. The drug made my limbs feel like lead weights. The baby in my womb seemed to sense the danger, its tiny fists kicking urgently against my ribs. It was as if he were asking, Mommy, why can't I come out? Footsteps echoed again. A woman's high heels. Angelina pushed the door open. She wore a white silk dress, gently caressing her own swollen belly. She looked so pure, so harmless. But I knew she wasn't. No one else believed me. "Poor Scarlett," she said softly, walking slowly toward me. "You look like you're in so much pain." Her voice was as sweet as honey, but she didn’t even bother to hide the malice in her eyes. I struggled to lift my heavy eyelids to look at her. Her pregnancy wasn't as far along as mine, yet her belly seemed even larger. Her cheeks were rosy and her face glowed with vitality. She was clearly receiving the best medical care. "A loyal mother is willing to endure any pain for the honor of the family," she said, crouching down in front of me. "Scarlett, you always wanted to prove your innocence, didn't you? This is what you must endure." I wanted to scream, but my tongue felt anesthetized. I could only force out broken syllables. "It was you… You framed me…" Angelina leaned in close to my ear, her breath warm. "Yes, it was me. So what?" She smiled sweetly. "But Darren, he believes me.""Don't worry. I'll give birth to the true Falcone heir. The one whose blood is pure." Her hand caressed my cheek with a gentle touch. But her next words made my blood run cold. "And you, and your bastard, will be forgotten together." “Forgive me," she said, her tone dripping with false sweetness. "I'm carrying the future of this family. I can't linger in a place this filthy." Angelina turned and left, leaving me on the cold floor. I was like a living corpse, unable to even move a finger. But I could still feel the stirring in my belly. My baby hadn't given up. Don't be afraid, Mommy will protect you. Soon, I heard Darren's voice from outside the door. "Inject her every four hours." Dr. Russo's voice followed. "Boss, at this dosage, it could..." "I said, I don't care about the side effects," Darren cut him off. "That disgrace must not be born." "Double the dose. I don't want to hear another sound out of her." Dr. Russo nodded respectfully. "Understood, Boss." Silvana was practically vibrating with excitement, her voice filled with unconcealed glee. "Let me watch this bitch, brother." "Do as you wish. I need to ensure Angelina gives birth safely." Having received her orders, Silvana swaggered in. The smile on her face was impossible to hide. She held a stack of letters, still scented with a man's cologne. "Look at these, my dear sister-in-law." She knelt before me, spreading the papers out. "Angelina found these little treasures in your vanity."

Chapter 3 Chapter 3

I struggled to focus, but the drug blurred everything. I could make out my own handwriting. Silvana began to read aloud, her voice shrill and piercing. "My dearest Marco, Darren has another meeting tonight, so we can finally be alone...""No..." I managed to shake my head, my tongue still numb. "I didn't write that...""Our son will have my intelligence and your good looks, a world away from that fool Darren...""Next month, we'll take the baby and escape from here, start a new life in Paris...""None of this is true!" I tried with all my might to refute her. "Still pretending?" Silvana sneered. "Angelina gave these to me herself. She said you hid them well, but secrets have a way of coming out." She produced a man’s gold cufflink. It was engraved with an unfamiliar initial. "This was found in your vanity drawer," she said, dangling it in front of my eyes. "It belongs to Marco Jackson. Angelina said you two often met here when Darren was away."“What are you talking about! I’ve never even met a Marco!” Silvana stood up and kicked me in the ribs. The sharp pain made me curl into a ball. "Forged?" Her voice cut like a knife. "Then explain why there was another man's belongings in your vanity. Explain why these letters are in your handwriting." I wanted to argue, but the words were stuck in my throat. Angelina's setup was too perfect. "How many family traditions did my brother break for you?" Silvana continued kicking me. "He gave you the best life, the greatest respect! And for what?" Her voice grew more hysterical. I could only shield my belly. Time ticked by. No one was coming to save me. Until Dr. Russo appeared again, the syringe in his hand now filled with a deep red liquid. "An enhanced formula. By special request of the Boss." The needle pierced my vein once more. This time, the drug burned even hotter, like lava flowing through my blood. My heartbeat became erratic, my chest heaving violently. "Dr. Russo..." I gasped. "Something's... wrong..." He checked my pulse and frowned. "Don't worry, you won't die. It's just a bit uncomfortable. You'll have to bear with it." After the injection, an unprecedented wave of agony washed over me. My skin flushed and burned. My breathing grew ragged and shallow. "What's... what's wrong with her?" Silvana took a few steps back. Dr. Russo checked my eyes. "An allergic reaction. A severe one." I began to convulse, foam frothing at my mouth. I feared... "Save... my baby..." I managed to choke out. Silvana watched me in my agony, hesitating for a moment, but she had heard the doctor say I wouldn't die. "You deserve it!" she snarled. "You whore!" She grabbed my hair and stomped on my hand with her heel. A tearing pain shot through me. I wanted to fight back, but I had no strength left. My body was too weak. “My only job today is to make sure you don’t give birth. The Falcone heir can’t be a bastard.”"He's not a bastard!" I used my last ounce of strength to protect my stomach. "I told you, he's Darren's child..." I felt a warm gush of liquid between my legs. It was blood. A lot of blood. "Stop... please, stop..." She paid no attention, continuing to kick and punch me. "The Falcone bloodline will not be tainted!" Despair washed over me. I knew my baby wasn't going to make it. I lost consciousness completely.

Chapter 4 Chapter 4

When I woke up again, Silvana was gone. A servant, Leo, came in with a tray of food and froze in shock at the bloody scene. The tray slipped from his hands, the porcelain shattering on the floor. I was lying in a pool of my own blood. "My God..." Leo rushed over. "What happened to you?""I have to call the Boss." When the call connected, Darren's impatient voice came through. "What is it? I'm busy.""Boss, the Madam... she's bleeding badly. I think her condition is critical...""Blood?" Darren scoffed. "Scarlett is strong. She can handle it. Don't let her fool you.""Tell her I won't let her die, but that child is not to be born before Angelina's."“If she behaves, I might let the bastard live.” The line went dead. Leo stood there, stunned, unable to believe what he had just heard. He looked at my dying form, his conscience and loyalty at war. Finally, he made a decision. "I can't just watch you die here." He knelt down and carefully lifted me into his arms. "I know a place that can help you." He rushed out of the room with me in his arms. A trail of blood dripped onto the marble floor of the hallway. I drifted in and out of consciousness in his embrace, aware only of the jostling and the pain. The car sped through the city streets at night. Leo was constantly on the phone, arranging something. "It's me... yes, an emergency... pregnant woman, massive bleeding..." After what felt like an eternity, the car stopped. Leo kept reassuring me. "Hang on, we're almost there." But when we arrived at the clinic, the old, bearded doctor saw the needle marks on my arm, and his face went deathly pale. "Good God... what kind of devil's work is this...""I... I don't know... The family's private doctor injected her..." The doctor's hands began to tremble. He turned to me, his eyes filled with despair. "There's no antidote for this kind of poison.""You need to call the Boss, now!" the underground clinic doctor grabbed Leo's arm. "This toxin is attacking her nervous system! I need professional equipment!""She's going to die!" Leo's hand shook as he dialed the number. "Boss, the doctor says we need professional equipment to save Madam Scarlett...""Specialized equipment?" Darren's voice was laced with scorn. "Leo, have you forgotten who all the city's top medical resources are for? They are for the true heir." To ensure Angelina's safety, Darren had monopolized nearly all of New York City's top-tier medical resources. All the renowned obstetricians had been "invited" to the private hospital controlled by the Falcone family. "It was just a few injections. She'll be fine."“In a couple of days, after Angelina has delivered safely, we can treat her. It won’t be too late.” The phone was hung up abruptly. The old doctor looked at me with despair, his eyes full of helplessness and pity. "I know one place.""Maybe... maybe there will be a miracle." He picked me up again and rushed to the black car parked outside. I curled up in the back seat, feeling life slowly draining from my lower body. The baby's kicks in my belly grew weaker, as if in a final protest. "Hang on," Leo whispered in my ear. "We're going to St. Mary's Hospital." That was also where Angelina was waiting to give birth. When the car pulled up to the hospital, I saw a scene of utter hopelessness. The entire maternity wing was on lockdown, crawling with Falcone's men. A long line of ambulances stood ready, all for Angelina alone. Leo helped me stumble toward the emergency room. A nurse saw me covered in blood and recoiled in horror. "Oh my God! What happened?""She's Darren Falcone's wife," Leo said urgently. "She needs surgery immediately!" The nurse's face went pale, and her voice trembled. "But... the Boss's orders. All our resources are reserved for Ms. Angelina." I was pushed onto a gurney in the hallway, listening to their conversation. The drug's side effects left me unable to speak, forced to watch as they debated my life and death. Through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the maternity wing, I could see the bright lights inside. Darren was in there, gently keeping Angelina company. "Please..." Leo begged. "At least let us see the Boss..." The head nurse hesitated for a moment before picking up the internal phone.

Chapter 5 Chapter 5

A few minutes later, Darren's second-in-command, Tony, strode over. He saw me, covered in blood, and his brow furrowed. He anxiously pulled out his phone and called Darren. "Boss, there's a woman at the hospital entrance, covered in blood. She looks a lot like... the madam.""You fell for it too? I told you, a little shot of that drug couldn't make her bleed like that." Tony spoke cautiously. "Should I come up to confirm? If it really is the madam, she's in grave danger...""I said it's impossible!" Darren roared hysterically. "Scarlett is obsessed with her appearance. If it were that serious, she would have stormed in here to find me herself. Why would she let herself get so disheveled?" Meanwhile, the head of the emergency room was pleading for a single set of surgical equipment. But Darren responded with a cold threat. "I don't care who it is. Not a single resource meant for Angelina will be touched by anyone else!""Angelina and the child in her belly are the true bloodline of the Falcone family!"“Anyone who touches anything knows the consequences.” The doctor finally gave up in despair, shaking his head apologetically. "I'm sorry, there's nothing we can do." Having already crawled out of hell, I refused to give up on even the slimmest chance for my child's survival. Enduring the tearing pain, I took Leo's satellite phone with a trembling hand. I dialed the number I had once sworn never to call again. It was my brother Stephan's private line. "Stephan..." my voice was a bare thread of sound. "I was wrong. I'll never defy you again...""Save me..." Stephan's voice was as cold as ice, asking no questions. "Address." The moment I heard his voice, all my pent-up grievances and despair erupted. I cried hysterically, like a lost child trying to find her way home. Regret, anger, desperation… a flood of emotions poured out. In less than eight minutes, the low thrum of a helicopter filled the night sky. A black, state-of-the-art medevac landed on the hospital rooftop, its rotors kicking up a powerful gust of wind. A team of heavily armed, professional medics descended. I was quickly carried onto the helicopter, which was equipped with medical facilities more advanced than any hospital. "Prepare for a C-section!" a doctor commanded. A precision scalpel sliced across my lower abdomen. Even with a powerful anesthetic, I could still feel the agony of flesh being separated. I could hear the doctors' tense conversation and the urgent beeping of the monitors. After a long while, the lead surgeon finally let out a sigh of relief. "The baby's out!" But the cabin was filled with a dead silence. There was no cry of a newborn, no breath of new life. Only the beeping of the equipment and my own desperate heartbeat. A terrible premonition washed over me like ice water. I choked out the question. "My baby... how is he?" The doctors exchanged heavy glances, then one gently touched my shoulder. "The baby suffered severe toxin exposure and prolonged oxygen deprivation...""We need to transport him to the medical center in Sicily immediately. They have the most advanced neonatal intensive care equipment there." My world collapsed in that moment. I could only nod numbly. Meanwhile, in a maternity room at St. Mary's Hospital. Darren stood guard outside the operating room like a loyal hound. When the door opened, he rushed forward to ask. "How is Angelina? Is the baby healthy?""Mother and son are both fine, Boss," the doctor reported respectfully. Darren walked into the warm, comfortable room and gently picked up the swaddled infant. His eyes filled with a father's love as he whispered. "He looks just like you. A little angel." After he spoke, he seemed to drift off for a moment. He allowed himself to imagine what his child with Scarlett would have looked like. If it were a girl, she would definitely have her beautiful eyes... After lulling the baby to sleep, Darren checked his watch. It was already the next morning. It was time to have someone bring Scarlett over. He tossed his car keys to Tony. "Go back to the estate. Bring my wife here."“Whatever it takes, that child needs to be delivered. I want a DNA test the moment it's born.” Tony stood frozen, his entire body trembling uncontrollably. He didn't dare look Darren in the eye, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down. Darren noticed something was wrong and frowned. "What is it? Get a move on." Tony finally summoned the courage, his voice shaking. "Boss... Madam Scarlett... she's dead..."

Chapter 6 Chapter 6

“What did you say?” Darren’s pupils contracted instantly. “Impossible! That’s absolutely impossible!” He grabbed Tony by the collar, nearly lifting him off the ground. “She was fine when I left her! How could she be dead?”“A few shots don't just kill someone!”“This must be a trick! A trick she cooked up with her lover to run away with that bastard!” Tony was nearly suffocating from his boss’s fury. "Boss, our men saw the body..."“They found her in the wasteland off the estate grounds. The DNA was a match. It was her.”"The body?" Darren sneered. "How do I know what you bunch of idiots actually saw!" Hearing the word "body," a sense of foreboding washed over Darren, but he refused to believe it. He had to see for himself. If that woman dared to deceive him, he would make her pay. He snatched the car keys from the bedside table. "Take me there. If this is another one of her games, I want to see it for myself." In the hospital room, Angelina sat up weakly. "Darren, where are you going?""To take care of some trash," Darren replied without looking back, not even glancing at his so-called heir. "Rest well. Take care of the child." In less than twenty minutes, they arrived at the scene. The convoy of cars stopped in front of a deserted factory. From a distance, Darren could see a crowd of onlookers. He jumped out of the car, roughly pushing people out of his way. "Everyone, get the hell out of here!" Leo stood beside a form covered by a white sheet, his face ashen. "Boss..." Leo's voice trembled. "Are you sure you want to see this?""Uncover it," Darren commanded. Leo slowly lifted the white sheet. In the next second, Darren's world completely fell apart. It was Scarlett. Even covered in blood, even lifeless, he could still recognize that face. Her eyes, once as bright as stars, were now tightly shut, never to open again. Darren's legs gave out, and he fell to his knees in the dirt. "Scarlett..." he knelt, his trembling hand reaching out to touch her cold cheek. "No... this can't be..." Beside the body, there was another, smaller white bundle. A primal, blood-deep instinct stirred within Darren. He knew what it was, but he didn't dare to look. "Scarlett! Get up!" he suddenly screamed, grabbing the "body's" shoulders and shaking it frantically. "Why?" he roared at the empty sky. "Why couldn't you just confess?""You think dying absolves you of your sins? You think I can't find out who that man was?" Tony couldn't bear to watch any longer and gently tried to intervene. "Boss, the madam is... let her rest in peace." Rain began to fall from the sky, but Darren continued to clutch the "body," refusing to let go. The rain washed away the bloodstains, and with them, the pain and anger in his heart. Meanwhile, in far-off Sicily. I lay in a bedroom in the Moretti family's ancient castle, my body still weak. Stephan sat by my bed, his face devoid of any expression. "The child didn't make it," his voice was flat, cold. "The level of toxins was too high. His lungs weren't fully developed, and he was born with a heart defect." I closed my eyes, silent tears rolling down my cheeks. My baby, my little prince, had left me just like that. I hadn't even had the chance to clear his name. Even his own father denied his bloodline. I was such a useless mother. "No..." I shook my head. "It's not possible... he was still kicking me... he was alive...""The doctors said he was very brave. He held on for a full six hours," Stephan's voice was like a blade of ice. "But in the end, he couldn't overcome the poison." I hugged my knees and sobbed uncontrollably. That little life, who never had a chance to see the world, had been murdered by his own father. "I killed him," I choked out. "This never would have happened if I hadn't married Darren.""No," Stephan interrupted, his eyes burning with the fire of vengeance. "Those fools killed him." Stephan placed a small urn in front of me. "These are your son's ashes."

Chapter 7 Chapter 7

I took the urn with trembling hands, cradling it like a precious treasure. He stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the Mediterranean Sea. "They will pay for this," Stephan's voice was chillingly cold. "Every single person in the Falcone family will pay in blood." I looked up at my brother, the tears in my eyes had dried up, replaced by a deep-seated hatred. "Darren Falcone thought that by killing you and the child, he could cover up his own stupidity.""But he has no idea he just woke a sleeping dragon." Stephan turned and looked at me. "That child's life has washed away the injustice you suffered.""Now, you will make everyone who hurt you pay the price.""By the way," Stephan said as he walked to the door, "Darren thinks you're really dead. He's kneeling by your 'body' right now, weeping.""When you are strong enough, it will be time for revenge." He walked to the door and glanced back at me. "Welcome home, my sister.""Welcome back to the Moretti family."“This wasn’t the life you were meant for. Being a mother, even for a moment, created a bond that will never break.” Stephan sighed, his face filled with sorrow for me. "Don't waste your grief on that man. He isn't worth it." Stephan was right. Welcome home. But this home was not the one I had fled three years ago. And I was no longer the naive girl who would abandon everything for love. A few days later, I finally had the strength to get out of bed and walk around. Stephan gave me a tour of the entire castle. The rooms that were once familiar from my childhood now seemed strangely foreign. "Do you remember this place?" he asked, stopping in front of a heavy oak door. Of course I remembered. It was my father's study. Pushing the door open, I saw the portraits of the past Dons of the Moretti family hanging on the walls. My gaze rested on the last one, a portrait of my late father. "What would he have thought if he knew you married Darren?" Stephan asked, looking at me. I lowered my head. "I disappointed him.""More than disappointed," Stephan said, walking over to our father's portrait. "Do you know why we supported the Falcone family in the first place?" I shook my head. When I left, I knew nothing of the family business. "Because they were obedient. Because they knew their place," Stephan said, turning to face me. "When you married him, you sent a message. That a Moretti princess could be thrown to the dogs." The words were harsh, but I couldn't argue. Because now, it seemed Darren was indeed a dog. A mad dog that would bite its master. "You tore up the blood oath in front of the entire council," Stephan continued. "Do you know what that meant?" I remembered that night, standing in the center of the family council hall. "Stephan, I love him," my voice was trembling but firm back then. "I want to be with him.""Love knows no status!" Then, in front of everyone, I had torn the blood-oath contract, a symbol of family loyalty, to shreds. The pieces had fluttered to the ground, as if I had torn up not just a piece of paper, but the entire family's trust. "Regret it now?" Stephan's voice pulled me from my memories. I clutched my child's urn tightly, my voice hoarse. "I thought he would cherish me.""But he never trusted me from the beginning." I hadn't told Darren my true identity. In his eyes, I was just an orphan with nothing to my name. He thought I had gotten close to him just to get pregnant and seize the Falcone family's fortune. Then his older brother died unexpectedly, and Darren, to honor his brother's last wishes, devoted himself to caring for the pregnant Angelina. Throughout my pregnancy, he treated me with indifference, rarely showing me any kindness. But I had seen it in his eyes. He was looking forward to the baby. I had always thought that once the baby was born, everything would get better. I never expected him to believe Angelina so easily, to suspect me of infidelity and question the bloodline of the child in my womb. Now that he had personally killed my baby, my heart had died with him. Stephan controlled the entire underground network of North America and even Europe. Darren had angered him. The Falcone family would face annihilation.