He handed me a jewelry piece containing my ruby, scraped and cut, and gave another woman jewels cut from its heart.
Now, he’d strip me and my unborn baby of the rightful place at a celebration symbolizing the family’s legacy and legal lineage, just to make another woman happy.
A strange, calm relief settled in my chest.
I’d never cared about titles and roles, but at that moment, I saw the truth with painful clarity. To Rafael, Natalia deserved all the attention, while I was just a convenient afterthought.
“Sure. Let her have it,” I said and lifted my head to flash him a calm, almost gentle smile.
Rafael hadn’t expected the clean decision either and seemed caught off guard. “Y-You’re okay with that?”
“It’s just a role. If it makes her happy, it’s hers.” I dabbed my lips with a napkin.
A grin bloomed across his face as all prior irritation vanished, and he reached out for a hug. “I knew it! You’ve always been understanding, Gianna. That’s the grace a true Don’s wife should have…”
Suddenly, there was a buzz from the phone in his pocket again. The custom ringtone was Natalia’s composed piano recording of “To My Beloved Holloway.”
Annoyance flickered across his face before melting into that habitual helplessness of feeling needed.
“I’m sorry, Gianna.” He shot me a look that said, “You’ll understand, right?” and answered the call as he headed for the door. “Hey, Natalia. What’s wrong?”
On the other end, Natalia must have said something because he quickly replied, “Okay, I’m coming.”
After hanging up, he grabbed his car keys. When he reached the door, he turned around and said, “I promise this is the last time, Gianna! We’ll have the wedding tomorrow! After the baby’s born, you’ll have all my time and all of me!”
He sounded confident, and the look in his eyes was so sincere, like this was finally a promise that would hold.
I expressionlessly watched him leave in a rush.
Last time? There wouldn’t be a next chance, Rafael.
…
The next day at Littlewood Chapel, the wedding site was transformed into a grander display than the day before.
Pure-white roses and lilies lined the aisle all the way to the altar, and the air hung thick with the scent of expensive perfume. Guests murmured as their eyes occasionally drifted to the empty bride’s seat.
Dressed in a perfectly-tailored black suit, Rafael stood at the altar and patiently adjusted his cufflinks.
He felt good today. Natalia’s little mood swing last night had been easily soothed with just a few honeyed words. And I, ever so dutiful, hadn’t made a fuss either.
Today, everything would go smoothly, except that the bride wasn’t here yet.
Just then, his right-hand man, Matteo Steele, pushed through the crowd. Looking pale, he rushed over to Rafael’s side and whispered in a low, urgent voice, “Don Holloway, Ms. Rossetti’s gone! She isn’t at the estate, her room’s empty, and her bags are gone too!”
Rafael froze. “What did you just say?”
“Our men reported that she went to an ob-gyn…”
