The way Domenico stared into Renata's eyes made her heart race with fear. His gaze was steady but intense, as if he could see through every thought she tried to hide.

She opened her mouth to speak, but the weight of his stare made the words stick in her throat. For a moment she simply sat there, frozen, unsure of what to say or how to face him.

"Speak," Domenico said in a commanding tone. His hand remained wrapped around her neck, not tight enough to choke her but strong enough to remind her that she could not simply walk away. "Why are you silent now?"

Renata swallowed hard before forcing the words out. "I was forced to walk down that aisle," she said, her voice shaking despite her effort to stay composed.

Her lips quivered as the memories of the church returned, and her eyes slowly filled with tears.

"Do you really think I wanted to marry that disgusting old man? My father sold me to him just to save his business."

Once the words started coming, she could no longer stop them. Weeks of fear, anger, and humiliation spilled out at once.

"When did you ever ask me to wait for you?" she continued, her voice rising with emotion. "That night meant nothing more than a one-night stand. The next morning when I woke up, you were gone. Just gone. And now you expect me to trust you?" Her breathing became uneven as tears gathered along her lashes. She pushed his rough hand away from her neck, creating distance between them. "You have no idea what I went through after that night."

Her voice broke as she took a shaky breath. "I will abort this baby," she said firmly, forcing the words out despite the fear inside her. "I don't need this child."

Domenico's expression changed instantly. The calm certainty on his face hardened, and his voice dropped into something far colder.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"You heard me," Renata replied, lifting her chin even though her hands trembled. "I don't want this baby. You're a criminal. You killed a man inside that church, and you didn't even hesitate."

The car suddenly fell silent.

"Stop the car," Domenico ordered the driver.

The driver glanced at him through the mirror, clearly nervous. "Sir... we're in the middle of the highway."

"Do what I told you," Domenico said in a chilling authority.

Within seconds, the driver pressed the brakes. The car came to a sudden stop on the deserted stretch of highway, and the vehicles behind them halted one after another with sharp screeching sounds.

Domenico stepped out of the car. His men were already exiting the other vehicles, watching silently as they waited for his next move. Without looking at them, he walked around the car to Renata's side and pulled the door open.

Renata barely had time to react before he grabbed her arm and pulled her out. The force of the movement sent a wave of dread through her body.

"Ahh!" she cried out as her back hit the side of the car.

Domenico pressed her firmly against the vehicle, towering over her. His presence felt overwhelming in the empty highway, the dark road stretching endlessly around them.

"I am more than a criminal, Renata," he said coldly. "I am mafia."

His hand moved to the holster at his side, and within a second he pulled out his gun. The barrel rose until it pointed directly at her chest, exactly where her heart beat wildly beneath her ribs.

"So listen carefully," he continued, his voice low and dangerous. "You will never speak about abortion in front of me again."

Renata's breath caught as she stared at the weapon aimed at her.

"I will empty every bullet into you if you try," he said without raising his voice. "And I know you want to live. It's written in your eyes."

His gaze moved briefly to her stomach before returning to her face.

"You are carrying my child," he said. "Until that baby is born, you are under my protection and my control. If you defy me, I will make you regret it."

His words grew even darker.

"I will make you watch the people you care about suffer," he said. "Starting with your family."

Renata's heart pounded so violently that she thought it might burst. Fear gripped every part of her body. She had never imagined that the man she had given herself to for the first time would turn out to be someone so terrifying.

The stranger from that night was no ordinary man.

He was a mafia boss, feared by everyone, and now her life was completely in his hands.

A tear slipped down Renata's cheek, glistening under the dim highway lights. The sight of it made Domenico pause. For a brief moment, his expression shifted, and he slowly lowered the gun, withdrawing it from her chest.

"Get in the car," he said.

Renata did not hesitate. She quickly turned away from him and climbed back inside. The moment she settled into the seat, her hands began to tremble uncontrollably.

Her entire body felt cold despite the warmth inside the car, and she pressed herself against the seat as if trying to make herself smaller.

Domenico remained outside for a moment longer, standing beside the car as he slipped the gun back into its holster. He began walking toward the other side when a voice stopped him.

"Don't scare her like that."

Domenico turned slightly and saw Emilio Amadori standing behind him. Emilio had stepped out of one of the cars that had halted behind them.

Unlike the other men, he did not look nervous or intimidated. After all, he had known Domenico for years and was his only friend.

Domenico tilted his head slightly as he looked at him. "Emilio, she wants to abort my baby," he said. "I have to make it clear what kind of man I am. When she stands in front of me, she cannot say whatever she wants with that sharp tongue of hers."

Without waiting for a reply, Domenico walked around the car and slid into the seat beside Renata.

Emilio watched for a moment before shaking his head slightly and returning to his own vehicle. Within seconds, the engines of the cars started again. One by one, the vehicles pulled back onto the empty highway as they disappeared into the night.

The car halted in front of a giant mansion, and two bodyguards opened the doors of the car for Renata and Domenico.

Two bodyguards stepped forward immediately and opened the doors for Renata and Domenico.

Renata didn't move.

Her fingers tightened around the edge of the seat, her body still trembling from everything that had happened.

"Take her," Domenico said flatly, pinching the bridge of his nose as if the sight of her exhausted him. "Help her change into something decent."

The butler had already appeared at the entrance. He bowed slightly and gestured for a maid to step forward.

The moment Renata stepped out of the car, the maid hurried to her side.

Domenico didn't even look at her again. He hated the sight of the wedding dress his woman was wearing because he wasn't the groom.

Renata stepped out of the car, but she had a hunch that if she set foot inside, all her freedom would be gone.

The maid gently reached for her arm to guide her forward, but before she could move, another figure stepped between them.

"Allow me," Emilio said smoothly as his gaze flickered briefly toward Domenico.

Domenico only waved a dismissive hand before turning and walking deeper into the mansion without another word.

Emilio turned back to Renata with a polite smile.

But the smile didn't reach her.

All she could feel was the coldness of the mansion and the wary eyes looking at her.

"Let's go," Emilio said softly.

He stepped aside slightly and motioned his hand toward the entrance in a courteous gesture.

Renata stared at him for a moment. Then, she nodded faintly and walked past him instead with careful steps.

The mansion inside was even colder than it looked from the outside. It felt too large, and too silent.

Emilio walked beside her, leading her through long corridors until they stopped in front of a large wooden door.

He pushed it open. "This is your room."

Renata stepped inside. The room was massive and too luxurious.

Emilio walked in after her and crossed the room.

"This room receives the best sunlight in the house," he said casually as he pulled open the curtains and unlocked the tall window. "Though it's night time, you'll be seeing morning sunrays coming from here. And, I hope it's to your liking."

Renata let out a dry laugh before she could stop herself.

"Are you asking a prisoner how she likes her cage?"

The words slipped out louder than she intended.

The moment the sentence left her lips, knots formed in her stomach as fear rushed through her veins.

She had forgotten who she was dealing with.

But Emilio didn't react the way she expected.

He only studied her quietly for a moment before walking toward the chair near the window.

"I understand how you feel," he said calmly. He then pulled the chair out slightly and gestured toward it. "Take your seat."

Renata hesitated, but still she sat down.

Her hands tightened in the folds of her dress. "How do you expect me to relax?" she said, her voice trembling despite her effort to sound strong. Her eyes lifted to meet his. "When I've been kidnapped."

Emilio leaned slightly on one of the armchairs, watching her with an unreadable expression.

"You weren't kidnapped," he said softly.

Renata's eyes widened in disbelief. "Oh?" she said bitterly. "Then what do you call it?"

Emilio's gaze darkened slightly. "In my eyes, we rescued you," he replied.

"Are you saying that a criminal who killed a man right in front of me is my rescuer?"

Renata couldn't sit as she shot to her feet.

The chair scraped harshly against the marble floor as her chest rose and fell rapidly, anger finally pushing past the fear.

"How are you guys any different from Giovanni? He forced me to marry him against my wishes, and that mafia, he did the same!"

"No," Emilio firmly retorted. "Dominico is a man of virtues and is very good to his people... and you are his woman, how could he treat you this way?"

"You won't understand what I've been through!" Renata gritted her teeth as the words slipped out.

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Renata pressed her lips together and forced herself to breathe slowly. She didn't want anyone to react the way Domenico did. She had already seen what they were capable of.

Her hands trembled as she wiped the tears from her cheeks.

"At first..." she said as she swallowed hard.

"At first, I wanted to keep this baby." Her hand instinctively moved to her stomach.

"I thought it might be my only hope in this life," her throat tightened. "And be my only family."

"But now..." she continued, her voice turning colder.

She looked straight at Emilio. "After seeing how cruel and dangerous his father is..." Renata paused, unable to speak for a moment.

The memory of Domenico pulling the trigger flashed in her mind again. "I would rather abort this child," she said. "Then bring him into a world like this."

"I won't let my child grow up surrounded by violence... guns... and blood. I won't let him become like that man."

Emilio's expression finally changed. The calm look on his face faded slightly, replaced by something darker.

Renata didn't notice as she continued.

"I've already lived in a cage once," she whispered. "I won't make my child live in another one. I will abort this child. I am the mother, and I have the right to decide what to do with this baby."

"Then try running away," a calm yet dangerous voice echoed from the doorway.

"Domenico!" Emilio looked at him and left as if they had exchanged a secret message through their eyes.

Reneta gulped at the sight of the man she didn't want to see.

'Did he hear what I just said?'

Renata wondered if he would pull out the gun again and shoot her.

"I understand that you are confused about everything. But don't forget what happened that night and how you asked me to return," Domenico reminded her.

Emilio watched their interaction in silence, staying because he didn't want his friend to lose control.

Domenico approached Renata and lifted her chin using his calloused hand.

"Let me remind you for one and last time, Renata. You are my woman, and the baby growing in your womb is mine. You have to stay here whether you like it or not until this child is born. Defy me, and you'll bear the consequences. Abortion will not happen because I want the baby in my arms after nine months."

Renata wanted to speak, but in front of him, words refused to come out of her mouth.

"The meal will be served to you shortly. You have to eat it because you'll be responsible for the life of the maid who serves you dinner," Domenico warned her before letting go of her chin. He gazed at Emilio, who walked out of the room promptly.

"Are you going to keep treating me like this? I–I thought you were kind," Renata murmured, holding her tears back.

"I'm more than kind to you. I forgave you twice. Tears have no value in front of

me. So, don't shed them now and then," said Domenico before turning on his heels.