Nine Months Pregnant, I Found My Husband With His Lover

Nine months pregnant, I ran into my Vitale, Elias Falcone, and his kept woman at the Family physician's clinic.

The moment I picked up my report, I saw the two of them celebrating the upcoming arrival of their own child.

Serena pretended to be concerned. "Elias, you really shouldn't be here with me. If Bianca finds out, she'll be upset. She's pregnant too. Aren't you worried she'd be upset?"

Elias let out a cold chuckle. "If she causes a scene, I'll just sign the severance papers."

Since Elias didn't want us anymore, I'd rather raise the child without a father than stay in this farce of an alliance marriage.

I called my dad, who was living overseas.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm getting out. I'm taking the Paolo and coming to you."

After I hung up, I booked the earliest flight available. Two weeks. That's all I needed. Two weeks and I'd be out of Elias Falcone's life for good.

But then why... did that man show up at my wedding with red eyes, begging me to take him back?

Nine months pregnant and the moment I received my report from the Family physician, I saw my Vitale attending an appointment with his first love, Serena DeLuca.

"Elias, you coming with me to this appointment... if Bianca finds out, she'll be really upset. She's due soon, too. Aren't you worried?" Serena said with a voice full of pretend concern, but I caught the smugness in her eyes.

Elias kissed her belly gently and replied with chilling indifference, "She doesn't know about this and I'm not planning on telling her. Maybe it's the hormones, but her mood's been all over the place lately. I don't want her making things difficult for you."

"But we can't keep sneaking around like this. Bianca's heavily pregnant, too. If she finds out, I'm afraid she—"

"There's nothing to be afraid of. It's my duty to be here with you for this appointment. After all, the Paolo is mine, too. If Bianca wants to cause trouble, I'll just cut her loose."

The coldness in Elias's voice when he spoke about me made my blood run cold.

If Elias had already decided to toss us aside, then I would beat him to it. I would leave him and raise this child on my own.

I let out a bitter smile as my heart finally gave up. My thumb found the edge of the saint medal at my throat, pressing hard enough to feel the worn engraving bite into my skin. I pulled out my phone and called my father overseas.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm leaving him. I'll bring the Paolo and come live with you."

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," came his voice through the line. The words were quiet, measured, and behind them I could hear the faint click of rosary beads going still. "The Falcones might run half the eastern territory, but our name isn't lacking either. If staying in that house only brings you pain, then yes. Leave him and raise the child on your own."

"You're right, Dad."

After hanging up, I immediately booked the next flight out.

I thought back to this morning, when I asked Elias to come to my appointment with me. He said he had Family business to handle. Turns out he was just accompanying Serena to hers.

Nine months of pregnancy and not once had Elias ever come with me to the clinic.

Serena had her engagement called off three months ago and ever since she came back to the country, Elias had been meeting her over and over again. From the moment she returned, Elias and I had barely shared any time alone.

Whenever Serena called, even if it was just a message, Elias would drop everything and rush to her side. He moved for her the way soldiers moved for the Don. Without hesitation. Without question.

He even held her close, right in front of me.

It wasn't like I hadn't confronted him about it. But every time I did, he brushed me off with the same excuse, that Serena was going through a hard time and needed support. That her broken engagement had left her without protection, without standing, without anyone.

According to him, everything he did was to help Serena back on her feet. She was pregnant, he said, and he had an obligation to be there for her.

But Elias seemed to forget one crucial fact: Serena wasn't the only pregnant woman in his life. I was, too. And I was even further along than she was. If anything, I was the one who needed care the most.

For the longest time, I thought the Paolo Serena was carrying was Elias's.

I tried to ask indirectly. I even told him that if he no longer wanted this marriage, he needed to tell me outright.

But every single time, he'd shut me down. Impatient, dismissive, evasive. And the one time I dared question whose child Serena was really carrying, he got furious. His signet ring had gone still against his knuckle when he looked at me, and the silence in the room had felt like the moment before a verdict.

He kept reassuring me, over and over again, until I finally chose to trust him.

I told myself he was just being kind. That he hadn't fallen out of love with me.

But now, it's all so clear. Serena's Paolo has always been his.

They'd been sneaking around behind my back for God knows how long and I was nothing more than their cover story. The loyal wife of the Falcone heir, smiling at Sunday dinners while they counted the days until I could be discarded.

When Elias mentioned cutting me loose, I caught the way Serena's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of satisfaction slipping through her carefully composed expression. Her fingers drifted to the pearl at her ear and held there a fraction too long.

"I never meant to take you from Bianca," she said, her voice trembling ever so slightly. "It's just... if my fiancé hadn't broken things off, none of this would've happened. I needed to protect my dignity. And thank God you were there, Elias. I honestly don't know what I would've done, where I would've gone, after coming back to this country without you."

Her eyes filled with tears. And Elias, full of tenderness and concern, gently wrapped her in his arms.

"I told you. I'll take care of you, Serena. If it weren't for you back then, I would've..." He trailed off.

"Anyway, it's only right that I look after you," he continued. "Bianca is my wife, so she should understand why I'm doing this. And so what if she finds out? I'll still be here for you, no matter what."

Elias patted Serena gently, comforting her.

As the physician came out of the exam room, she glanced at them and said with envy, "You're one lucky woman, Mrs. Falcone. Your Vitale never misses a single visit and he treats you with such care and affection."

Serena blushed, smiling bashfully, and Elias nodded like it was only natural.

I stared at the sickening scene in front of me, nails digging into my palms. The saint medal hung cold against my collarbone. I let it drop and lifted my chin.

Two more weeks and I would be gone from Elias Falcone's life forever.