The Don’s Pregnant Wife Wasn’t the One He Chose

Nine months pregnant, I ran into my husband, Dante Morano, and his mistress at the Ravenna clinic.

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

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

Dante let out a cold chuckle. "If she causes a scene, I'll dissolve the alliance."

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

I called my dad, who was living in Valmoria.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm getting out of this. I'm taking the baby and coming to be with 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 Dante'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 prenatal report, I saw my husband attending an appointment at the private Ravenna clinic — with his first love, Nicoletta Ferraro.

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

Dante 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. Seraphina'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 baby is mine, too. If Seraphina wants to cause trouble, I'll just end the marriage."

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

If Dante 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. I pulled out my phone and called my father in Valmoria.

"Dad, I've made up my mind. I'm dissolving the alliance. I'll bring the baby and come live with you."

"I'm glad you finally came to your senses," came his voice through the line. "The Moranos might run a powerful syndicate, but the Valente name doesn't bow to anyone. If staying there 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 Dante to come to my appointment with me. He said he had Family business — turns out he was just accompanying Nicoletta to hers.

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

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

Whenever Nicoletta called — even if it was just a message — Dante would drop everything and rush to her. He'd walk out of a sit-down with his capos mid-sentence if her name lit up his phone.

He even held her affectionately 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 Nicoletta was going through a hard time and needed support.

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

But Dante seemed to forget one crucial fact: Nicoletta 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 baby Nicoletta was carrying was Dante's.

I tried to ask indirectly. I even told him that if he no longer loved me, 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 Nicoletta was really carrying, he got furious.

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 — Nicoletta's baby 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 Valente wife, heavy with child, keeping the household respectable while the Don ran to his comare.

When Dante mentioned dissolving our marriage, I caught the way Nicoletta's eyes narrowed slightly, a flicker of satisfaction slipping through her carefully composed expression. Her fingertips drifted to the hollow of her throat, a gesture so delicate it looked like nerves. It wasn't.

"I never meant to take you from Seraphina," 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, Dante. 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 Dante, full of tenderness and concern, gently wrapped her in his arms.

"I told you — I'll take care of you, Nicoletta. 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. "Seraphina 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."

Dante patted Nicoletta gently, comforting her.

As the doctor came out of the exam room, she glanced at them and said with envy, "You're one lucky woman, Mrs. Morano. Your husband never misses a single check-up and he treats you with such care and affection."

Nicoletta blushed, smiling bashfully and Dante nodded like it was only natural.

I stared at the sickening scene in front of me, nails digging into my palms. My fingers found the inside of my left wrist without thinking, pressing against the ridged skin there. The scars he'd never asked about. The scars from a fire he didn't remember.

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