The black armored sedan ate up the highway.

I was wedged between two large men, my wrists bound behind me with a plastic zip tie that cut into my skin, choking off the circulation.

Claire sat in the front passenger seat, glancing back at me periodically with the smug expression of someone who had just won a great victory.

"You know," she began, her voice filled with a sick excitement, "my brother is at the villa on the hill right now, personally cooking dinner for Stella."

"They look so in love, so perfect for each other."

"And you?" She turned, her face close to the partition. "You're nothing."

I closed my eyes, trying to block out her words, but her voice slithered into my ears like a venomous snake.

"You think you can threaten him with a baby? You're so naive."

"The Gallo family bloodline will not be tainted by the likes of you!"

The iron gates of the main residence looked particularly grim in the setting sun.

They creaked open slowly, and the car proceeded up the gravel drive to the main house.

The bodyguards dragged me from the car and shoved me toward the front doors.

Inside the grand hall, the crystal chandelier cast long, dim shadows.

"Take her to the dining room," Claire's heels clicked sharply on the marble floor. "Let her see what the real lady of the house looks like."

The air in the dining room was thick with the aroma of roasted beef and red wine.

Candles flickered, creating a warm, romantic atmosphere.

Matteo sat at the head of the table, focused on cutting a piece of rare steak for Stella.

His movements were gentle as he brought the fork to her lips.

"Careful, it's hot," he murmured, his voice soft as a feather.

Stella looked at him with adoration. "Matteo, you're so good to me. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Her hand rested on her swelling belly, her face glowing with happiness.

The sight felt like a fist clenching around my heart.

He had never done anything like this for me, never cared for me with such tenderness. Not even once.

"Look what the cat dragged in, brother." Claire strode into the room.

"She was making a scene again today! Trying to use the bastard in her belly to threaten the family!"

Matteo looked up and saw me, disheveled and held captive by his men.

My hair was a mess, a clear handprint was still visible on my cheek, and my clothes were torn from the struggle.

His brow furrowed, a flicker of something unreadable in his eyes, gone as quickly as it appeared.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice calm.

"She had the nerve to go to the family's private clinic for a check-up!" Claire threw the shredded pieces of my report onto the dining table. "I also heard she's been telling everyone the baby is yours! She's disgracing the family name!"

Stella shrank into Matteo's arms, feigning fear, her body trembling. "Matteo, I'm so scared... The way she looks at me... What if she tries to hurt our baby?"

"She won't," Matteo said, pulling her closer, his hand stroking her back soothingly. "I won't let anyone hurt you or our child."

Then he looked at me, his eyes as cold as a frozen lake.

"You disappoint me, Ava. Why must you always make things difficult?"

"I told you to lie low. To wait for me to handle things."

I opened my mouth to explain, to tell him the truth, to tell him I had done nothing wrong.

But seeing him shield Stella, seeing the disgust and disappointment in his eyes, the words died in my throat.

He wouldn't believe me. In his mind, I was already a crazed woman, an obstacle threatening his "true love."

"Since she can't behave," Matteo said, putting down his knife and fork, making no move to defend me, "put her in the cellar."

"Let her cool off."

"No one is to let her out without my direct order."

The iron door of the cellar slammed shut.

The heavy clang of the lock echoed in the darkness like a death knell.

I was shoved into this cold, damp cage, the air thick with the stench of mold and rat droppings.

Water seeped from the walls, dripping onto the floor with a monotonous rhythm.

This was the cage Matteo had chosen for me, so I could "think things over."

I curled up in a corner, my arms wrapped tightly around my stomach.

I've failed you, my sweet baby.

The sound of footsteps descended the stone staircase, the arrogant click-clack of high heels.

The iron door creaked open, and a blinding sliver of light pierced the darkness.

Stella stood there, dressed in an exquisite white suit, a massive diamond bracelet on her wrist and a ruby necklace at her throat.

She had been well cared for, her baby bump more prominent than mine, as if she were showing off a trophy.

"Well, look at you," she said, pinching her nose. "Right where you belong. It smells like rot down here."

"What do you want?"

"Just visiting my future prisoner," she said, elegantly stroking her necklace. "Do you know how much this necklace costs? Eight million dollars."

"Matteo put it on me himself last night. He said it represents the Gallo family's respect for me."

She stepped closer, making sure I got a good look at the pigeon's-blood ruby.

"And this," she held up her left hand, a massive pink diamond glittering on her ring finger. "Twelve carats. The only one of its kind in the world."

"It's an engagement ring. A formal, legal one. You understand?"

"And you?" she sneered. "You don't even have a cheap silver ring."

"At the end of the day, you're just his plaything."

I clenched my jaw, refusing to let the tears fall.

"I will soon be the Donna of the Gallo family," she went on. "The true Madame Gallo."

"My child will be the legitimate heir, in line to inherit the entire empire."

"And your little bastard... Well. Let's just say accidents happen in a place like this."

That was the last straw. I shot to my feet.

In the corner was a rusted iron basin, filled with filthy water that had dripped from the ceiling.

I grabbed it.

"What did you say?"

"I said, the bastard in your belly will soon be..."

SPLASH!

I didn't hesitate. I flung the entire basin of foul water at her.

The stinking liquid dripped from her hair, washing away her makeup in grimy streaks.

"AHHH!" Stella shrieked. "You crazy bitch!"

"My clothes! My hair!"

She tried to wipe herself off, but only managed to smear the filth, making herself look even more pathetic.

Her suit, worth tens of thousands of dollars, now looked like garbage.

"How dare you throw that at me? Do you know who I am?"

"I know exactly who you are," I said with a cold smile. "A scheming bitch trying to use a bastard to marry up."

The sound of urgent footsteps echoed from the stairs.

Matteo burst in, followed by Claire and several guards.

"You!" Stella was shaking with rage.

Suddenly, she clutched her stomach and let out a heart-wrenching sob. "Matteo! My stomach... it hurts so much! Is something wrong with our heir?"

"I only came down to bring her some food, and she attacked me! She's like a wild animal!"

Her acting was atrocious, but everyone chose to believe her.

Claire glared at me, her fists clenched as if she was about to strike. Matteo stopped her with a single look.

He frowned, first telling Claire to help Stella downstairs for a check-up.

Then he turned to me, his gaze freezing cold, shifting from disappointment to outright disgust.

"You've gone too far, Ava."

"I was going to move you to a safe house, arrange for people to take care of you, but in this manic state, you're in no state to be anywhere near Stella."

I closed my eyes, a desolate exhaustion washing over me. "Under the same roof?"

"Everyone knows the child in Stella's belly is the only one the Gallo family acknowledges. While the one I'm carrying is just some bastard set to taint the famiglia's pure bloodline."

"What right do I, a traitor, have to set foot in a safe house?"

A complex emotion flickered in his eyes, his brow furrowed with impatience. He fought to control his anger, lowering his voice.

"I will handle this, but can't you just lie low and carry the baby to term safely?"

"Why are you making an enemy of her?"

I didn't answer, just offered a cold, mocking smile.

Matteo's patience finally snapped.

He turned to leave, slamming the door behind him.

"You'll stay in this cellar and think about what you've done. Someone will bring you food."

Just as he was about to step out, I raised my voice, my words clear and sharp.

"You call yourself a Don, yet you won't even claim your own son?"

The words were like a lit fuse.

Matteo spun around, his face a mask of fury.

But in the end, he said nothing, only slamming the door even harder.

That evening, Matteo brought me dinner himself.

He was probably afraid I'd actually die down here, which would be an inconvenience.

I sheathed my claws, suddenly playing the part of the obedient woman. I brought up my prenatal care.

"It's been another month. The baby needs another check-up."

Seeing my compliance, a flicker of satisfaction crossed Matteo's face. "Ava, if you had just been this obedient from the start, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this."

"Don't worry. I'll go with you to your appointment next week."

Perfect. The first step of my plan was in motion.

On the day of the appointment, I was ready early, sitting in the corner of the basement, waiting.

Footsteps descended the stairs, but it wasn't the sound of Matteo's leather shoes.

"Get up. It's time to go," Claire said, standing in the doorway, her tone icy.

"Where's Matteo? He promised he'd come with me."

Claire rolled her eyes. "My brother has more important things to do."

I didn't have to ask. Stella must have had another one of her "episodes." She was always the more important thing.

"But he promised me," I mumbled, as if to myself.

"A promise?" Claire laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Did you really think he would choose a piece of trash like you over the mother of his heir?"

"You're so naive, Ava."

She turned and started up the stairs. "Stop dawdling and follow me."

She glanced back, her eyes venomous. "We're going to a more suitable place for your check-up."

The black sedan stopped in an industrial district on the edge of the city, a wasteland of abandoned factories and warehouses.

The air was thick with the acrid smell of chemicals, a nauseating stench.

"What is this place?"

"An underground clinic," Claire said, shoving me forward. "It specializes in making problems... disappear."

"You didn't really think the family's private hospital would serve someone like you, did you?"

Behind a dilapidated iron door was a narrow, dark hallway.

The walls were peeling, covered in water stains and mildew. A single, dim bulb flickered overhead, buzzing with electricity.

I was pushed into a small room. It contained only a rusted operating table and a few pieces of archaic medical equipment.

It looked more like a slaughterhouse than a clinic.

A middle-aged man in a surgical mask walked in.

"You're Ava?"

My heart pounded. I looked closely at his eyes. I knew him.

It was Dr. Romano.

Three years ago, I had saved his daughter's life, pulling her from a car wreck. He owed me a favor.

Now, it was time to collect.

"Dr. Romano," I said, my voice a near-silent whisper.

He gave a slight nod, his eyes signaling me to remain calm. "Lie down. Let's begin the examination."

Claire stood in the doorway, watching us like a warden. "Just get it done. I don't have all day."

Dr. Romano picked up a syringe filled with a clear liquid. "This is a sedative. It will make you more comfortable."

He leaned close to my ear, his voice so soft only I could hear. "Are you sure you want to do this? I can help you hide it. You have other options."

I closed my eyes, the events of the past months flashing through my mind.

Matteo's indifference, Stella's mockery, Claire's abuse.

The words "bastard" and "mutt" from the mouths of his family.

Bringing a child into this world would be the cruelest thing I could do to him. It was better to grant everyone's wish.

"I'm sure."

The sedative hit my veins. Dr. Romano squeezed my hand, his eyes full of apology.

"I'm sorry, child. But this is your choice."

The drugs took effect, and a sharp, cramping pain began in my abdomen.

I bit down on my lip, refusing to make a sound.

I'm so sorry, my sweet baby.

Mommy has no other choice. This world is too cruel, and not even your own father will claim you.

I could hear Claire on the phone in the hallway, her voice a giddy, vicious whisper. "Yes, it's all going to plan... That little bastard will be gone soon, and my brother can finally focus on dealing with the Falcone business..."

The pain intensified, like a thousand knives twisting inside me. I felt a warm gush of fluid between my legs.

Blood. So much blood.

Dr. Romano's expression turned grave, his movements becoming frantic. "She's bleeding too much! I need to stop it now!"

But I knew it was over.

My child...

The door crashed open.

Matteo burst in, his face as white as a sheet. His hair was disheveled, as if he had run all the way here.

When he saw me on the table, covered in blood, when he saw the stains on the floor and the bloody tissue in the metal pan, his pupils constricted, and his breath hitched.

"No... No. This isn't happening."

His voice was a raw tremor. His legs buckled, and he nearly collapsed.

"Ava! How could you let them..."

Matteo stumbled toward the operating table, his hand reaching for me but hesitating, trembling in mid-air. His eyes were wide with terror, shock, and utter despair.

"Ava," he choked out, "what did you do to my son?"