Teresa's face paled, but she was quicker to react.

She grabbed Romano's arm and said in a trembling voice, "Romano… my stomach hurts…"

His attention was instantly pulled back to her.

"What's wrong? Where does it hurt?"

He supported her anxiously and shouted toward the nurses' station, "Someone! Help! We have a pregnant woman in distress over here!"

Teresa leaned into his chest, shaking her head weakly. "It's okay… I think I've just been standing too long… Romano, just help me over to the bench…"

Behind his back, I saw Teresa sitting down and flashing me a smirk of pure provocation.

However, Romano was blind to it.

I spoke up. "Romano, you believe her. But let me ask you this. If I told you I was pregnant, would you stay here with me?"

The hallway fell dead silent.

Romano froze.

Before he could speak, Teresa cut in. "Selene, I know you're desperate because you've never been able to conceive, but I'm carrying the Caliendo family's heir.

"There's no need to lie out of jealousy. You couldn't get pregnant for five years. Are you really claiming you conceived the exact same time I did?"

Romano's face darkened with disapproval at Teresa's words. "Selene, I know your body. Getting pregnant isn't that easy for you. Stop pretending."

Right then, Teresa let out a sharp gasp, then doubled over and clutched her stomach, keeping me from getting a word in.

"Romano… it hurts so much… the baby… Is something happening to the baby?"

Romano turned to her immediately.

"Selene," he murmured, "I know you're angry. Just go home. Once I get Teresa settled, I'll come explain everything."

Teresa leaned against his shoulder, stealing a glance at me. In her eyes, there was no pain—only triumph.

My voice was shaking now. "Romano, if you walk away with her right now, you're never going to see me again."

His back stiffened for a split second.

However, it was only a second.

"Stop being dramatic, Selene. I'll find you after I take care of Teresa."

With that, he carried Teresa toward the elevator.

"Romano!" I screamed after him.

The elevator doors slid shut.

I was left standing in the hallway alone, and finally, the tears began to fall.

…

It didn't take long for Teresa to update her Twitter.

It was a selfie of her leaning into Romano's arms in the elevator. The caption read, "Baby, it's okay. Papa will protect us."

As if she knew I'd be watching, a direct message popped up immediately after. "Selene, are you really pregnant?"

I didn't reply.

A second message followed. "So what if you are? Do you think Romano will believe you? I told him you're just making it up to compete with me for affection, and he already bought it."

Then came a third. "By the way, guess where Romano is sleeping tonight? On a hospital cot, or in that cold, empty house of yours?"

I stopped reading and muted all notifications.

True to her word, Romano didn't come home that night.

The next morning, I hadn't even opened my bedroom door before I heard Teresa's laughter drifting up from the dining room.

I walked downstairs to find her holding a piece of toast, smiling as she tried to feed it to Romano.

He gently dodged her hand and looked up at me. "Teresa's pregnancy is unstable, and I'm not comfortable with her living alone. I've moved her in so she can rest here. You don't mind, do you?"

He was asking if I minded after moving her in? What was the point?

I sat down across from them and replied calmly, "I don't mind."

Romano looked surprised by my easy compliance. However, in front of Teresa, he maintained the dignity expected of a Don.

He nodded curtly. "I'm glad you're being reasonable. You're older than Teresa. You should look out for her. Make sure you keep an eye on her daily needs and well-being…"

Romano was still giving orders, and the constant chatter made me so irritated that I couldn't eat a single bite.

Teresa's eyes darted between us before she suddenly burst into tears. "Selene, you haven't touched your food. Are you still angry that I'm carrying Romano's baby? If you are, you can hit me or yell at me. Just please don't bottle it up…"

"I'm not angry," I said flatly.

"I know people have been calling you a barren woman behind your back, but I really hope you don't take it to heart…"

Before I could even react, Romano slammed his cutlery onto the table with a deafening clang. "Where did you hear that? Who said it? How dare they spread filth about the Caliendo family's Donna? They must have a death wish!"

Teresa flinched. A flicker of panic crossed her face. "I-It was a long time ago. I don't even remember where I heard it from… Romano, why are you being so scary? You're making me feel sick."

She hung her head, and her shoulders heaved with practiced sobs.

After a sigh, Romano patted her shoulder. "Stop crying. It's not good for the baby."

Teresa looked up at him. "Romano… Maybe I shouldn't have come here."

"Don't be silly," Romano said gently. "I brought you here, and here you'll stay. Just focus on resting."

As I watched the two of them, a wave of nausea rolled over me. I pushed my chair back to stand up.

At that exact moment, Teresa stood up. Clutching her stomach, she wobbled toward me. "Selene… I know you hate me… I'll get on my knees. Just please don't be mad at Romano."

As she spoke, she actually started to sink toward the floor.

I didn't reach out to catch her. I knew that the second I touched her, she would fall.

Sure enough, before her knees even hit the ground, she tilted to the side with a sharp cry. "Ah!"

"Teresa!" Romano rushed over. He shoved me aside and pulled Teresa into his arms.

The force of the shove was so strong that I staggered backward several steps. My side hit the corner of the table. The pain made me gasp, and a dull ache pulsed in my lower abdomen.

My heart hammered against my ribs.

My baby…

"Teresa, are you okay?" Romano's voice was thick with panic.

Teresa clung to him. Her face was pale as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Romano… my stomach… it hurts…"

Romano turned ghostly white. He scooped her up in his arms and roared toward the hallway, "Call a doctor! Get a doctor here now!"

He sprinted out of the dining room with her in his arms. Not once did he look back at me.

…

After an examination, the doctor confirmed my baby was fine.

Papa was coming to get me tonight, so I carefully packed my things.

My phone buzzed. It was another message from Teresa.

"Selene, did you know? Romano's hands were shaking when he held me. He's terrified of losing my baby and me, but he isn't afraid of losing you.

"You hit the table pretty hard, didn't you? Does it hurt? It's a shame, really. There's only room for one woman by Romano's side, and that's me."

As I stared at the words, my fingers tightened around the phone.

I opened my chat with Romano. The last message was from him yesterday. "Selene, wait for me to come home."

I didn't reply.

Instead, I pulled the divorce papers from my bag, signed my name, and left them on the nightstand. I left a note beside it.

"Romano, I've signed the divorce papers. Don't come looking for me."

I changed into something comfortable, grabbed my suitcase, and walked out of the bedroom.

Addio, Brindleport.

Addio, Romano.