Chapter 3After Seven Years as the Don's Mistress, I'm Done

Pain shot through the bones of my wrist, and I instinctively tried to pull away.

Hearing the commotion, Domenica came over. The moment she saw the ring on my finger, her eyes widened and she pointed at me in shock.

“First you refuse to leave him alone, and now you steal my ring? Do you have any self-respect left, Livia?”

She held out her hand.

“Give it back.”

I turned to Raffaele, still holding on to one last foolish hope.

Raffaele’s lips parted, the words already on the tip of his tongue. Then he caught Domenica’s helpless, pleading gaze.

Raffaele held my gaze for several seconds, then finally looked away, unable to face me.

“Livia, do you really need to take things that don’t belong to you?”

I pressed a hand against my cramping stomach and forced myself upright.

I no longer had the strength to explain, and I had no desire to fight for a love that had already been tainted beyond recognition.

I pulled the ring from my finger and handed it to her.

The ring sat loose on Domenica’s finger. She looked at me coldly.

“If something was never yours, taking it won’t make it belong to you.”

For one instant, it felt as though someone had poured scalding oil over my heart.

I turned and walked away.

Footsteps rushed after me.

“Livia.”

I lowered my eyes, struggling to keep my composure.

Raffaele stopped in front of me. His eyes were red as he looked at the mark on my face.?

He lifted a hand toward my cheek.

“Does it hurt?”

I turned my face away from his touch.

His fingertips stopped inches from my skin, then slowly dropped.

After a few seconds, he spoke quietly.

“I can’t abandon Domenica now. Just give me a little more time, all right?”

“And the ring…” His throat worked. “It’s yours. Once this is over, I’ll get it back.”

I studied him for a moment, then nodded.

“All right.”

None of it mattered anymore. I was leaving anyway.

Surprise crossed his face. He was about to say something when his phone rang. Domenica’s name flashed across the screen.

“I’ll come find you later, and we’ll talk this through.”

I had nothing more to say, so I turned and left.

The next day morning, before leaving the city tomorrow, I decided to drive to the hospital for one last prenatal checkup.

I was halfway to the clinic when a black car slammed into mine from behind.

The impact threw my stomach hard against the steering wheel. Blood ran down my legs.

I clutched my abdomen, my face drained white from the pain.

The driver’s door of the black car behind me flew open.

Domenica ran toward me, pale with panic.

“Livia, I’m sorry. I came out to apologize for what happened yesterday.”

She grabbed my hand, tears spilling down her face.

“I was scared you wouldn’t forgive me. I wasn’t paying attention and I hit you. I’m so sorry…”

My vision blurred. With the last of my strength, I tore my hand from hers.

When I opened my eyes again, I was in the hospital.

The doctor stood beside my bed and was quiet for a long time before speaking.

“Miss Bellandi, I’m very sorry. We couldn’t save the baby.”

I stared at the ceiling for a long time. Then, without warning, the tears came.

I pressed both hands over my abdomen. It was empty now.

Only hours earlier, my baby had still been safe inside me.

I hadn’t even gotten the chance to meet my child before losing them forever.

Nearly two hours later, Raffaele finally walked in with Domenica behind him.