Right after that, I received an anonymous message. Marjorie did not introduce herself, but I knew who the sender was.

She sent photos of every gift Lorenzo had bought for her. One picture showed the two of them standing in a maternity store, picking out baby items together. He looked genuinely happy.

"Lorenzo said the baby in my belly will become the heir of the Alvarez famiglia."

I ignored her, but she grew even bolder, flooding my phone with messages. I turned off my phone as I did not want to see her texts anymore.

Although I already knew the truth, every message still felt like a blade stabbing straight into my chest. I couldn't stop crying.

At least this betrayal would be over soon. Once I left Frostholm Isles, I would disappear.

The next morning, Lorenzo and I arrived at the airport. Just as we reached the boarding gate, Marjorie sent a new message.

"I heard you two are traveling? Going back to where you first met?

"You think returning there will make him remember his old feelings and choose you again?

"How naive."

Her mockery stirred nothing in me. I replied, "None of your business."

But she pressed on. "Why don't we see who Lorenzo will choose in the end?"

The next moment, Lorenzo's phone rang. He looked at the caller ID and realized it was Marjorie.

"Lorenzo, my stomach hurts so much. The baby might be in danger… Can you take me to the hospital?"

He ended the call and looked at me, torn and conflicted. "Isabella, there is an urgent problem with a business partner…"

"Are you going back?" I cut him off, disappointment rising like a weight in my chest.

He pressed his lips together and finally nodded. "I'm sorry, Signoria. This collaboration is worth billions. You don't have to wait for me. Go to Frostholm Isles first, alright?"

I took a long breath. My last hope trembled, holding on by a thread.

I tightened my grip on the boarding pass. "Lorenzo, I'll ask you one last time. Are you coming with me?"

He looked at me quietly. Silence was the answer.

I let out a faint, bitter laugh and released his hand. "If you walk away now, we will never see each other again."

He frowned, thinking I was overreacting. "Don't be difficult. I'll be right behind you.

"Board first. I'll switch to an afternoon flight. It won't take long. I'll come to you the moment I finish."

He turned to leave, still instructing me as if nothing was wrong.

"When you arrive, message me. Stay in the hotel and wait for me, capisce?"

He left me there.

As Lorenzo drove along the road outside the airport, a deafening explosion echoed across the sky. He instinctively looked up.

The plane bound for Frostholm Isles exploded midair, breaking into pieces.