In the fourth year of our marriage, and a few days for our bond to be deemed permanent by the Mafia council, I found out my babies' deaths were never just a miscarriage.

My husband, the same man who swore to protect me, had murdered my babies to please my cousin.

They didn't know I had found out, and so nothing could prepare them for the revenge I planned.

Hurt me once, shame on me.

Hurt me twice… I'd make you wish you were never born.

Lina’s POV

I twisted my hands against the ropes. My body trembled as I hit the signal phone strapped to my thigh.

“Please come, Kane. I'm scared,” I whispered, tears gathering in my eyes.

I had been shoved into the back of a van while on my way to tell Kane I was finally pregnant again. It wasn't my first time being kidnapped, but this time, my heart was pounding like it would break out of my chest.

I had to protect my baby.

“Kane, please. What's taking you so long?”

My heart stopped when the van did.

“Make sure you give the right dose,” a gruff voice ordered.

My eyes grew wide. What dose?

The door opened, and two men stepped in. One carried a green liquid.

I tried to shrink backward, but they grabbed me.

“Open up,” one growled.

I shook my head, my face stained with tears.

“I said open up.”

I kicked and screamed, but they overpowered me. My mouth was forced open, and the bitter liquid crawled its way down my throat. The men opened the door, threw me onto the hard concrete road, and sped off.

My hands clutched my stomach as pain rippled through my body.

Blue and red lights filled my vision, alongside a distant echo of sirens.

“My baby,” my voice cracked as I screamed. “Please save my baby.”

***

“Miss, I am so sorry. We tried all we could, but you ingested a high dose of the poison. The baby didn't make it,” the doctor said, looking at me with pity.

I sat numb. Just days ago, I had gotten the good news of my pregnancy.

Sobs, loud and ugly, broke from my throat as I clutched my now-empty abdomen.

When I left the hospital, my mind raced with just one question: why didn't Kane come for me like he always did?

My heart thudded in my chest as I walked to the private room where I could access all cameras in the Mafia headquarters and the city.

If something had happened to Kane, this was the best place to see.

As I turned on the monitor and glanced through the cameras, my eyes nearly bulged out of their sockets.

In Kane's office, my cousin Cara was sitting on his desk, her legs wrapped around his waist as their lips locked in a passionate kiss.

I gasped, clutching my chest as my heart beat louder than normal.

She had one hand in his hair, the other slowly undoing his shirt buttons.

My throat tightened, and a tear slipped from my eyes.

They stopped kissing, and Cara said, “Kane, I am worried. If she dies, won't that cause problems for us?”

He chuckled. “Don't worry, darling. The dose given was only lethal to the baby. And I also ordered the men to get her to the hospital. She'll be fine.”

My knees buckled. What?

“But what if she suspects us? Lina is extremely smart. I am scared.”

“Stop worrying, sweetheart.” He kissed her nose. “She didn't suspect when I gave her the poisonous drink that killed the first baby. She won't suspect this one.”

My head felt light. I gripped the table to prevent myself from falling.

My baby. Kane and Cara had been responsible? No. That couldn't be possible. Cara had been there for me every day after I lost my baby. She…

The door opened, and Kane’s underboss walked in. “Don, it's been confirmed. Your wife lost the baby.”

I shook my head. This had to be a dream.

“Good,” Kane smirked.

Cara squealed like her favorite team had just scored a goal.

“I told you it'll work. Now prepare to move in under the guise of comforting her,” Kane said.

“But I don't want to,” Cara whined. “I don't want to share our home with her. She's an intruder. Can't you just divorce her?”

He sighed and mumbled, “It is complicated.”

“How complicated?” she fumed, stepping back from him. “I want us to get married.”

He quickly pulled her back into his arms. “Hear me out. Our anniversary is coming up soon. It'll be five years of marriage. Then I can get ownership of both mine and her dad's Mafia according to the contract. After that, I'll dump her. And then…”

“I get to be your Mafia queen,” Cara beamed.

“Yes, and not only that.”

My mouth dropped as Kane leaned down and kissed her stomach.

“Our little boy will be the rightful heir of the most powerful Mafia in the world.”

I slipped out of the chair, hitting the floor with my knees. My body shook as I leaned on the chair for support and kept watching.

“Is that why you killed her children? So our baby can be the heir?” she asked, pouting and rubbing her stomach.

“Yes, baby. If she has kids, they'll automatically become heirs. But without kids, the Mafia is mine.”

Bile rose to my throat. My heart felt constricted, like a heavy weight was pressing on it.

For months after my first miscarriage, I thought I was just a terrible parent. I blamed myself, not knowing my only fault was trusting my husband.

I ran out of the room, my breathing ragged. I found a bench in a nearby park and sat still as the rain drenched me. Once it stopped raining, I took out my phone.

“Lina, are you okay?” Daniel Reed's voice came through.

I sucked in a breath. “Daniel… Do you still love me?”

“Lina. I will never stop loving you. I swear on my life. Even if you won't return the feelings, I—”

“Let's get married.”

Lina’s POV

“Are you serious?” Daniel asked. “There's no going back after this, Lina.”

“I am serious,” I said without hesitation.

“What happened? If Kane has hurt you, I will end his pathetic existence. Just say the word.”

My grip tightened around my phone. “I will handle it myself. Also, prepare your lawyers. I'll be merging my dad's Mafia with yours.”

Later that evening, Kane got home. He rushed to me, his eyes full of concern.

“What happened to you, darling? I am so sorry. We were on a mission and our phones were compromised,” he breathed out smoothly.

I took a step back, my face straight.

“I was coming to tell you I was pregnant.” My hands trembled. “I have no idea what happened, but I got shoved into a van. It happened so fast. I woke in the hospital, and the doctor said I'd lost the ba—”

“Shhh, my love, please stop. It's okay, baby,” he whispered, embracing me. I stiffened in his arms, but he didn’t notice.

“We've been through this before. We can go through this again together as a family.”

His phone rang.

Kane pulled it out with furrowed brows, then suddenly jumped.

“Shit. Cara burnt herself earlier. She needs to take her medication now. I'll be back soon.”

I fisted my sheets, clenching my jaw as he ran off.

Two hours. It took two hours before a maid came to call me for dinner.

I sat at the table, my eyes fixed on our wedding picture on the wall. Five years, two ‘miscarriages,’ and a life wasted trusting my very own demons.

Cara walked in with a soft smile on her face. Her hand was wrapped in an exaggerated white bandage.

“Lina, oh sister. I am so sorry this happened again. Kane told me, and I've been so worried about you.” She hugged me. I went rigid, goosebumps rising across my skin.

The kitchen door opened, and Kane walked in carrying a tray.

“How's your hand? Still painful?” he asked Cara as he set down the tray.

She shook her head, giving him a small smile.

“Spend the night here. Let's look after you.”

My fingers curled around the edge of the table.

“Cara and I made your favorite dishes, so you can eat well.” He placed a plate in front of Cara first, then me.

The smell wafted into my nose. Butter shrimp and mushroom sauce. My favorite? These were Cara's favorites.

My chair scraped against the floor as I stood to leave.

Their heads snapped toward me.

“Where are you going?” Kane asked.

“To my room,” I replied. “I'm sleepy.”

“You need to eat,” he said sternly. “Cara spent a lot of time making these for you and even burnt herself. At least appreciate her efforts.”

I halted in my tracks. My eyes met his, and he gestured toward the table.

“Eat.”

“Darl–Kane, it's okay,” Cara smiled at me. “She's grieving her child. Any loving mother would.”

Her hands rubbed her stomach subtly.

“I know she is grieving, but you got injured doing this for her. She must eat.” His eyes hardened as he turned to me.

“Eat. Now!” Not a request. An order. As if I were his subordinate.

My nails dug into my palms.

“I said I am going to sleep.” I turned and walked away.

Kane moved to follow me, but Cara stopped him.

I wiped away a stray tear and took out my phone.

Daniel's message sat waiting for me: The papers are ready. Are you sure about this, Lina? After today, I'm not letting you go again.

I straightened my spine.

He still wanted me. Daniel and I wanted to get married six years ago, but my parents had chosen Kane.

My eyes drifted to them. They didn’t know I was still at the doorway. Kane laid a possessive hand on Cara's stomach.

I looked away.

Me: I've never been more certain in my life, Daniel. Get ready. We are getting married next week.

I turned off my phone and stared at them.

My husband.

My cousin.

My children's murderers.

My lips curved slightly. Go on, build your future. I'll ruin it like you ruined mine.

Lina’s POV

My jaw tightened as I plugged my drive into the computer and copied the footage of their betrayal.

I didn’t watch the videos; I’d seen and heard enough.

When it finished, I typed a text and attached the files:

Me: You know what to do. And Kane should not know about it unless I say so.

My lawyer: Noted, Donna. I'll have them delivered by tomorrow.

Me: Excellent.

I stayed in my room the whole day. By evening, my head felt heavy. I hadn’t slept a wink. Silhouettes and baby voices filled my thoughts all night.

I dragged myself downstairs for water, pressing my fingers against my temples. After drinking, I followed the sound of voices to the living room.

Cara sat in the living room, clad in a silk robe, my last birthday gift from Kane.

Kane stood behind her, gently brushing her hair.

“Lina,” Cara exclaimed, “you're here. Are you any better?”

I nodded. Kane’s eyes softened.

“I’m brushing her hair because her hand hurts,” he said. My mouth twitched. Why was he explaining?

“Don, Madam, breakfast is ready,” a maid announced, bowing to Kane and Cara.

“Sure. Join us for breakfast, Lina.” Cara smiled.

I raised a brow, then scoffed.

“Kane, can I talk to you for a moment?”

His eyes drifted to Cara, as if asking permission.

Pathetic.

I rolled my eyes and walked into my home office.

The documents lay on my desk.

“My uncle sent these. It concerns the merger. Sign if you are ready,” I uttered, my eyes fixed on him.

His eyes lit up. “Really? That's amazing, my love.”

He flipped through and signed every page without reading.

As he left, I heard him whisper to Cara, “It’s done, baby. Heaven was on our side. I just signed the merger document. Both mafias are now ours.”

“Really?” she squealed. “So you will divorce her and marry me?”

“Yes. Right after the takeover ceremony. I already have a plan to make everyone think she caused the divorce. Then I won’t be implicated in any way.”

So that was the plan. Interesting how he thought I could be constantly fooled.

I smirked, picked up my pen, and signed the divorce papers and contract termination agreement.

“It is done,” I texted Daniel. “Nothing is standing in our way now.”

I left my office in the evening. Cara sat in the living room cross-legged like she owned the place, dressed in a black floor-length party gown, also one of my favorite dresses.

Kane stood behind her, gently brushing her hair.

Then I saw it.

My necklace, my mother’s last gift to me, adorned her neck.

I gripped the door until my nails hurt.

She smiled and said, “Hi, Lina. You're here.”

I didn’t respond. My eyes were focused only on my necklace, which she was flaunting.

Their eyes followed mine.

“Ahem,” Kane cleared his throat as an awkward silence settled in the room. “We have a gala tonight. But since you're grieving, you can't go—”

“I want my necklace.”

“Cara will return it when we get back. She doesn’t have any necklaces here, and this fits her better. If you want, I could just buy another one for you at the auction.”

My eyes darkened. “I said I need my necklace. Give it to me. You can buy one for her on your way,” I shot back, storming toward her.

I lifted my hand to pull my necklace from her neck but staggered backward as Kane shoved me with brutal force. I hit the door with a thud, a jolt of pain creeping up my back.

“Kane, it’s fine. I’ll give it to her. Although I really, really like this one,” Cara said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

“No, Cara. You won’t be giving it back. It’s just a necklace,” his voice softened. “Surely she can let you wear it for a few hours. Let’s go, we will be late. Take care of yourself, Lina.”

I massaged my aching back, watching them leave with his hand on her waist.

For a moment, I contemplated going back to bed. But I didn’t.

Because tonight, I was going to make sure I gave him a hint of what was coming.