The next morning, I woke up feeling as though a heavy weight had settled in my chest. The events of last night were still fresh in my mind—Louis leaving me to celebrate with Jane, and the photo of them together that haunted my thoughts. I had blocked Jane's number after that, desperate to put some distance between her smug face and my shattered heart, but the damage was done.

I tried to push the image of them out of my mind as I got ready for the day. Today was another mafia gathering, and my role as Louis’s wife meant I had to show up, look the part, and pretend like everything was fine.

I slid into a sleek black dress, the kind Louis liked, with heels that added a few inches to my height. My reflection in the mirror showed a woman composed, perfectly put together, but inside I was unraveling. I couldn’t let them see that, though—especially not Louis or Jane.

By the time I arrived at the gathering, the room was already buzzing with the usual mix of mafia business and socializing. I scanned the room, trying to spot Louis. Part of me hoped that he’d come to his senses, that he’d approach me with some kind of apology or explanation, but deep down I knew better.

And then I saw them.

Louis and Jane, standing together at the far end of the room. He had his arm casually draped around her shoulders, talking to one of the other members, completely ignoring me as if I didn’t exist. The sight of them together made my stomach churn, but I kept my composure, holding my head high as I walked deeper into the room.

I had to do something to distract myself, to push away the swirling storm of emotions inside me. I needed to feel something—anything—other than the pain of betrayal.

That’s when I saw him: Sebastian, Louis’s second-in-command. He stood off to the side, a drink in hand, watching the scene unfold with his usual cool detachment. He had always been a bit of a mystery to me—loyal to Louis but never too involved in the drama. He was attractive in a rugged way, with dark hair and piercing eyes that always seemed to be analyzing everything around him.

I didn’t think. I acted.

I approached Sebastian with a confidence I didn’t feel, putting on the mask I’d worn so many times before in this life. As I sidled up next to him, I felt his gaze shift to me.

“Sebastian,” I said smoothly, flashing him a smile, “How’s the business?”

His eyes flickered with amusement, but he remained calm, as always. “Business is good, Alexandra. You know that.”

I took a step closer, my body language casual, but there was an undeniable edge to the way I stood near him. “I suppose so. But I can’t help thinking that maybe things could be… better.”

He raised an eyebrow, clearly catching onto the undertone of my words. “And how do you suggest we make things better?”

I placed a hand on his arm, lightly, letting the touch linger just a little too long. “Well, I’m sure you’re full of ideas. You’ve always struck me as the kind of man who knows what he wants—and how to get it.”

Sebastian’s expression didn’t change, but I could see the shift in his posture, the subtle tension in his body. “Careful, Alexandra,” he said quietly. “You’re playing a dangerous game.”

But I didn’t care. I was tired of caring.

Just as I opened my mouth to respond, a hand gripped my wrist, hard. I turned to see Louis, his face dark with fury. Without a word, he dragged me away from Sebastian, pulling me toward a more secluded area of the gathering. His grip was tight, almost painful, and I had to quicken my steps to keep up.

Louis’s grip tightened on my wrist, dragging me further away from the gathering. I could feel the eyes of the crowd on us, the whispers behind our backs as we left Sebastian behind. Louis didn’t stop until we reached the edge of the room, the hum of conversation fading to a dull murmur.

He finally let go of my wrist, and I immediately recoiled, rubbing the sore spot where his fingers had dug into my skin.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” His voice was low, barely controlled, vibrating with anger. “You’re out there, making a fool of yourself—flirting with Sebastian, of all people. Do you even realize what you’ve done?”

“What does it matter to you, Louis? You’ve made it pretty clear that I don’t matter anymore. So why should you care who I talk to?”

Louis’ eyes narrowed, his face flushed with barely controlled fury. “You disgraced me, Alexandra,” he spat. “In front of the entire family. You think flirting with Sebastian makes you look clever? It makes you look weak. Disrespectful. And you’ve disrespected me, the entire mafia.”

I let out a bitter laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. “I disrespected you? You’ve got to be kidding me, Louis. You stand there, acting like you’re the victim, but what about you parading around with Jane? What about the fact that you spend more time with her than with me?”

“Jane is family,” he snapped, his voice low and dangerous. “You know that.”

“And I’m your wife!” I shot back, my voice rising. “I’m the one who’s supposed to be by your side, not her. But every time I turn around, she’s there, and you’re right beside her, ignoring me like I don’t even exist. Don’t talk to me about disrespect when you’ve been doing the same damn thing for months.”

He opened his mouth to argue, but I could see the flicker of doubt in his eyes. He knew I was right, and that realization only made his anger burn hotter.

“Don’t twist this around, Alexandra,” he growled. “You know damn well that nothing’s going on between Jane and me.”

“I’m twisting everything?” I scoffed, my voice rising. “You’ve been treating her like she’s your wife while I’m left to rot on the sidelines. And now you have the nerve to accuse me of disgracing you? You’ve been disgracing me for years!”

He took another step toward me, his fists clenched at his sides. “You’re my wife, Alexandra. You don’t get to act like that in front of my men. Sebastian is my second-in-command. You made me look weak.”

I tilted my head, narrowing my eyes. “Weak? You think I made you look weak?” My voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “No, Louis. You made yourself look weak when you let Jane come between us. You made yourself look weak when you chose her, time and time again.”

Louis’s face hardened, his jaw tight as he tried to defend himself. “I didn’t choose her. You’re the one who’s always looking for something to blame. Always trying to make this about Jane.”

I stared at him, my heart aching with exhaustion. I had no more energy to argue, no more patience for his excuses. “I don’t care anymore, Louis,” I said quietly, my voice barely above a whisper. “I’m tired. Tired of feeling like I’m always second to her. Tired of fighting for a place in your life when you’ve already made your choice.”

“Alexandra—” he started, but I raised my hand, cutting him off.

“No,” I said, my voice firm. “I’m done. I don’t want to hear your justifications or your excuses. You can say whatever you want, but I know the truth. You chose her over me, and I’m done pretending like that doesn’t hurt.”

His face softened for a moment, like he wanted to say something, to reach out and stop me, but I couldn’t do it anymore. The pain was too deep, the betrayal too raw. I turned on my heel and walked away from him, my chest tight with the weight of everything left unsaid.

Louis didn’t even bother to follow.

The drive to the doctor’s appointment was tense. Louis barely said a word, his hands gripping the steering wheel as he focused on the road. I sat beside him, wringing my hands in my lap, my heart pounding with a mixture of hope and fear. Today was supposed to be the day—the day I would tell him about the baby. I had convinced myself that maybe, just maybe, this news would change everything.

He’ll see that I’m not useless. He’ll know that we have a future, that I can give him a family.

The words replayed in my head like a mantra, as if saying them enough would make them true. I stared out the window, watching the city pass by in a blur, my mind racing with how I would break the news. I had imagined the moment over and over—Louis’ face lighting up with surprise and joy, his hand resting protectively on my belly, the way it should be.

But instead of joy, there was silence. A suffocating silence that had become all too familiar between us. My stomach twisted, the knot of anxiety tightening with every passing second. I glanced over at him, wondering if he felt the weight of everything between us. I was about to speak, to say something, when his phone rang.

I tensed as he reached for it, his gaze flickering from the road to the screen. He didn’t need to say a word for me to know who it was.

Jane.

I bit down on my lip, bracing myself for the inevitable. I hated that name. That person. The woman who seemed to have more claim over my husband than I ever did—acting like she doesn’t have a boyfriend.

“Yeah?” Louis answered, his tone softening immediately. His eyes darted between me and the road, but his focus was entirely on her.

I could hear her voice, faint but urgent, through the speaker. Something about needing help. Of course. She always needed something. And Louis always rushed to her side, no matter what.

“We’re almost at the—” I started to say, but Louis cut me off with a wave of his hand.

“I’ll be there in ten minutes, Jane,” he said, his voice decisive. He glanced at me briefly, his expression unreadable. “Sorry, Alexandra. I’ll drop you off, and you can take a cab the rest of the way. Jane needs me.”

I stared at him, stunned, as the reality of his words sank in. He was choosing her again. Again.

“Louis,” I whispered, my voice trembling with disbelief, “I need you, too. I was going to—”

“I’ll make it up to you,” he interrupted, his voice curt as if this was no big deal. He wasn’t even listening.

Before I could respond, the car screeched to a halt at the curb. “I have to go,” he said, almost impatient now.

Tears blurred my vision as I fumbled for the door handle, feeling a wave of humiliation wash over me. I was being discarded again, like an afterthought. My throat tightened, and I could barely breathe through the overwhelming pain.

I stumbled out of the car, slamming the door behind me. Louis didn’t even wait to see if I was okay—he was already speeding off to Jane. My legs felt like jelly, but I forced myself to move, my feet carrying me forward without thought.

How could he do this? How could he just abandon me like this?

The answer was painfully clear—he didn’t care. Not enough, not like he should.

My hands trembled as I pressed them against my chest, trying to calm the storm of emotions crashing through me. I needed to breathe, needed to think, but all I could feel was the ache of being left behind once again.

I stumbled out of the small park, wandering aimlessly, barely paying attention to where I was going. It wasn’t until I reached the edge of the street that I saw it—Louis’s car.

Or at least, I thought it was his car. It looked exactly like his, the same sleek black paint, the same tinted windows. Without thinking, I stepped forward, desperate to get his attention, to make him stop.

But it wasn’t Louis.

The car slammed into me with a sickening thud, the impact throwing me back onto the pavement. Pain exploded through my body, and the world spun around me as I hit the ground, my breath knocked out of my lungs.

I tried to scream, but no sound came out. My vision blurred, dark spots dancing at the edges as I lay there, helpless. All I could think about was the baby—the baby Louis would never know about, the life growing inside me that I had hoped would change everything.

Now, all of it seemed so distant, slipping away like water through my fingers. The last thing I heard was the screech of tires and the fading sound of a car speeding away before everything went black.