Carter, who had just reached the door, stopped in his tracks.

He turned and looked at me as if I were a pouting child. "What was that? Pay for this?"

He took two steps back toward me, reaching out to touch my cheek. I flinched away from him.

He wasn't angry that his hand was left hanging in the air. He just chuckled and slid it into the pocket of his bespoke suit trousers.

"My dear Sloane, learning to talk tough now, are we? Darling, don't be so dramatic."

"Is the anesthesia still messing with your head?"

The pain in my abdomen was so intense I could barely stand, but I kept my eyes locked on his. "I'm serious."

"Carter Rossi, you will get on your knees and regret what you've done today."

Our eyes met. Seeing that I wasn't joking in the slightest, Carter looked surprised, but he quickly shook his head.

He bent down and leaned close to my ear, his breath warm. "Fine, then you can show me how my little princess is going to make me regret it."

"But for now..." he tapped my forehead lightly. "Okay, fine, I was wrong, alright? I apologize."

"It was a joke. Everyone was just having fun. You are my wife, the future Donna of the Rossi family. You need to be a bigger person. Don't throw a tantrum over something so small, hmm?"

"Rest up and heal. I'll come see you tonight."

With that, he straightened up, even let out a cheerful whistle, and strode away.

He was sure I was just letting off steam and I couldn't leave him.

He was also sure I was, and always would be, his.

I bit my lip hard, tasting blood, until his back completely disappeared down the hallway. The last bit of warmth in my heart turned to ice.

Slowly, I pulled the encrypted burner phone from under my pillow and dialed a secret number.

"It's me."

"Activate the Level One Asset Protection Protocol. Send a car to the hospital. Now."

The voice on the other end was shocked but utterly respectful.

"Principessa? You're finally coming back? Understood. Our best armored team is on its way."

I ended the call. Enduring the searing pain from my torn stitches, I carefully lifted my sleeping son into my arms.

Looking out the window at the darkening sky, I leaned down and pressed a kiss to my baby's forehead.

"Don't be afraid, my love."

"The pain they put us through... I will make those bastards pay for every last second of it."

An hour later, a convoy of black, armored SUVs pulled up silently below the hospital.

Cradling my son, I got into one of the cars and left without a single look back.

...

Meanwhile, at the Rossi family estate.

Carter sat on a leather sofa, swirling a half-empty glass of whiskey. His gaze was fixed on his phone screen, a flicker of irritation in his eyes.

An hour had passed since he left the hospital, and there had been no word from me.

Normally, I would have already sent a novel-length text message or called a hundred times.

Carter pinched the bridge of his nose. He couldn't help but recall the icy coldness in my eyes when I told him he would pay.

An unsettling feeling stirred in his gut.

He had a faint premonition that this time, the joke had gone too far.

"Carter, what do you think of this spot?"

Beside him, Sofia's voice broke his train of thought.

She had snuggled up next to him and was directing a few maids as they decorated the entryway.

They were hanging a white wreath of funeral lilies.

In the center, they had pasted a black and white printout of my face twisted in childbirth.

Beneath it, an elegant script spelled out a malicious message:

"Sloane, we are all praying for you."

This was the "welcome home ceremony" Sofia had so carefully prepared.

Looking at the sickening masterpiece on the wall, Carter's frown deepened.

"This is the last joke, Sofia."

He threw back the rest of his whiskey, a note of warning in his voice.

"After today, if you're bored, find your own fun. Sloane is the mother of my son, after all."

Sofia's face stiffened. She was about to start whining when Carter glanced impatiently at the wall clock.

"Why hasn't Sloane messaged back? What time is it?"

The feeling of unease was growing stronger. He grabbed the car keys from the table, about to head back to the hospital to check on things.

Just then, a Soldato stumbled through the door, his face a mask of panic.

"Boss! Bad news!"

"We got a call from the hospital, Mrs. Rossi... she took the baby and left!"