Those photos were taken when we first got married. Domenico had coaxed me into posing for them, saying he wanted to capture my most beautiful moments and keep them just for himself.

Now, he had turned those sweet memories into weapons against me.

The moment the photos appeared, laughter and wolf whistles erupted from the crowd below.

The men's gazes swept over me like starving beasts, their mouths spewing vulgar comments.

"That body's not bad at all. Who knew Signora Calvetti was so hot..."

"Wonder if I can get a piece of her tonight. I'd pay top dollar!"

"One dollar." Domenico's voice rang out again, drowning out all the noise. "The original copies of these photos, along with this woman's services for tonight. One dollar gets you both."

His words were the final straw that broke me completely.

I shook my head desperately, tears mixing with blood streaming down my face. "Domenico... please don't... I'm begging you, don't do this..."

Alice nestled in his arms and covered her mouth in fake concern. "Domenico, isn't this too cruel to her? After all, those are her private photos..."

"Privacy?" Domenico laughed coldly, his eyes full of mockery. "A whore who betrays the family has no right to privacy."

My face was pressed against the ground. I could clearly hear the breathing and comments of the men surrounding me.

Those voices slithered into my ears like venomous snakes, gnawing away at what little dignity I had left. I felt like merchandise being appraised and judged.

I could imagine the desire burning in those men's eyes, like flames ready to consume me completely.

Suddenly, a sharp cramping pain tore through my abdomen. It felt like countless needles stabbing into me. My vision went black and I lost consciousness.

…

When I woke up again, I was in a discreet private clinic.

A doctor in a white coat stood beside my bed, his expression complicated. "Signora, you… You're pregnant. Two months along."

Pregnant? I instinctively placed my hand on my lower abdomen. There was a slight swell there.

Two months ago, Domenico came home drunk, and we were intimate. He was barely conscious that night and kept calling out another woman's name. I thought it was just an accident. I never expected a child to come out of it.

The doctor handed me an ultrasound printout. It clearly showed two tiny gestational sacs.

Twins.

I took the ultrasound and froze in place. Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face. It was joy, despair, and helplessness all at once.

I had already made up my mind to leave. Now, however, the children I had longed for had come at the worst possible time.

For the sake of the babies, I had to speed up my departure. I could not let Domenico harm them.

I went home and packed my things. I was about to contact Salvatore to tell him about the pregnancy and have him arrange for an earlier pickup. However, the door was suddenly flung open.

Domenico walked in. He saw the suitcase behind the door and frowned slightly, his tone impatient. "Look, I know I went too far this time, but running away from home is a bit dramatic, don't you think?"

I looked away expressionlessly, hiding the emotion in my eyes. "You misunderstood. I just want to go out and clear my head."

He raised an eyebrow, hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alice is pregnant. I want to keep the child."

My breath caught. My heartbeat stuttered. All the blood in my body seemed to freeze.

Domenico had always been surrounded by women, but none of them had ever been allowed to keep his child. Not even me.

I had always wanted a child. I wanted a family that belonged to us. However, he always said that it was not the right time or that the family business was too demanding. He had refused me again and again.

Yet now, when he looked at me, his eyes held joy and anticipation—emotions I had never seen before.

It turned out he did not dislike children. He just did not want children with me.

I forced a smile, my voice hoarse. "Children are wonderful. Having one sounds nice."

Domenico smiled with relief, his expression relaxed. As long as I was obedient, I could remain by his side forever like a piece of furniture.

"Good. As long as you behave, I won't hold the leaked information against you. The position of Signora Calvetti will always be yours."

I smiled but said nothing.

"Father just contacted me. He wants me to bring you home for a visit. He misses you."

He paused. "Alice is going out with friends tonight. I gave her your car. You'll ride in my passenger seat."

I had no objections. After all these years, I had grown accustomed to his demands.

After changing clothes, I randomly picked out a gift and got into his car. The car had barely started when Domenico's phone rang.

He answered and listened for only a few seconds before his face turned ashen. He suddenly smashed his phone against the interior of the car.

The phone shattered with a loud crack, fragments flying everywhere.

The car suddenly swerved to the side of the road and stopped. I was stunned by his abrupt action. Before I could react, his hand clamped around my throat. His grip was so tight it felt like he would strangle me to death.

"Lucia, didn't I warn you not to scheme anything to hurt Alice?" His eyes were bloodshot, like a wild animal out of control. "She's carrying my child! How dare you go after her!"

I immediately understood. Alice had gotten into a car accident on the road, and it just happened to be while she was driving my car—while I was not in it.

"Domenico, wait! This wasn't me! I didn't do anything!" I desperately tried to explain, attempting to bring him back to reason.

However, Domenico would not listen at all. He jerked the steering wheel violently and slammed his foot down on the gas pedal.

"Shut up! I'm taking you to the hospital right now so you can kneel and apologize to her face!" he roared as the car weaved frantically through traffic.

"Domenico... stop! There's a red light ahead!"

At more than 120 miles per hour, I stared at the glaring red light, my whole body trembling with fear.

No matter how much I cried out or begged, Domenico ignored me completely and charged straight through the intersection.

Just as we crossed the stop line, an overloaded truck barreled toward us from the side.

The truck slammed into the side of our car. We spun violently out of control and then crashed hard into the guardrail on the side of the road.

The brutal impact left me bleeding from the head. Blood from my forehead blurred my vision.

I clutched my aching abdomen. The cramping pain grew more intense. I could feel life slipping away bit by bit.

"Domenico... save me..." My voice came out weak as a whisper. "The car's leaking fuel... Get me out quickly!

"Domenico, please don't leave me! Our children..."

The moment I finished speaking, his phone buzzed in his pocket. It was a text from Alice.

[Domenico, someone tampered with the car. The brakes failed! It had to be Lucia. She tried to kill me!]

After reading the message, Domenico kicked open the mangled car door and stepped out. His gaze on me was full of mockery.

"You're willing to risk your life just to stall me from seeing Alice. Quite the performance there. Stay here and reflect on what you've done. When Alice is out of danger, I'll send someone to get you."

I could smell the gasoline getting stronger inside the car, and panic seized me. I pounded desperately on the window, trying to make him notice something was wrong with the vehicle.

"It's really going to explode! Believe me this once! Please!"

However, he turned and walked away without a moment's hesitation.

The smell of gasoline grew thicker. I could hear the drip of the leaking fuel tank.

In my desperation, I noticed something fall from his pocket. It was a plate with the words, 'Until death do us part', inscribed on it. He had carved it himself when he proposed.

One second before the car exploded, I grabbed hold of that plate with all my strength.

A deafening explosion came next, and the car was blown to pieces.

…

When Domenico arrived at the hospital, he saw that Alice had only sustained minor injuries.

She was lying in bed, acting coy. Relief washed over him.

Just then, one of his men rushed over with a report. "Don, Signora had an accident. This was all we could find at the scene..."

The subordinate handed him a plate covered in blood and charred black.

On the back, the inscription, 'Until death do us part — Domenico & Lucia', was still clearly visible.

Only then did he realize that the woman he had discarded like trash, the woman he believed had betrayed him, was gone.

Domenico gripped the engraved plate, his fingers trembling slightly. His heart felt constricted, like he was suffocating.