Chapter 1
At thirty-six weeks pregnant, I told Luca Moretti I was in pain and our baby had barely moved all evening.
He still picked up his car keys and went to another woman.
All Isabella had to say was, "Luca, I'm scared."
And he went.
The first cramp hit while I was standing at the bathroom sink. Pain tightened low across my abdomen, sharp enough to steal my breath.
My doctor had warned me that persistent pain or noticeably decreased movement meant I should go straight to the hospital.
I called Luca.
He was handling Moretti business across the city and had promised to be home before eleven.
"Elena?"
"When are you coming home?"
"Soon."
Another cramp seized me.
"My stomach hurts. She hasn't been moving much. The doctor said I should go in if that happened."
A chair scraped against the floor on his end.
"I'm coming home. Don't drive yourself. Twenty minutes."
I pulled my hospital bag from beside the dresser.
Before I could zip it, my phone rang again.
"I need to make a stop first," Luca said.
"What?"
"Something happened to Isabella. She thinks someone is following her."
Isabella Vieri. Luca's first love, back in the city after years away.
"Then call the police."
"Elena."
"You have an entire security team."
At the Moretti estate, every gate was staffed and every car was logged. Luca could put men around a problem within minutes.
"I already sent people."
"Then why are you going?"
"She just came back. She doesn't trust anyone else."
"I just told you I'm in pain and our baby isn't moving normally."
"I know."
"So you're still going to her?"
"She could be in danger."
"So could I."
Silence.
"Luca, if you go to her now, don't ever tell me you didn't make a choice."
"Elena, I'm coming back."
"That isn't an answer."
"There are guards at the estate. The driver can take you to the hospital. I'll meet you there."
"You can protect everyone. You just decided not to protect your wife."
A car door slammed through the phone.
He was already leaving.
When the next contraction eased, I called estate security.
"Have the driver bring the car around."
Ten minutes later, I was in the back seat, recording the times in my notes app.
10:51 p.m. - Told Luca about the pain and decreased movement.
10:53 p.m. - He said he was coming home.
11:02 p.m. - He changed his mind and went to Isabella.
I took screenshots of the call log.
At the hospital, the fetal monitor picked up my daughter's heartbeat.
"She's stable, but you're having contractions," the doctor said. "I want to keep you overnight."
At 12:27 a.m., I texted Luca.
[I'm at the hospital. They're keeping me overnight.]
Read. No reply.
At 12:41, Isabella posted a photo wearing Luca's black coat, her cheek against his chest, his arm around her shoulders.
[Some people still come when you need them.]
I saved it beside Luca's read receipt and created a new folder.
[MORETTI DIVORCE]
Then I called an attorney.
"Elena?"
"I want to ask about divorce."
"Have you made a decision?"
I looked at my wedding ring.
"Not yet. I need to know what I should do if I have to protect myself and my child alone."