Invalid Pact, Irresistible Pull

"According to the household rules, she should be locked in the cells to reflect on her actions."

My voice rang out in the hospital room. I sounded calm because things like this had happened too many times before. I'd been able to tolerate it in the past, but this time it was a threat to my life.

The IV tube was still inserted in the back of my hand, but my tone was firm, leaving no room for compromise.

Tommaso's expression changed instantly. He strode quickly to the bedside. "Alessia, no."

"No?" I slowly sat up. My stomach still throbbed with dull pain. Each breath reminded me of the torture I'd just endured.

"She poisoned a family member's wife with a drug used for torture. In any family, that's a death sentence."

Dr. Mancini nodded in agreement. "The Signora is right, Don Volpe. According to the family code, this is indeed—"

"Shut up." Tommaso cut him off coldly, then turned to me, his eyes full of pleading. "For my sake, let it go. She was just worried about the family heir, so she acted impulsively."

I looked at him and burst into laughter. The sound was especially jarring in the quiet hospital room. Even the medical equipment on the walls seemed to hum in response.

"You're saying my stomach lining was scarred for nothing?"

Tommaso fell silent for a few seconds, avoiding my gaze. Then, he said with difficulty, "Try to understand. If it were your former fiancé, you'd protect him, too."

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. He was right. If Marco had done something like this, I would have protected him, too.

"This is the last time."

Tommaso visibly relaxed, his shoulders dropping. But his gaze suddenly fell on my hand, where I still wore the ring Marco had given me. It was a small emerald ring with an antique platinum band.

"Take it off." His voice carried a note of urgency.

"What?"

"That ring." There was anger in Tommaso's eyes as he continued, "You're the Signora of the Volpe family. You shouldn't be wearing something another man gave you."

I looked down at the ring. Marco had slipped it onto my finger before he died, his blood-stained fingers gently stroking my face as he promised to protect me for life. It was all I had left of him.

"This is my personal belonging. It has nothing to do with you."

"Take it off!" Tommaso's voice rose, tinged with an emotion I couldn't understand.

Just then, his phone rang. Gelsomina's crying came through again, her voice trembling as she wailed, "Tommaso, I'm so scared! The doctor says I might have lasting side effects. My hands won't stop shaking..."

Tommaso's expression changed instantly, pure worry flooding his eyes. He said to me, "We'll talk about this later."

He turned to leave, but I stopped him. "Tommaso."

He looked back at me, anxious to get out.

"There's something I think you should know." My voice was perfectly steady. "Tell your sister she can relax. I will never carry a Volpe heir."

"What do you mean?" Tommaso frowned.

"I had my tubes tied before the arranged marriage." I watched his shocked expression and continued, "To honor my love for Marco, I don't want anyone's child. Including yours."

Tommaso looked like he'd been struck by lightning, his face turning deathly pale. His phone was still ringing, but his attention was completely fixed on what I'd just said.

"Are you insane?" He rushed to the bedside and grabbed my shoulders, gripping hard enough to hurt. "Get it reversed immediately! This is your duty as the wife of a family heir!"

I shook my head, my voice still perfectly calm. "But our marriage contract is already in the dissolution process. I no longer have that duty."